Unbelievable twist: Gotham FC out for revenge as Orlando Pride's streak falls apart

This weekend's matchup between NJ/NY Gotham FC and Orlando Pride means so much more than a simple farewell to the regular season of the NWSL. These are two powerhouses going head-to-head, wanting to enter the knockout phase with great confidence despite having already secured playoff spots. And who knows; a categorical victory here could shape the course of their next games.

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Coming into the clash rather strong, visitors have an unbeaten run of eight wins in their last ten home matches, while Orlando Pride, whose unbeaten 24-game streak was snapped last week, looks towards regaining control and proving to the world that finishing first on the table was no joke.

Gotham's Home Dominance

When Gotham takes to the pitch at Red Bull Arena, one word engenders: dominance. Through recent home matches, the team has come to show a level of solidity that even the toughest of opponents can barely crack. There is Esther, the forward who seems to work her magic in the second half. Having scored nine NWSL career goals, all after halftime, she managed to firmly place herself as one of the key players.

Her status as one of the game's relentless finishers was on full display, bagging a stoppage-time goal against the Chicago Red Stars to seal the 2-0 win. Previously, Lynn Williams had given her side the lead off a penalty in the 87th minute.

Gotham is on a 10-game unbeaten streak, too, which only bolsters the team's ever-growing confidence. Last loss? Against none other than Orlando Pride back in early September, a 2-0 loss. That makes this weekend's match even more interesting. Aside from revenge, Gotham is aiming to make it five in a row in front of its home crowd for the first time in the club's history.

Orlando: Time to Bounce Back

On the other hand, Orlando Pride comes from that rare and painful 2-0 loss to Portland Thorns, and after going unbeaten in 24 straight games, performances took a dip, putting them under some heat. Now, head coach Seb Hines has to reset the team and put them on the right track, especially with players like Barbra Banda, who comes into this tie rested and with a big impact promised to be one of the key weapons in this game.

Hines is expected to start Banda, given her offensive power and an interesting stat in her favor: she's never experienced a loss when starting a game. She's just the kind of player Orlando needs to make certain of a solid and consistent performance heading into the playoffs. The recent loss did little to change things for the Pride, who remain at the top of the standings and have also clinched the number one seed for the 2024 playoffs, which cushions them a little. However, any hint of weakness may be a dangerous thing in a league as competitive as the NWSL.