San Diego Wave suffer 2-1 loss to Orlando for first defeat of 2025
Credit: SD Wave
The San Diego Wave visited Orlando Pride for a match in the third matchday of the 2025 NWSL regular season. San Diego were undefeated going into this match and failed to keep that up in this match.
Head coach Jonas Eidevall used the same starting 11 that defeated Utah Royals 3-2 last week at Snapdragon Stadium. Kailen Sheridan was in between the sticks. The backline was made up of Perle Morroni, Kristen McNabb, Kennedy Wesley and Hanna Lundkvist.
The midfield consisted of Kenza Dali and Savannah McCaskill. While the attack featured Gia Corley, Maria Sanchez, Delphine Cascarino and Adriana Leon.
The opening 45 minutes at Inter & Co Stadium were very dull with neither team managing a shot on target.
The Wave were the better team in the first half, making the Orlando backline work slightly more than their own. San Diego controlled possession in the first half, but needed to much more on the ball with that control.
Orlando began the second half aggressively with a few scoring opportunities. Kailen Sheridan saved a pair of shots, before Orlando finally found the back of the net in the 50th minute.
Marta executed a corner kick that found Barbra Banda and she then passed the ball to Haley McCutcheon, who tapped the ball into the net.
Jonas Eidevall realized he needed to make a change and made three substitutions in the 60th minute. Melanie Barcenas, Kimmi Ascanio and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu replaced Maria Sanchez, Adriana Leon and Gia Corley.
This was a bold move by Eidevall, who opted for the youth of Ascanio and Barcenas, who are both 17 years old and 19-year-old Okwuchukwu. These changes immediately paid off with Okwuchukwu tying the game up in the 62th minute.
A dream debut for 19-year-old Chiamaka Okwuchukwu!
The Nigerian nets her first NWSL goal after subbing in under 2 minutes! pic.twitter.com/Zwe2QQWJoT
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 29, 2025
Kenza Dali sent in a perfect cross into the box that landed right on Okwuchukwu’s head and then into the box. VAR reviewed the play for a possible foul, but the goal stood and the game was all square at Inter & Co Stadium.
In the 75th minute, Barbra Banda was taken down inside of the box and Orlando was awarded a penalty kick. The legendary Marta stepped up to take the kick, but smashed the post and missed the opportunity.
However, Kailen Sheridan was called on encroachment and the penalty needed to be retaken. Marta did not miss the penalty this time around and that ended up being the decisive goal in there match.
MARTA WITH THE PANENKA
MARTA WITH THE PANENKA
MARTA WITH THE PANENKApic.twitter.com/Mtzyal9e23
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 29, 2025
This was very unlucky for the Wave as Kailen Sheridan did not even touch the ball, as she dove the other way. However, the rule book is very clear on these plays and the call was clear.
Orlando is arguably the team in best form in the NWSL at the moment as this was always going to be a tough game. San Diego had more possession in the match, but Orlando was more effective on the offensive side of the ball.
There is an interantional break coming up in the NWSL and the next game for the Wave will be on April 12 against the Kansas City Current.
Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.