Barbra Banda delivered another outstanding performance, scoring twice and providing an assist as Orlando Pride secured a 3-1 victory over Bay FC in the NWSL.
The Zambia captain opened the scoring after just four minutes, expertly drifting into space behind the defence before calmly finishing from close range.
Bay FC responded swiftly, with Caroline Conti drawing the visitors level three minutes later through a powerful low strike.
Banda restored Orlando’s advantage six minutes into the second half. Latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Summer Yates, she rounded goalkeeper Emmie Allen before slotting into an empty net.
The forward then turned creator four minutes later, setting up Cori Dyke, who rifled an emphatic effort into the roof of the net to seal the win for the Pride.
The brace takes Banda’s league tally to 11 goals this season to extend her lead in the golden boot race.
However, the evening was not without concern for Orlando and Zambia. Banda appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and was forced off around the 80th minute, leaving the Pride to see out the closing stages with ten players after exhausting their substitutions.
The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, but the setback could place her participation in Zambia’s upcoming Four Nations Tournament in doubt.
Meanwhile, fellow Copper Queens star Rachel Kundananji featured for Bay FC and played 75 minutes.
