The Houston Dash picked up a crucial road victory, topping the Orlando Pride 1-0 this evening at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. With the win, the Dash improve to 6-6-4 on the season and moved up to fifth in the NWSL table.
Forward Rachel Daly converted a penalty in the 87th minute for the game-winning goal. The scoring strike was Daly’s fifth of the season and her third game-winning goal of the year.
The penalty capped off a tumultuous sequence that started when captain Kealia Ohai was brought down inside the penalty area by an Orlando defender. As referee Reyna Fonseca consulted with her assistant referee near the sideline, Orlando forward Marta threw Daly to the turf as the England international stood over the ball, earning her an early exit from the match.
After tempers cooled on all sides, Daly calmly stepped up and buried the penalty in the left side netting of the goal to put Houston in front with just minutes remaining.
Even before the penalty, the Dash had the better of play for the majority of the match, controlling the ball for 54.2 percent of the match, outshooting Orlando 13-11 and winning more than 60 percent of the 50-50 duels in the contest.
Houston created the first chance on goal six minutes into the game when Ohai outran Pride defender Carson Pickett on the left side of the field and served in a cross toward forward Jamia Fields. Fields got her foot on the ball, but it was deflected by Pride defender Julie King.
Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell made her first key save of the game when Pride midfielder Marisa Viggiano shot inside the box in the 11th minute. Pride forward Chioma Ubogagu drove the ball past Dash defender Haley Hanson and into the box to give Viggiano a chance in front of goal, but Campbell reacted quickly to leap and push the ball over the bar. Campbell was credited with three saves on the night as she kept a clean sheet for the fifth time this season.
Ohai continued to create pressure on the left wing using her speed to get behind the Pride defense and cross balls into dangerous spots. In the 30th minute, the captain beat Pride defender Ali Krieger and whipped in a ball that Daly headed toward the goal, but Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was able to get her hands on the ball.
Houston came out in the second half and quickly took control of the momentum. In the 52nd minute, midfielder Kristie Mewis found space in between Orlando’s center backs and quickly played a through pass to put Fields in on goal. Fields, with two Pride defenders behind her, fired a low shot to the right side of the goal, but her effort trickled just wide.
Two minutes later, midfielder Sofia Huerta tested her luck on a ball from just outside the box and sent a curling effort toward the top right corner of the goal. The shot had Harris beaten, but nicked the corner of the crossbar and bounced out.
In the 61st minute, the Dash went up a player when Pride defender Julie King received a red card for bringing down Mewis from behind. Mewis had a clear look at goal and King was the last defender back when she reached out and pulled the midfielder down at the edge of the penalty area.
With a player advantage, the Dash began to put more and more pressure on over the final half-hour, creating five excellent scoring chances in less than 20 minutes. Ohai continued to torment the Pride back line, facilitating chance after chance before ultimately drawing the game-winning penalty.
The Dash will enjoy a bye week before they are back at home to host Sky Blue FC on August 24 at 8:30 p.m. CDT at BBVA Stadium. Tickets for the match start at $15 and are available at HoustonDashSoccer.com.
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Orlando Pride (3-10-2; 11 pts.) 0-1 Houston Dash (6-6-4; 22 pts.)
NWSL Regular Season, Week 17
Saturday, August 10, 2019 – Exploria Stadium – Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 5,106
SCORING SUMMARY:
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>1H</strong> |
<strong>2H</strong> |
<strong>FT</strong> |
<p>Orlando Pride</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>Houston Dash</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>1</p> |
HOU: Rachel Daly 5 (penalty) 87
LINEUPS:
Orlando Pride: Ashlyn Harris (C); Julie King, Carson Pickett, Shelina Zadorsky, Ali Krieger; Marisa Viggiano (Rachel Hill 69), Alanna Kennedy, Joanna Boyles (Kristen Edmonds 69); Chioma Ubogagu (Camila 88), Claire Emslie, Marta
Unused Substitutes: Haley Kopmeyer, Erin Greening, Dani Weatherholt, Morgan Reid
Total shots: 11 (Claire Emslie, Marta, Carson Pickett, Chioma Ubogagu, Viggiano 2); Shots on goal: 3 (Marta, Carson Pickett, Marisa Viggiano 1); Fouls: 12 (Kristen Edmonds, Claire Emslie, Rachel Hill, Julie King 2); Offside: 0; Corner kicks: 2 (Joanna Boyles, Marta 1); Saves: 1 (Ashlyn Harris 1)
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell; Haley Hanson, Clare Polkinghorne, Amber Brooks, Allysha Chapman; Sophie Schmidt (CeCe Kizer 76), Kristie Mewis, Jamia Fields (Kyah Simon 79); Sofia Huerta; Rachel Daly, Kealia Ohai (C) (Ariana Calderon 88)
Unused Substitutes: Lindsay Agnew, Bianca Henninger, Ally Prisock, Cami Privett
Total shots: 13 (Jamia Fields 4); Shots on goal: 2 (Rachel Daly, Kealia Ohai 1); Fouls: 8 (Jamia Fields 3); Offside: 3 (Ari Calderon, CeCe Kizer, Kealia Ohai 1); Corner kicks: 2 (Sofia Huerta, Kristie Mewis 1); Saves: 3 (Jane Campbell 3)
DISCIPLINE:
ORL: Julie King (ejection; professional foul) 61
ORL: Marta (caution; dissent) 75
HOU: CeCe Kizer (caution; foul) 82
ORL: Marta (ejection; violent conduct) 85
ORL: Claire Emslie (caution; foul) 90+1
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Davis
Fourth Official: Alex Billeter
Weather: Cloudy, 89 degrees
