Orlando Pride faces Kansas City Current in a thrilling fight for the NWSL Championship

This Sunday, November 17, the two great forces of the NWSL are going to clash for the same dream: a ticket to the final. Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current come into this semis riding great campaigns so far this season and promise an absolutely breathtaking encounter at Inter&Co Stadium. On one side, there is the continuity of the scoring machine from Kansas City, Temwa Chawinga. On one hand, Orlando's star forward, Barbra Banda, can change the course of a game in one play. And the setting? A rivalry that is recent, very well-balanced, and where both teams give everything on the field.

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From stories of resilience to standout stars and game-sharp strategies, this fixture isn't any ordinary game but indeed the climax of a season to remember.

Orlando Pride: A fortress at home and hungry for the title.

Orlando is coming off an almost flawless regular season at home, with 10 wins and 3 draws at the Inter&Co Stadium. The support from fans has been one of the team’s greatest assets, as evident in their 4-1 victory over the Chicago Red Stars in the quarterfinals. That night, Barbra Banda stole the spotlight, scoring twice and proving why she’s one of the league’s top forwards.

But the Orlando strength goes beyond Banda. It's a well-balanced team with a solid backline and a midfield that blends technique with skill. Coach Seb Hines knows that keeping a hold on the tempo of the game against a team like Current-which thrives on counterattacks-will be key.

Adding to their momentum, Pride comes into this game with the confidence of having won the NWSL Shield given to the best regular season team. But with success comes pressure. Meeting the lofty expectations set by their hometown crowd will be a crucial test.

Kansas City Current: Unbreachable wall and unstoppable Chawinga

Kansas City hasn't lost a game since September. Riding on a 10-game unbeaten streak, including 7 clean sheets, Current has shut up shop, almost impenetrable. This defensive solidity is spearheaded by the ever-assuring presence in goal, Almuth Schult, who played an important role during the team's turnaround in the second half of the season. And upfront? Temwa Chawinga. The forward is in sensational form, scoring 24 goals across all competitions in 2024. Against the Courage in the quarters, it was her opportunistic strike that sealed the win.

The strong point for Kansas City is balance between their defense and attack. The reinforcements of the likes of Alana Cook and Kayla Sharples, which reinforced the defensive system, allowed the attack to develop at full speed and with much precision. For Current, the challenge will be to try and take the unbeaten Orlando away from home and trying to beat a defense that conceded only 20 goals during the regular season.

Head-to-head: equilibrium and tension

Their two regular-season matchups showed just how close this matchup is going to be: in July, Orlando took a victory in Kansas City on a decisive penalty by Marta, and in September, at the Inter&Co Stadium, a goalless draw showed the defensive prowess for both teams.

While recent history may have both teams neck-and-neck, their different styles make for an even more mouth-watering encounter. While Pride depend on possession and creativity, Current bank on a solid back and Chawinga's ability to decide games. Whichever team manages to impose its style will always have the upper hand.

Stars in the spotlight: Banda and Chawinga

Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga are the cornerstones of their respective teams, carrying the hopes of their fans. Banda is an all-around striker with strength, speed, and precision. She has scored 15 goals and made 6 assists this season, and the knack she has for drawing penalties plus performing in crucial moments makes her a nightmare to any defense.

On the other hand, Chawinga is the embodiment of efficiency. Her 21 goals this season stand in proof that she knows how to find the back of the net even when the chips are down. Her ability to score on counterattacks and exploit open spaces will be important against Orlando's defence.

Key factors for the semifinal

This semifinal is likely to be a game of small margins, with a couple of deciding factors likely to become pivotal. Kansas City's proficiency in counterattacks will be important, the more so because of their quickly transitional plays and the ability to pounce on opened-up gaps. Should Orlando commit errors in dangerous areas, Chawinga will be ready to punish them.

The midfield battle is going to be so crucial too, as both teams have to stamp their authority in that position, but for Orlando, it will be very important to have possession and deny Chawinga the balls in those key spaces.

Home advantage just can't be shrugged off either. Inter&Co Stadium has been a fortress for Pride this season, and the electric atmosphere their fans will create might give them the necessary psychological edge.

Finally, physical fitness will play a very decisive role. After an extensive and intensive season, that team which manages their energy better in the crucial moments of the match will be at an advantage.

All signs indicate a thrilling battle.

Everything points toward a tight, intense encounter. On one side, Orlando Pride wants to show the world that their NWSL Shield win was no fluke and dominant in the playoffs, too. On the other hand, Kansas City Current seeks to prove its unbeaten streak is not coincidental and that it does have the goods that will take them to the final, even on foreign turf.

Skill, passion, and competition in equal measure await the fans. Whichever way the result may go, this match will be one wherein the very best of the NWSL would be on offer: top talent, unstoppable determination, and moments to remember.