A second half flurry gave the Houston Dash their ninth victory of the season as they defeated Sky Blue FC 6-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium this evening. Up 1-0 at halftime, the Dash poured in five second-half goals, much to the delight of the 4,257 fans in attendance for Fan Appreciation Night.
Six different players found the net in the rout as the Dash set a franchise single-game scoring record. MF Sofia Huerta earned Player of the Game honors after scoring a goal, assisting on another and drawing a penalty that led to a third.
MF Linda Motlhalo got things started in the 22nd minute when she capitalized on a rebound inside the box. After Sky Blue goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan saved an effort from FW Rachel Daly, the South African international collected the rebound inside the box and finished at the top corner of the near post for her first goal of the season. She became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in the history of the league with the tally.
Houston doubled their lead just after halftime in the 48th minute off a cross from Huerta. The midfielder got free along the right flank and found FW Veronica Latsko at the edge of the six yard box for her fourth goal of the season. Huerta whipped in a curling cross behind the Sky Blue back line and Latsko leapt to get on the end of it, powering a header down into the turf and on into the back of the net to put Houston up 2-0.
Sky Blue cut the lead in half in the 54th minute after Imani Dorsey won a ball inside the box. The forward finished at the far post for her fourth goal of the season.
In the 65th minute, FW Kealia Ohai found Huerta at the edge of the far post where the midfielder scored her eighth goal of the season off a shot from a tight angle. Ohai’s cross sailed over everyone before Huerta corralled it near the end line and lofted a side volley across the goal from a very tight angle that went over the heads of the defenders before dropping under the crossbar and just inside the far post.
Huerta won a penalty kick two minutes later that was converted by Daly for her 10th goal of the season to give the home team some breathing room at 4-1.
Hungry to attack and knowing that every goal could count in the playoff race, the Dash pumped in two late insurance goals in the 88th and 91st minutes to provide the final margin. MF Haley Hanson scored in the 88th off of a corner kick. MF Kyah Simon curled in a ball from the right corner and Hanson put her right foot to it, taking it out of the air on her first touch to volley it into the back of the net.
The final goal came courtesy of FW Thembi Kgatlana in stoppage time. With Sky Blue pressing high up the field, DF Taylor Comeau launched a long ball to Kgatlana, who was all alone behind the defense 50 yards from goal as Sheridan raced to get back to her line. Kgatlana dribbled away from one chasing defender before slotting home a right-footed shot just inside the penalty area.
Houston will close the 2018 NWSL regular season on the road as they travel to WakeMed Soccer Park to face the North Carolina Courage on Sept. 8. The match will be streamed live at NWSLSoccer.com.
