several things from pride v. current III

The third installment of Orlando v. Kansas City made it the best trilogy since The Dark Knight movies (do not @ me). Orlando prevailed, again, making this seem less a toe-to-toe rivalry and more Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova. But the true delight is in how Orlando made it so convincing, despite a Danielle Chesky-aided stoppage time penalty making the final score 3-2.

It may not have been the tactical showcase of Gotham/Spirit, but people pay millions to watch CGI beings fight in IMAX theaters. This was that, except without the computerized graphics and instead real-life titans of women’s soccer.

the xG battle was full of lies

As mentioned, the late penalty makes the box score a lot more flattering for Kansas City. Without the penalty (.78 xG), this is a 1.78/1.51 clash where the difference was Orlando’s superstars showing every ounce of their superstar quality.

On that though, I have to point out that there are some untruths in viewing Marta’s .76 xG game winner in isolation. The shot certainly ended up being close range, and dispatched into an open net. But everything she had to do to create that chance is more important, and more incomprehensible, than the shot itself.

they up there somewhere

This was very funny. This matchup has always been billed as Temwa Chawinga versus Barbra Banda and both teams gave the people what they wanted. The problem for Kansas City is that Chawinga was far more isolated than Banda. Marta was just above the center circle but close enough to Banda to create multiple central forward passing options, while Ally Watt provided an option out wide. Kansas City didn’t quite have that, often leaving Chawinga going 1vSeveral against the joint-stingiest defense in the league.

this michelle cooper cross was absurd

Ok but before Orlando decided to politely request that its superstar attackers do outrageous things, Michelle Cooper provided the first bit of outrageousness on the day. Cooper was a shoot first ask questions later striker in college at Duke, and her powerful strikes regularly found top corners or the back of the net. Her transformation into a wide player with pinpoint crossing abilities at the pro level has been incredible, and quite unexpected.

This cross is a perfect example of how good she’s become at translating her striking ability into providing laser-guided service from wide areas. Watch how she settles the ball and the body shape she contorts into before connecting with the ball. It was all intentional to put that exact spin and trajectory on the cross, keeping it away from Moorhouse, and letting it skip off the grass into Debinha’s path at the far post. Outrageous stuff.

the real ally watt is here

Ally Watt has always had lightning speed and has used it to have a successful NWSL career. But in this team she provides something no one else can: a true blazing fast wide player. Orlando have a lot of attackers who like to get central or cut inside, not Watt. When a defense is focused on clogging up the middle to stifle Banda, Marta, Adriana and Summer Yates, a throughball up the flank for Watt to run onto feels unfair.

What makes it even more unfair is that Watt has upped her game, delivering three goals and four assist in all competitions. Ridiculously, three of those assists have come in the last two playoff games.

barbra mf’n banda

One of my favorite things to watch in this sport is classic center forward play. When strength, balance, creativity, and technique combine to produce something that seems rehearsed or ordained, I can’t help but delight in it. It’s the epitome of everything this sport requires, all within seemingly one motion, to do the hardest thing there is to do on the pitch: score a goal.

Banda did that. In the replay you can see her calling for the ball early, pointing to the sky like LeBron on a fast break. Kylie Strom obliged and Banda started enacting her plan. She pinned KC center back Kayla Sharples on her back and stood firm to give the ball a safe space to drop to the ground. A quick touch ensured it wouldn’t skip too far away, and as Banda rolled toward the ball it popped up nicely for her to hit on the half volley. Plucking it out of the air with her right boot, Banda unleashed the a strike so clean the ball was in the net within a blink.

I could watch this goal a thousand million times and it still wouldn’t be enough.

heavens

I am caught in two minds here. I like poetically gushing about soccer, and especially incredible goals. And I want to do that here for Marta, because she deserves it. Thing is, I am not qualified. Not on some ‘woe is me’ shit, just that few people are. I mean, what can I or 99.9% of people on this planet type that will live up to that? That will enhance something that cannot be enhanced? That will evoke all the emotions of watching it for the first time? Then the emotions of watching it for the 300th time?

I wouldn’t dare dishonor Marta or this goal with my meager words. All I can say is scroll up, center it on your screen, and let it loop until you’re filled with gratitude at being alive at the same time as Marta Vieira da Silva.

marta deserves this, all of this

It’s no secret that I cover the Washington Spirit, the team Orlando will face in the NWSL Championship. The Spirit have had their own struggles and renaissance, and their run, despite all their injuries, is nearly as improbable as the season the Pride have had. But I cannot tell you that it would not be nearly perfect, incredible, and full on sob-inducing to watch Marta, who stuck with Orlando through shitty season after shitty season (repeat several more times), get to the top of this league.

Every other iteration of the Pride has not deserved her. This one has, and with her retiring from international duty and turning 39 in February, just in time.

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