Houston Dash bested Racing Louisville by a final score of 1-0 tonight at BBVA Stadium.
After a scoreless first half, the Dash scored the lone goal of the game in the 49th minute, when forward Nichelle Prince found fellow forward Rachel Daly streaking into the box. Daly needed just one touch to strike the ball with her right foot past the diving Louisville keeper and into the back of the next to break open the game for the Dash.
Daly's goal is the third of the season for the English national and the 27th of her NWSL career.
Louisville got the game’s first opportunity to score off an Emina Ekic free kick, which the midfielder struck into the box in the ninth minute. After ricocheting off a number of players from both sides, Louisville’s Nealy Martin got a clean shot off before Houston defender Katie Naughton blocked the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
The game’s next shot on goal came courtesy of Louisville’s Nadia Nadim in the 25th minute. After making her way from the midfield into Houston’s attacking third, the forward shot the ball from outside the 18 yard box, however Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell had little trouble swallowing up the midfielder’s shot. Campbell finished with three saves and her first clean sheet since a 2-0 victory over OL Reign on July 2 at BBVA Stadium.
Campbell finished the game with the 15th clean sheet of her NWSL career, tied for seventh most in league history.
Houston’s best scoring chance of the first half came in the 29th minute, when forward Veronica Latsko received a pass from a teammate and found herself open inside the box with only the keeper to beat. The Dash forward struck the ball sharply with her left foot, but sent it directly into the arms of Louisville captain and goalie Michelle Betos.
Just before the halftime whistle blew, Prince dribbled the ball up the right flank all the way into the penalty box. The gold medal winner attempted to find Daly on the other end of a cross, but the Louisville keeper pounced in front of the ball before it could reach her Dash teammate.
The second half featured a number of chances outside of just the game’s lone goal, including a long-range effort from forward Michaela Abam in the 88th minute that did not have quite enough power to get past the Louisville keeper.
Houston’s next match will come this Wednesday night at home when they take on OL Reign. The first 1,000 attendees of Wednesday's game will receive a free Rachel Daly bobblehead, presented by MD Anderson. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT and tickets are available at HoustonDash.com/tickets.
