Boston Legacy FC earned its second win of the season Tuesday, beating the Orlando Pride 2-1 in a game that was full of action.
Aleigh Gambone and Amanda Gutierres came off the bench in the second half and both scored their first NWSL and Legacy goal. The three points moves the club to 14th place in the league, ahead of Racing Louisville (which has a game in hand) and the Chicago Stars. The win also extends the club’s unbeaten streak to four games.
Casey Murphy started in the net and had Emerson Elgin, Laís Araújo, and Jorelyn Carabalí on the defensive line. Annie Karich, Josefine Hasbo, Alba Caño, and Bárbara Olivieri took the midfield. Aïssata Traoré was the striker with Bianca St-Georges to her left and Nichelle Prince on her right.
Here are five thoughts from the game.
Goals: PK for PK
The Orlando Pride was awarded a penalty kick early in the first half, much to the confusion of, well, everyone.
According to the referee, Traoré “committed a holding offense against an opponent inside the penalty area that started before the kick was taken and continued after the ball was in play.”
Marta scored the penalty, giving Orlando an early lead. This was one of three shots Orlando took in the first half.
The Legacy maintained 61% possession and had 14 shots, only three on target, in the first half but could not find the back of the net.
The second half was a whole new game thanks to substitutions on both sides. Barbra Banda, the league’s leading goalscorer, entered the game and immediately challenged Boston’s defense. BLFC started making substitutions in the 57th minute to respond to Orlando’s press.
Gambone scored a goal within seven minutes of stepping onto the field; Gutierres gave the assist by heading the ball her way as she ran into the box.
The Legacy was later awarded a penalty in stoppage time for an Orlando handball during a Boston corner kick. Gutierres slotted the ball into the back of the net to get the game-winning goal.
“Probably a lot of people say ‘Boston don’t have a striker,’ but she showed that she just needs to be ready for the right moment and she will score,” said Patão. “Probably after this game, she just needed this [goal] to start making more goals.”
Gutierres has won several top scorer awards, both with Brazil and Palmeiras, her previous club, and said before the start of this season that she wanted to do the same in the NWSL. I think we’re all ready for the floodgates to open.
The Legacy now has a total of nine goals from seven different players: Traoré, Caño, St-Georges, Prince, Gutierres, Gambone, and Sammy Smith. Also of note, both of the Legacy’s game-winning goals occurred during stoppage time.
Everyone Everywhere
Patão often reiterates how much she trusts each of her players, and the reason why was on full display Tuesday.
Five substitutions were made over the 57th, 65th, and 75th minutes, and each time prompted a position change for players already on the field.
St-Georges’ experience as a forward was put to use as she started on the left wing. After Smith subbed in to take that spot, St-Georges assumed Carabalí's right back position, who then moved over to center back since Araújo also exited the game.
Gambone replaced Caño but took the left mid position while Hasbo switched sides. For the last substitute of the night, Prince was subbed out and Smith took her spot on the right wing. Nicki Hernandez entered the game and played at left mid while Gambone shifted higher up the left wing.
The reorganization was partly due to the match becoming more transitional.
“We don’t like this game, but if we need to play it, we just need to pick the right players,” the coach told The Blazing Musket. “I think the players that came from the bench did a really, really good job because they understand the game’s going to be different. We need to adapt and we need to be ready for this type of game too.”
Even then, the players seamlessly covered for each other by playing deeper or switching sides. This squad truly embodied Patão’s “chameleonic” motto.
The coach likes having options. Patão said she places everyone in different positions during training so they’re able to understand what each role demands. Developing those skills results in more adept players and allows the coach to call on whomever when needed.
