After this upcoming weekend’s matchups, NWSL will be at its season’s halfway point. Meanwhile, all 12 NWSL teams are still in the thick of the Challenge Cup. This Wednesday there is only one match, Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride at Red Bull Arena. It is still early in the group stage, but Gotham is first in the east division while Orlando is at the bottom of the standings. A win for either team could have major ramifications on the division table.
No doubt about it.
Jenna Nighswonger is May’s @ally Rookie of the Month!
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 6, 2023
Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride Predictions for Wednesday
Gotham FC Current Run of Form
Gotham is coming off a loss to the San Diego Wave at home 1-0 in front of a record crowd for the club. This puts Gotham in fourth place in the league table with 17 points. The Club is 2-1-2 in the last five matches of league play. After two matches played in the challenge cup, Gotham is first in the east division with four points. First with a 1-0 victory at home against the Washington Spirit. Then, a 1-1 draw on the road in North Carolina against the Courage.
shaw to doniak FORTY FIVE SECONDS after subbing on
game changers ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/dG3PxRLF5k
— x – San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) June 4, 2023
Orlando Pride Current Run of Form
After a winless start to the NWSL regular season, Orlando was 3-0-1 over four weeks. They have since lost two matches in a row to both Chicago and Houston. The Pride currently sit ninth in the league table with 10 points. That puts them five points below the playoff line almost at the season’s halfway mark. Meanwhile, Orlando finds themselves at the bottom of the east division in the challenge cup with just one point from a draw against North Carolina. Their last match in the cup was a 4-2 loss on the road against the Washington Spirit.
Go on then, @alozieee#DTFOpic.twitter.com/6xfr2Nw8w3
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) June 4, 2023
Recent Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride Head to Head
Gotham FC and Orlando have already met twice this season in NWSL regular season play. Gotham went on the road to Exploria Stadium in Orland and shut out the Pride 2-0. Both Gotham goals came deep in stoppage time with a Midge Purse penalty followed by a Lynn Williams goal to seal the victory. The two teams met at Red Bull Arena a month later and played to a 0-0 draw.
Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride Prediction
This could end up being a critical early matchup for the east division in the Challenge Cup. A Gotham win would see them continue to stay atop the table with seven points. They would also temporarily have a four-point advantage over the second-place Washington Spirit. However, an Orlando victory would see the gap tighten and the Pride would equal Gotham’s four points. The rotation has been a major adjustment team have had to navigate this year. This is the first time that the Challenge Cup coincided with the regular season, leading clubs to dig deep into their roster. When it comes to depth, Gotham has an advantage over Orlando, whose roster is still thin on talent. This combined with the Pride’s poor form of late should result in a Gotham clean sheet and victory 3-0.
Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports, on May 14, 2023, of an Ally Watt Headshot.
