After the start of their match was delayed more than an hour because of lightning in the area, the host Orlando Pride’s offense turned electric in a 3-1 victory over Bay FC in the squad’s final game before the summer break for the men’s World Cup.
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The Pride improved to 5-5-2 and 17 points with the win at Inter&Co Stadium on Friday night. Bay FC fell to 3-6-2 and remained at 11 points. The Pride won their second consecutive match and are seventh in the NWSL table. The Pride remain unbeaten against Bay FC, holding a 4-0-1 record against the 2024 expansion club. Bay FC has lost three straight matches and are in 13th place in the standings.
League scoring leader Barbra Banda tallied two goals to bring her total to 11. Her brace was her league-leading third of the season. Cori Dyke also scored for Orlando, her first goal of the season. Luana assisted on Banda’s first goal. Summer Yates assisted on Banda’s second goal and Banda assisted on Dyke’s goal. The assists were the first of the season for all three players.
The match came on Orlando coach Seb Hines’ 38th birthday.
“No better (birthday) gift than a 3-1 victory at home in front of our fans, so credit to the players for putting that performance together,” Hines said. “It’s always nice to take the lead early, but there was disappointment with how quickly we conceded after scoring. I thought the first half was fairly even, and I knew we could go to another level.
“We didn’t quite show that immediately after conceding, but I thought we managed the second half well, possessed the ball better, earned the rewards for it and created some good opportunities. Overall, I’m really pleased to head into the break with three points.”
Orlando opted for an aggressive press, and it paid off with a goal in the fourth minute. Luana headed the ball up while Banda muscled off the defenders to get a shot past Bay’s backup goalkeeper Emmie Allen for Orlando’s fastest goal of the season. Allen was in goal because starter Jordan Silkowitz and defender Aldana Cometti were serving one-game suspensions after receiving red cards last week in a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Stars.
“Recently, a huge focus for us has been our high press … starting on the front foot in that way,” added Dyke. “We did it last game, we wanted to bring that again this game … and I think that was a really strong start for us.”
Bay came right back down the field, applying pressure in the attacking third. Orlando’s defense was caught off guard, and Caroline Conti found space and fired a shot past Orlando keeper Anna Moorhouse. Conti’s first goal of the season evened the score at 1-1 in the seventh minute.
The score remained tied through the start of the second half, but Orlando again opened play on the attack.
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The Pride broke through when Banda scored her second of the game in the 51st minute. Halftime substitute Yates played a perfect pass that sent Banda through on goal. She made a great move past Allen, setting up an easy shot to make it 2-1.
Dyke sealed the victory with Orlando’s third goal in the 55th minute. Banda held the ball up in the box before finding an open Dyke on the wing. Dyke’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar and caromed into the goal to add to Orlando’s lead.
“Barbra played me a great pass. I saw her get the ball in the box and was just trying to join as fast as I could,” Dyke said. “She gave me a great ball, and I just tried to get it on frame and hit it hard, and good things happened.”
Orlando player Barbra Banda (11) scores a goal past Bay FC goalkeeper Emmie Allen (32) and Bay FC player Joelle Anderson (18) during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fans cheer during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Hailie Mace (5) and Luana (8) work to keep the ball away from Bay FC players during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players celebrate with Barbra Banda (11) after she scored a goal during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Luana (top) runs over Bay FC player Claire Hutton (bottom) during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (11) scores a goal past falling Bay FC player Joelle Anderson (18) during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fireworks explode before the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Haley McCutcheon moves the ball during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Seb Hines yells during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda celebrates with players after scoring a goal during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Bay FC players celebrate after a goal during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Oihane controls the ball during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse makes a stop during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Bay FC coach Emma Coates signals during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Hailie Mace throws the ball in during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players gather during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (11) starts to celebrate as she scores a goal past Bay FC goalkeeper Emmie Allen (32) and Bay FC player Joelle Anderson (18) during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Nicole Payne controls the ball during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Seb Hines watches Orlando player Marta warm up before the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Bay FC player Joelle Anderson (left) and Orlando player Barbra Banda (11) battle for the ball during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse leaps to make a save during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Teams greet before the start of the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda moves the ball during the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Seats are configured in the stadium to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the PULSE nightclub tragedy before the start of the Bay FC at Orlando Pride NWSL soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Banda went down with a non-contact injury in the 81st minute and was forced out of the game. Orlando, out of subs, finished the match with only 10 players on the field. There is not yet an official update about Banda’s injury.
“We just kind of ended the game, and we’ve just reflected on the game and how it’s gone, but we’ll probably have more of an idea what it is going into tomorrow,” Hines said after the match about Banda’s injury.
Orlando has scored 18 goals this season, tied with Portland for most in the league entering the weekend. The Pride have scored in 11 of their 12 matches this year, best in the NWSL. They have also scored in eight consecutive matches, one shy of the club record of nine set in 2025.
Orlando’s next match is not until July 3, when the Pride travel to take on Angel City FC in Los Angeles. Orlando will play its first home match July 10 against the Kansas City Current.
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