HOUSTON (Sunday, May 5, 2019) – The Houston Dash earned their second victory in the last three weeks this evening as they topped the Orlando Pride 1-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Kealia Ohai scored the game-winning goal with a curling effort in the seventh minute. Midfielder Sofia Huerta found the forward on a breakaway run and Ohai cut inside to create space for her first goal of the year. Ohai is the fourth player to score for the Dash this season.
Houston continued to press, threatening the Pride goal at the 15th minute when forward Nichelle Prince crossed a ball to Huerta, who just missed the opportunity inside the box. Minutes later, Dash forward Rachel Daly came close to doubling Houston’s lead after she forced a save from Pride goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer with a one-on-one duel inside the box.
The Pride finished with no shots on goal, but Orlando did threaten Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell in the 37th minute after Marta’s header hit the crossbar. The ball eventually cleared by defender Clare Polkinghorne. Minutes later, the Brazilian forward came close to goal again with a ball that inched toward the top of the goal but her effort was off target.
At the 72nd minute, Dash defender Arianna Romero entered the game for defender Lindsay Agnew, making her first appearance for Houston this season. Dash midfielder Kristie Mewis also entered the field in the 75th minute for Ohai, making her second appearance of the season.
The last attempt from the Dash came at the 81st minute, when Daly shot from outside the box but her effort was handled by Kopmeyer.
The victory gave Dash head coach James Clarkson his second victory of the season and first at BBVA Compass Stadium. With two wins and a tie in the first four games, Clarkson stands with the best record of a first-year head coach for the club in the opening stretch of the season.
Next week, the Dash will travel to face Utah Royals FC at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 11 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The match will be streamed live on Yahoo! Sports.
