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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Alexander Abnos

Marta has lived through long, lean years. Now she has another title

Marta, left, kisses the trophy as Barbra Banda looks on in the aftermath of Orlando’s win over Washington on Saturday for the NWSL title.
Marta, left, kisses the trophy as Barbra Banda looks on in the aftermath of Orlando’s win over Washington on Saturday for the NWSL title. Photograph: Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports

For so long, on so many occasions, it felt like Marta’s time. On Saturday, it finally was.

The Orlando Pride, captained by the 38-year-old Brazilian playmaker and spearheaded by incandescent striker Barbra Banda, completed one of the most dominant seasons in NWSL history on Saturday with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit in the league’s championship game. The title is the team’s first ever, and Marta’s first win in a final at club level since the 2011 WPS championship with the Western New York Flash.

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