Women Football Banda with brace as Orlando Pride rout Utah Royals to stay unbeaten

Zambia international Barbra Banda scored twice as the Orlando Pride continued their unbeaten start to the season to remain atop the NWSL standings following a 6-0 victory over the Utah Royals on Friday night in front of an announced attendance of 9,656 at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda scored and assisted twice, Marta also found the back of the net twice while Summer Yates and Ally Watt also added goals to lead the Pride to a club record 14 games unbeaten to improve to 9-0-5 on the standings.

The win was the largest margin of victory, and the most goals scored in a single game in the Pride’s history. Banda scored in the 27th after heading a cross from close range from Kerry Abello.

Yates doubled the scoring after capitalizing on an Agnes Nyberg turnover before chipping the ball over the keeper during first-half stoppage time.

Marta made it 3-0 in the 47th minute after firing a shot from outside the box following another turnover from Utah. Banda secured her 10th goal of the season in the 86th minute after winning a turnover from Utah, rounding the keeper, and swerving past two defenders before slotting the ball into the empty net for Orlando’s fourth goal.

The Zambian forward recorded an assist moments later after finding Marta open, who struck the ball into the net for the Brazilian’s second goal of the night and Orlando’s fifth.

Ally Watt added the Pride’s sixth goal in stoppage time after receiving a cross from Banda before firing a shot past the keeper.


Dennis Mabuka

Dennis Mabuka is a seasoned Kenyan journalist with 18 years of experience covering sports events. He is currently a sport content creator with en.Africatopsports.com.

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