Marta, captain of the Orlando Pride, expressed her disappointment after a narrow loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL semifinals. She questioned a key referee decision and praised her team's strong effort throughout the season.
Marta, known for her strong competitive spirit, showed her frustration after Orlando Pride's 1-0 loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL semifinals. The match was decided in the sixth minute of stoppage time, with a free kick awarded to Gotham FC that led to the winning goal. Marta was upset by the timing and nature of the decision.
After the game, Marta spoke to reporters, saying, "We should have lost the game, but not this way." She questioned the referee's decision, adding, "I did not see that there was a fault." Despite her disappointment, she acknowledged that her team could have been more aggressive during the match.
The Pride had a difficult season, finishing as the fourth seed after losing their star forward Barbra Banda to injury. Marta praised her teammates' resilience, stating, "Many people believed that we couldn’t go so far, especially after we lost Barbra." The team reached the semifinals following a strong win against Seattle Reign in the quarterfinals.
Although Marta retired from international soccer after the 2024 Olympics, she remains dedicated to her professional career. She recently signed a new contract with Orlando Pride through the 2026 season, showing her commitment to continue competing. Marta said, "I still care this much," expressing her passion for the game.
Following the loss, Marta became emotional when talking about her teammates. She emphasized that the team is more than just the starting eleven players, saying, "This team isn’t made of 11 players; it’s made of 26." She also addressed criticism about the team's depth, highlighting that their success comes from working together as a group.
