Dash pick up a point in home opener
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash played their home opener against Racing Louisville on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston picked up their first point of the 2024 season after the game ended in a 0-0 time. The Dash set a new home opener attendance record of 8,600 on a perfect weather evening in Houston.
After the loss in North Carolina last weekend, head coach Fran Alonso made several adjustments to the lineup. Alonso pushed Sophie Schmidt back in the defense to allow for Havana Soluan and Barbara Olivieri in the midfield. He alos switched Maria Sanchez and Avery Patterson’s sides on the wings. Finally, he gave Yuki Nagasto her first start for the Dash ahead of Andressa.
From the start, Louisville was on the attack. Racing forward Reilyn Turner thought she got the first goal in the 4th minute but the flag went up for offside and a VAR check confirmed no goal. Not long after, Turner got a clear chance on goal as she got behid the defense but her shot missed the net. Louisville had better chances in the first half and once again Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell made the difference. Uchenna Kanu had a clear run at goal and Campbell came off her line to get to the ball first to keep the game 0-0. Turner had another big chance in the first half on a header that Campbell got across to keep out on her line.
The first half ended scoreless. The Dash showed major improvements in the midfield and connecting passes from their last game against the Courage. Even though the Dash had more possession and passing, they lacked the attacking threat in the final third. Meanwhile, Louisville was taking their opportunities well, but Campbell kept the Dash in the game.
At the start of the second half, Alonso made two substitutions, taking out Cece Kizer and Patterson for Andressa and Amanda West. A rookie from Pittsburgh, West made her debut for Dash and debut as a pro. Elin Rubensson also came on a few minutes laster for her NWSL and Dash debut.
Both teams struggled to grab control of the game in the second hald. Just like the first half, Louisville had more clear-cut chances, but once again Campbell kept the Dash in the game. She made 10 saves, a career-high for the keeper. One of her biggest saves came in the 73rd minute when Emma Sears broke through on goal. Campbell made herself big and made a huge save.
In the dying minutes of the second half, Kayla Fischer chipped the ball over Campbell for what looked to be the winning goal. Dash defender Sara Punitgam raced back and with a backheel, cleared the ball off the line to keep the game 0-0.
Just like that, the game finished at 0-0 and both teams took one point. The Dash made major improvements from the first game but still have more to go for their next match and as they continue in this 2024 season.
The Dash will travel to face one of the new franchises, Bay FC, on March 30th. The game will kick off at 9:00PM and it will be streaming on ION.
