The Dash have their sights set on climbing the league table with five games left in the regular season. Houston heads into this weekend’s match four points away from the last playoff spot.
Houston played its penultimate home game on Sunday, August 26 against the Kansas City Current. The visiting team took the lead in the 51st minute after midfielder Lo LaBonta was able to get the ball past the Houston backline. Sixteen minutes later, Michelle Alozie tied the match after scoring her second goal of the season. The Nigerian international forced a turnover in the Kansas City half of the field and took shot with the outside of her foot at the top of the box.
Midfielder Andressa Alves is expected to make her Houston Dash and NWSL debut this weekend. Alves arrived in Houston earlier this week and trained with the team in preparation for the match. The Brazilian midfielder spent four seasons with Italian side A.S. Roma, where she helped lead the club from league newcomer to its first Scudetto and UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification during the 2022-23 season. Andressa’s 2022-23 season included a career best 17 goals across all competitions and inclusion in Serie A Femminile’s Top 11.
San Diego enters the match following a 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride on Friday, August 25. Former Dash defender Abby Dahlkemper scored the opening goal of the game to give the Wave the early lead. With 15 minutes left in the match, forward Kyra Carusa scored the game winner.
Houston travels to Kentucky to take on Racing Louisville FC on Friday, September 15 for the final regular season meeting between the two teams. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
