Marta, Orlando Pride advance to NWSL Championship for the first time in thrilling win over Kansas City Current

The Orlando Pride are headed to the 2024 NWSL Championship after holding on to edge the Kansas City Current, 3-2 in a thrilling, physical semifinal Sunday in Orlando.

The Pride will face the Washington Spirit on Saturday in the title match at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, marking the first time Orlando have ever reached the NWSL Championship.

Kansas City got on the scoring board first, when Michelle Cooper sent a dangerous ball across the box to Debinha running to the far post. Debinha struck the ball one time and slammed it past Orlando's Anna Moorhouse to make it 1-0.

Just minutes later, Orlando equalized, thanks to Haley McCutcheon's strike in the 40th minute. The game was even into halftime.

In the 52nd minute, Orlando took the lead when Barbra Banda received the ball centrally, turning Kayla Sharples and burying the ball past KC goalkeeper Almuth Schult.

The game was sealed by no other than legendary Brazilian Marta in the 81st minute. Playing in her last season, Marta quite literally scorched past three KC defenders, chopping, dangling, and dribbling as she does, and then took a touch around Schult to make it 3-1.

Despite the Current battling to get goals back, the Pride's defense would not let down. Between Emily Sams and Kylie Strom, the Current were denied almost any chance or time in front of the net. That was until the 13th minute of stoppage time.

The Pride were called for a handball in the box, and the Current were given a penalty kick. Vanessa DiBernardo stepped up to take the penalty for the Current and placed it far right, past Moorhouse.

And just like that, after a wild game with 13+ minutes of extra time, the Pride - 2024 NWSL Shield winners - will face the Spirit for the 2024 NWSL Championship. Marta, six-time FIFA Female Player of the Year, will fight for her first NWSL championship against Trinity Rodman and Washington in Kansas City next weekend.