Former Manchester United defender Turner makes Orlando Pride debut in Courage defeat

Former Manchester United defender Amy Turner made her debut for new club Orlando Pride as they lost 2-0 to North Carolina Courage last night.

The 30-year-old Sheffield-born centre-back left Manchester United to move to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) last month and she got the opportunity to pull on an Orlando Pride shirt for the very first time as they faced North Carolina Courage at the Exploria Stadium.

Turner started the match as a substitute but head coach Marc Skinner brought the player on for Toni Pressley with 10 minutes of the game remaining.

The Pride went into the match having been defeated 2-1 by Houston Dash last time out and they found themselves a goal down to North Carolina Courage after just three minutes when Brazilian international Debinha found the back of the net. Havana Solaun’s goal doubled her side’s advantage 21 minutes into the second half and by the time that new signing Turner was able to put her stamp on the game, the points were already lost.

North Carolina Courage now top the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with Orlando Pride sitting second after suffering back-to-back defeats. The Pride were unbeaten in their opening seven matches before those losses.

Skinner’s side face Racing Louisville next weekend with defender Turner hoping for a full debut as the club look to bring back some defensive solidity.