Alright, let's give this old crystal ball a polish and predict the outcome of the clash between Orlando Pride and Houston Dash in a National Women's Soccer League matchup.
The soil between these two clubs has been tread on multiple times in the past, with Orlando Pride usually coming out on top. The last four games paint a clear picture: Orlando won three out of four. The last head-on collision resulted in a 1-0 win for Orlando. Houston, my dear, we might have a problem.
Looking at recent form, Houston Dash is akin to a misfiring engine with sparks spurting out erratically. A single victory in their last five games don't inspire much confidence, does it?
Orlando Pride, on the other hand, it's as if they took a vow of winning, with only one game ending in a stalemate recently. Regular season records also symbolize the same story. Orlando has been a tempest, crushing their opposition, while Houston, let's just say, they've seen better days.
Now, let's talk about the glove guardians, the last line of defense, the goalkeepers. Houston Dash's Jane Campbell has been decent between the sticks with a rating of 6.90 and twelve saves. Orlando Pride's Anna Moorhouse, however, stands tall with a rating of 7.45 and thirteen saves. Yeah, Anna's Moorhouse is definitely stronger.
Positioned upfront, carrying the hopes of the team are some amazing players. For Houston, Natalie Jacobs and Tarciane are shining the brightest with their impressive pass accuracies. But, it's all about putting the ball in the back of the net, isn't it? Enter Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda with her fierce nine shots on target. Paired up with Adriana who scored two goals recently, this duo could pose quite the threat to Houston's defense. Marta too has added to their goal tally. Etching her name on the scoresheet, she's been one of the regulars.
Well, if there's one thing I've learned from all these years in this line of work, it's that predictions are a tricky business. But hey, I'm not one to back down from a challenge. So here goes...
Albert’s Prediction: Orlando Pride by 2