Dash end winless streak with 1-0 victory over Louisville
(image via Houston Dash)
Coming into Saturday night’s match at Shell Energy Stadium, the Houston Dash had not won a match in all competitions since June 3. Houston went seven straight matches without victory until winning a tight contest against Racing Louisville 1-0 on Saturday night. Even with the win to snap their skid, the Dash were eliminatied from the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup.
Head Coach Sam Laity put out an interesting lineup to begin the match. New signing Sarah Puntigam began on the bench with Natalie Jacobs getting another start in the midfield. Laity rested Diana Ordonez to put Ebony Salmon as the main striker with Cameron Tucker on the wing.
The game started even early in the first half. Louisville had some chances that Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell was up to the taks to keep out. In the 23rd minute the Dash took full control of the ball and the chance to find the breakthrough. Forward Ryan Gareis took off down the wing past Louisville defenders pulled the ball back, in the box for Ebony Salmon. The English striker sloted it home at the near post, off the foot of Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund to give the Dash a 1-0 lead.
The half ended with the Dash leading on the scoreline and in most of the stats. Houston lead in shots on goal and chances created. The Dash seemed to slow down as the game went to half time, but the whistle saved them from any danger.
The second half introduced Houston’s newest signing Puntigam, as she came on replace Jacobs in the midfield. The second half was a tight battle of who could control the ball more and take it to the opposition. In the 65th minute, Nadia Nadim played a through ball to Lauren Millet, who looked to score the equalizer but the flag went up for offside.
Campbell made one more big save in the 88th minute to keep Louisville off the score sheet and preserve the clean sheet. The game ended 1-0 to the Dash. Kansas City and Chicago’s 0-0 draw in the other match in Houston’s group meant the Dash were officially eliminated from advancing in the Challenge Cup. Even Houston are out of the Cup, many players had a good opportunity to show they can be reliable in the final third of the season as the Dash push for a playoff spot.
The Dash will travel away to face off against the Chicago Red Stars in the final match of the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup on August 5th at 7:00PM CT. The match will be streaming on Paramount +.
