Dash home struggles continue in loss to Gotham
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash suffered a home defeat Wednesday night against the reigning NWSL Champions, NJ/NY Gotham FC with a narrow 1-0 scoreline. This loss marks the fourth defeat of the season for Houston and extends their winless streak at home. Their last victory at Shell Energy Stadium came on July 29, 2023.
In the aftermath of a grueling, rainy match on Saturday, head coach Fran Alonso opted for squad rotation. Sophie Schmidt returned from a minor injury to fortify the defense, while Barbara Olivieri, Sophie Hirst, and Michelle Alozie reclaimed their spots in the starting XI, injecting fresh energy into the midfield.
The Dash began the game on the offensive, seeking to seize early momentum. However, their aggressive approach left spaces for Gotham FC to exploit, which they promptly did. In the 8th minute, Jenna Nighswonger's delivery into the Dash's 18-yard box found Ella Stevens. Her volley was initially saved by Jane Campbell but the rebound fell to Lynn Williams, who capitalized on the open net, giving Gotham the early 1-0 lead.
Gotham's opening goal shifted the momentum decisively in their favor. They grew more assertive, applying relentless pressure and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, the Dash struggled to maintain possession and advance beyond the halfway line, managing just one shot in the entire first half.
As the halftime whistle blew, Gotham held a 1-0 advantage, having asserted control over proceedings. The Dash appeared disjointed and overwhelmed by Gotham's relentless pressure, exacerbated by the early substitution of Elin Rubensson in the 38th minute. Alonso faced the challenge of regrouping his team and engineering a turnaround.
Alonso introduced Natalie Jacobs and Avery Patterson at halftime to shore up the team's defense and provide stability. The changes injected renewed confidence into the Dash, evident in their improved attacking intent and defensive resilience in the second half.
However, neither side could assert dominance as the game wore on. While the Dash enjoyed more opportunities to penetrate the opposition's half, they failed to convert any into tangible threats, save for Sophie Schmidt's one-on-one chance in the 81st minute. Gotham, meanwhile, struggled to fashion clear-cut chances, with Houston's defense effectively repelling their advances.
The match concluded with a narrow 1-0 victory for Gotham FC. The result encapsulated the Dash's season thus far: flashes of promise interspersed with periods of disorganization and offensive impotence. With the halfway point of the season looming, the Dash must swiftly rediscover their form to avoid falling further adrift.
“I don't think we were overplayed. I don't think we were out of the game,” Alonso said after the match. “We were in the game until the end. We were pushing to try to score at least the equalizer but yeah, it's disappointing because we really wanted to win this match. The last two previous games were a draw, but you know, it was two positive results in terms of steps in the right direction and I thought today, I really thought that we would play our game and get these three points. So, that is disappointing.”
Next, the Dash will travel to LA to face Angel City FC on Sunday, May 12 at 6:30 PM, with live coverage available on NWSL+.
