Brazilian star set to kickstart the Dash attack
(image via AS Roma)
According to Brazilian media outlet UOL, the Houston Dash are on the verge of signing Andressa Alves. The Dash will make the announcement next week, according to the report, when Andressa’s contract ends with Italian club AS Roma. With a talented attack having trouble finding goals this season, the Brazilian star could be exactly what this Dash team needs to take the next step.
Andressa is an attacking midfielder that has also played wide and up front during her time with Roma. With Houston you can almost guarantee she will slot into that number 10 position, an area that this Dash team has needed a playmaker in for some time. Joelle Anderson has played most matches as the central midfielder in front of the holding midfielders and Barbara Olivieri has gotten some minutes as well. Dash head coach Sam Laity has even used Havana Solaun at times in a midfield that is very defensive-minded. Both Anderson and Olivieri are young players who have shown signs of flashes, but the creativity and distribution has not been there consistently. This Dash team, with Maria Sanchez, Michelle Alozie, Diana Ordonez, and Ebony Salmon only having scored 10 goals in 13 league matches is unthinkable.
Enter, Andressa. The 30-year-old scored 12 goals in Serie A this past season and added one assist. She also had a goal and two assists in the Champions League. In league play, Andressa had an incredible 112 shot-creating actions, nearly 6 per 90 minutes, which was the second highest in Serie A. Of her 12 goals in the league, six were with her right foot and six were with her left. She can not only create at an elite level but can do it from anywhere and with either foot.
Andressa is a player who can score and set up others, something that will mix perfectly with the front three that the Dash have. The Brazilian made 73 progressive passes in 23 matches and received 92, showing she is constantly making runs forward on her own. With Sophie Schmidt, Sophie Hirst, Marisa Viggiano, and Solaun’s defensive abilities in the midfield, it will allow Andressa all the freedom to get forward and stay forward in the attack.
If we look at Andressa’s scouting report on FBref, we see just how impressive she is. Compared to players in the Women’s Top 8 Competitions over the last year she ranks in the 90th percentile and higher in several attacking categories. Some of the similar players to Andressa’s statistical profile include Arsenal’s Frida Maanum and USWNT World Cup midfielders Kristie Mewis, Savannah DeMelo, and Lindsey Horan.
Andressa will turn 31 after this season but has shown no signs of slowing down. A signing like this shows the Dash have no intentions of slowing down either. This team should not be struggling to score goals like it is and with the talent they have in the front three, signing a world class attacking midfielder will compliment them perfectly. Andressa will be playing at next month’s World Cup for Brazil, meaning she would join the Dash once the tournament ends. That should give her about six matches to come in and help lead Houston back to the playoffs. With the table so close, first and eight are separated by ten points, every point will matter.
If the Dash are going to make a return to the playoffs, they’re going to have to score goals. That is not a secret to anyone who has watched this team play this season or anyone who just looks at the stats. General manager Alex Signer and the front office know that too, and they’re making a huge splash to not only remedy that, but to turn Houston into a genuine contender in the NWSL.
