Dash post clean sheet in 0-0 draw with Gotham FC
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dash hosted NJ/NY Gotham FC under the Friday night lights at Shell Energy Stadium. Yazmeen Ryan and Delanie Sheehan faced their former club and Juan Carlos Amoros coached against the Dash, still being the only head coach to lead Houston to the postseason.
Houston head coach Fabrice Gautrat made two changes to the Dash lineup from Sunday’s win over the Chicago Stars. Yazmeen Ryan moved to the number 9 with Delanie Sheehan back in the starting eleven in place of Messiah Bright. Rookie Maggie Graham made her first professional start, after coming off the bench in her first two appearances, replacing Sophie Schmidt.
The first half did not see much action from either side. Graham suffered a scare within the first two minutes of the half. After being checked by the training staff she stayed in the game. Gotham captain Tierna Davidson had to be substituted off right before halftime. The club announced she suffered a knee injury and would be re-evaluated when they return to New Jersey.
The second half was more of the same with the two teams battling in midfield, trying to find scoring chances. Gautrat used his first substitutions, bringing Evelina Duljan and Ramona Bachmann on in the 61st minute. It was Bachmann’s first appearance of the season after reporting to camp late and not being on the team sheet for the first two games of 2025.
Duljan took what looked to be a very bad challenge just minutes after coming in, colliding with a Gotham player near the Dash bench. She was looked at for a few minutes and was able to continue.
Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell was called into action a couple of occasions in the second half. She got down low to her left to make a save in the 69th minute. Then in the 76th minute, she leaped high to grab a header on target.
Houston’s best chance of the night came in the 78th minute. Avery Patterson was released by Bachmann and she drove into the box on the right side. She tried to square up to goal for a shot but laced her effort into the side netting. The crowd at Shell Energy Stadium briefly erupted, thinking it was in but it was just an illusion.
The minutes ticked toward 90 with neither team finding a goal. Duljan drove into the box and fired a ball in front of goal that Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger smothered. After five minutes of second half stoppage time, the full-time whistle blew, ending the match 0-0.
The NWSL will now take off for international play with a number of Dash players set to represent their countries. The next match for Houston will be April 12, back at Shell Energy Stadium, when they host Angel City FC.
