The Houston Dash earned a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw against OL Reign in front of the largest crowd this season.
The Dash played the entirety of the second half down a player after defender Natalie Jacobs was given a red card by referee Danielle Chesky for Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring opportunity (DOGSO).
Despite being down a player for half of the match the Dash attempted 18 shots in the game, their highest total in a single match this season. Houston forced OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to make five saves. Additionally, the Dash kept the Reign attack limited by only allowing eight shots enroute to the team’s fifth clean sheet of the year.
Forwards María Sánchez and Diana Ordóñez nearly connected in the fourth minute of the match after Sánchez whipped a ball into the box from the left side of the goal toward a streaking Ordóñez. The ball narrowly missed the head of Ordóñez and was handled by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Sánchez took the free kick awarded to Houston in the 22nd minute after OL Reign midfielder Quinn conceded a foul. Sánchez nearly snuck the ball in between the far post and Tullis-Joyce. However, the OL Reign shot stopper made a diving save to punch the ball away from goal. Houston’s second attempt went wide and out of bounds.
Forward Michelle Alozie nearly scored in the 35th minute after applying pressure to the OL Reign backline that nearly caused a mistake. Alozie was able to get on the ball but collided with Tullis-Joyce, who managed to handle the ball before the Nigerian international could put the ball past her.
Jacobs was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute of the match after taking an OL Reign attacker one-on-one. After a lengthy video review by referee Chesky, Jacobs was showing a red card. Houston continued the match with 10 players.
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who in this match broke the club record for most regular season appearances by a player, made a key save in the opening minutes of the second half. Campbell finished the night with one save and as of Saturday evening had the best goals against average in the NWSL.
Midfielder Joelle Anderson nearly scored her second goal of the season in the 54th minute after a rebound fell to her feet. Anderson’s shot was deflected out of bounds at the last second by an OL Reign defender.
Anderson nearly scored again six minutes later in the 60th minute but the shot was handled by Tullis-Joyce.
Forward Ebony Salmon entered the match as a substitute in the 85th minute and immediately made an impact by applying pressure to the back line. As Salmon battled the defender Tullis-Joyce was forced to kick the ball out of bounds for a Dash throw in.
In the first minute of second half stoppage time, Salmon had an open look on goal but forced OL Regin to concede a corner kick.
Two minutes later in the 90+3-minute, Houston had another opportunity in front of OL Reign’s goal. Salmon and forward Ryan Gareis were both caught in between several OL Reign defenders. The slow rolling shot nearly crossed the goal line but was cleared by the OL Regin defense before it could make it.
Houston will travel to Hollywood to take on Angel City FC at BMO Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 25 at 7:00pm CT.
