When Orlando Pride and Pachuca met in a must-win clash in the 2025-26 CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup, it was Chinwendu Ihezuo who again proved vital at the Inter&Co Stadium on Thursday night.
With Pachuca needing only a draw to advance, Ihezuo’s composed equaliser in the 54th minute ensured her side progressed to the next stage of the competition as she stamped her name further on the tournament’s scoring charts, Footballrover reports.
Chinwendu Ihezuo shines despite the pressure
Just five minutes into the second half, Pachuca found their moment. After sustained pressure, Kenti Robles slipped a ball into the box.
Ihezuo made the decisive run, met the pass, and slotted a right-footed finish past the keeper.
The timing was perfect: it unsettled Orlando’s rhythm while giving Pachuca breathing room.
Ihezuo’s goal did more than just level the game. Entering the match tied atop the competition’s scoring charts, the strike put her in sole possession of the lead in that race with five goals (Concacaf).
The 28-year-old Super Falcons forward was in action for 90 minutes before being replaced by Alexandra Godinez.
Before this match, Chinwendu Ihezuo had already made headlines. In Pachuca’s earlier 5–0 win over LD Alajuelense, she recorded a hat-trick.
Her consistency across matches had made her a focal point for Pachuca’s attack option throughout the group stage.
However, it was Orlando who struck first through Marta’s stunning free kick in the 25th minute — a curling left-foot shot that hit the underside of the bar and went in. That goal gave the home side some confidence.
But Pachuca kept probing, and Ihezuo’s equaliser followed after a sustained spell of pressure.
From there, the game went back and forth as Orlando pushed for a winner, but Pachuca defended well and looked for counter moments as both sides managed to settle for a draw in the end.
With this result, Pachuca edged past Orlando on goal differential despite both teams finishing with 7 points, three more behind Group A leaders CF America.
Ihezuo’s goal enough to seal progression for Pachuca
The tiebreak favoured Pachuca. Ihezuo’s strike didn’t simply equalise the score—it sealed Pachuca’s progress to the knockout stages and ended Orlando’s continental dreams.
For Ihezuo, the night further sees her rise to be the tournament’s top markswoman. Her goal tally, previously tied at four, now stands alone—and the Super Falcons forward has also added five league goals to her season’s tally.
Chinwendu Ihezuo and her Pachuca teammates have now extended their unbeaten run to six matches — four wins and two draws.
With just two league games remaining, against Chivas and Club Tijuana, Pachuca will be aiming to finish strong after the international break (October 20–29), as they sit only two points behind league leaders Tigres.
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Last Updated on October 16, 2025 7:40 am by footballrover
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