A stoppage-time goal from Jasmyne Spencer gave the Orlando Pride its third consecutive victory over the Houston Dash Thursday evening at Camping World Stadium.
The game-winning goal came in second-half stoppage time when Spencer found Alex Morgan outside the 18-yard box. The U.S. Women’s National Team star crossed the ball into the box past Spencer to Jamia Fields near the penalty spot drawing three Dash defenders as she passed the ball to Sarah Hagen. The second-half substitute found Spencer unmarked eight yards away from goal. The forward scored her second goal of the season with a shot towards the near post.
The Dash have now lost the five consecutive games by an identical 1-0 score line. Two of those games have been to the Pride who defeated Houston on May 20. The Pride visit Houston on Sept. 3 for the final game of the season series.
The Pride attack focused on feeding Morgan early in the game. The USWNT star finished with seven shots and the first came in the 2nd minute when her header went over the crossbar. Ten minutes later back-to-back shots went over the crossbar.
Rachel Daly and Chioma Ubogagu weaved passes along the left flank that sprung Ubogagu into the box but her shot went wide of the far post in the 27th minute.
Daly forced a save from Ashlyn Harris a minute later when her shot at the edge of the 18-yard box was deflected at the near post.
Ellie Brush’s 25-yard pass found Kealia Ohai at the edge of the 18-yard box. The team captain found Ubogagu at the back post but her shot went wide of the near post.
Denise O’Sullivan controlled Poliana’s cross with her chest, between two defenders near the penalty spot but her shot went wide of the near post in the 50th minute.
Andressa attempted to replicate her last goal against Orlando with a long-range shot that forced a save from Harris in the 55th minute.
Daly dribbled past Kristen Edmonds in the 85th minute but her shot was blocked by Sam Witteman. The rebound fell to Poliana who attempted a pass to Cami Privett outside the six-yard box. Monica Hickmann got to the ball first but her first touch was too heavy and the ball fell to Poliana. The Brazilian passed the ball to Becca Moros but her header went wide of the near post.
Morgan’s final opportunity of the night came in the 88th minute. She intercepted a ball intended for Poliana in the Pride’s end of the field. The counterattack came to an end when Moros forced Morgan to shot at the near post. Her shot was saved by Lydia Williams.
Poliana’s shot in the 90th minute was deflected by a Pride defender, the rebound fell to Daly who executed a bicycle kick that a lunging Harris punched away from goal. Amber Brooks recovered the ball, found Privett inside the six-yard box but her shot went straight to Harris.
Houston Dash (2-6-1, 7 points) vs. Orlando Pride (5-5-0, 15 points)
NWSL Regular Season
June 23, 2016—Camping World Stadium—Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 6,870
Scoring Summary:
KC: Jasmyne Spencer 2 (Sarah Hagen 2) 92+
1 2 F
Houston Dash 0 0 0
Orlando Pride 0 1 1
Houston Dash Lineup: Lydia Williams; Poliana, Cari Roccaro, Ellie Brush, Becca Moros; Morgan Brian (Amber Brooks 68); Andressa, Denise O’Sullivan; Kealia Ohai (Stephanie Ochs 80), Chioma Ubogagu (Cami Privett 75), Rachel Daly
Subs not used: Bianca Henninger, Janine Beckie, Allysha Chapman
Orlando Pride Lineup: Ashlyn Harris; Josee Belanger (Jasmyne Spencer 68), Monica Hickmann, Toni Pressley (Laura Alleway 60), Stephanie Catley, Kristen Edmonds; Becky Edwards (Sarah Hagen 81), Maddy Evans, Sam Witteman; Alex Morgan, Jamia Fields
Subs not used: Megan Dorsey, Dani Weatherholt, Kaylyn Kyle, Christina Burkenroad
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: Poliana (caution) 67
HOU: Ellie Brush (caution) 74
Referee: Marco Vega
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Abigail Van Note
Fourth Official: Gary Gutierrez
