The Houston Dash dropped their final game of the Women’s International Champions Cup 3-2 to the reigning UEFA Women’s Champions League winners, FC Barcelona, at Providence Park this evening.
Barcelona took the lead in the 35th minute after Aitana Bonmati played a ball into the box for Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic. The forward’s effort hit the bottom of the crossbar and rolled to the far post for the opening goal of the game.
Houston equalized in the 48th minute following a free kick from Rachel Daly. The ball skipped into the box and Dash defender Katie Naughton forced an own goal Jana Fernández, who attempted to clear the ball at the opposite post.
The Dash doubled their lead in the 63rd minute after defender Jasmyne Spencer found forward Shea Groom at the near post. Groom’s header beat the Barcelona goalkeeper for her third goal of the tournament. Groom leads all players with three goals in the Women’s International Champions Cup after scoring a brace on Wednesday against the Portland Thorns.
Dash defender Megan Oyster conceded foul inside the box in the 71st minute and Alexia Putellas scored from the penalty spot to bring the game level in the 72nd minute.
The reigning UEFA Champions League winners took the lead six minutes later after Putellas’ shot from outside the box beat the Dash goalkeeper at the near post.
Houston’s first opportunity of the game came after Groom found forward Veronica Latsko behind the Barcelona backline in the 18th minute, but the ball went out of play after the Dash forward dribbled past Barcelona goalkeeper Gemma Font.
The Dash backline blocked a shot from Claudia Pina in the 21st minute and the Barcelona forward just missed the inside of the near post two minutes later.
Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell was called into action in the 27th minute when she punched Patricia Guijarro’s effort out of play. Campbell finished with nine saves against Barcelona.
Forward Michaela Abam entered the game in the 67th minute and 20 minutes into her shift the Houston native chipped a ball over the Barcelona goalkeeper that just missed the inside of the far post.
The Houston Dash return to BBVA Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 29 to host Racing Louisville. This is the first meeting between both teams in Houston and the second meeting of the regular season.
