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For the first time in five years, the National Women’s Soccer League top seeds have made it through to the final game. When the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit meet in the Championship this Sunday, there will be little argument that we are watching the two finest teams in the league, even considering the great efforts of Kansas City Current and NJ/NY Gotham FC.
The winner will be a thoroughly deserving one, but predicting which team that will be is a tough task, particularly on the basis of their two regular season meetings. Orlando won both — 3-2 away, 2-0 at home — though the circumstances on each occasion were far from ideal.
For the first meeting, back in April, the Spirit were without head coach Jonatan Giráldez, at that time attending to unfinished business with Barcelona. Orlando, meanwhile, were still figuring things out, establishing their best lineup and trying new ideas. By the time the two sides met once again in October, Orlando’s long unbeaten run had become a heavy…
