Barbra Banda contributed to all three goals as the Orlando Pride remained undefeated with a 3-2 win over the Washington Spirit on Friday night in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Banda scored, assisted, and drew a penalty as the Pride (3-0-3) handed the Spirit (4-2-0) their first home loss this season.
Banda, acquired for a team-record transfer fee of $740,000, set up her team’s first goal in the 22nd minute. She beat her defender to the end line and crossed to Angelina, who ran into the box and volleyed her shot into the left corner.
Washington’s Ouleymata Sarr chipped goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse in the 41st minute to tie it at 1.
Banda scored her first NWSL goal early in the second half, heading in Julie Doyle’s flicked pass from a corner kick.
Banda drew a penalty in the 57th minute and Summer Yates got Aubrey Kingsbury to dive left and finished into the opposite corner to make it 3-1.