KANSAS CITY, MO. (June 28, 2024) – The Houston Dash opened a two-game road trip with a 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium earlier today.
Kansas City took the lead in the 77th minute after a turnover in the final third. Temwa Chawinga capitalized on the loose ball and found the back of the net for the first of her two goals. The Malawian international doubled Kansas City’s lead three minutes later.
The Dash navigated early pressure from Kansas City with three corner kicks in the opening quarter of the match. Defender Paige Nielsen blocked Hailie Mace’s shot at the edge of the box in the 13th minute and the defender led the team with four interceptions.
Kansas City nearly took the lead in the 20th minute after Chawinga found space behind the Dash backline, but her effort was off target and went wide of the near post.
Houston responded a minute later after forward Michelle Alozie played a ball into the box for Diana Ordóñez. The Mexican international created space for a shot but her effort was saved by Adrianna Franch.
Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell was called into action in the 35th minute to deny Chawinga following a breakaway run. Campbell finished with seven saves against the Current tonight. The Dash captain also reached 500 saves in regular season play tonight. She is the first player to reach that mark with one club and the fourth player to reach the milestone.
Defensively, midfielder Sophie Schmidt led the team with eight recoveries and defender Natalie Jacobs finished with 13 clearances. Nielsen led the team with 10 duels won and midfielder Sarah Puntigam led the team with 15 duels.
Houston’s final opportunity of the first half came off the left foot of Courtney Petersen who won a corner kick in the final minutes of stoppage time. The Kansas City backline cleared the ball and the rebound fell to Petersen, but her effort was off target.
Houston’s first opportunity of the second half came in the 58th minute off a cross from Puntigam. The midfielder forced a clearance at the top of the six-yard box that led to a corner kick.
Forward Amanda West created space for a shot that was blocked in the 87th minute. The deflection fell to defender Avery Patterson and her shot just missed the top corner of the far post.
The Dash close this two-game road trip on Saturday, June 6 against the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, July 28 to host Tigres UANL in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup.
