Bermudian international Leilanni Nesbeth was an unused substitute as her Chicago Stars FC side suffered a clinical 3-0 defeat at the hands of a rampant Orlando Pride.
The visitors produced a devastating first-half display to take the game away from the Stars, with goals from Barbra Banda, Jacqueline Ovalle, and Hannah Anderson securing the points before the interval. Despite the scoreline, Chicago did create openings of their own. Ryan Gareis looked a persistent threat on the left wing, latching onto a service from midfield and outrunning her marker, but her ambitious effort from distance sailed over the crossbar.
While the Stars found multiple promising sights of goal, they lacked the final touch to breach the Orlando defence. The result leaves the Chicago outfit looking for a quick response in their next fixture as they navigate the early stages of the NWSL campaign.
Meanwhile, attention shifts to the English capital this Saturday as another Bermudian star, Kenni Thompson, prepares for one of the biggest matches in her club's history. Thompson and her AFC Bournemouth Women teammates travel to London to face Plymouth Argyle in the highly anticipated final of the FA Women's National League Cup.
The showpiece event at QPR’s MATRADE Loftus Road represents a significant milestone for the Cherries. Following a historic campaign that included a deep run to the fourth round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup, the Dorset side is now just ninety minutes away from lifting their first-ever National League Cup trophy.
Thompson has been a pivotal figure in the Bournemouth attack throughout this cup run. The winger was instrumental in the 2-0 semi-final triumph over West Bromwich Albion and previously demonstrated her composure by converting the decisive penalty in a narrow 1-0 victory over QPR. With the eyes of the National League on Loftus Road, Thompson will be hoping to lead the Cherries to a maiden title.
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