Dash resume Challenge Cup with trip to Kansas City: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash are on the road in Kansas City to face the Current in the 4th match of the UKG Challenge Cup. The Dash are 3rd in the Cental table and their last result in the cup was a 3-0 loss against Racing Louisville. KC Current sits in 2nd in the table and won 4-0 against Chicago Red Stars in the last round.
When: Saturday, July 22 | 7:07 PM CT kickoff
Where: Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas
TV/Stream: Paramount +
Breath of fresh air
It’s been two weeks since the Dash last played, a league loss against Chicago at home. The time off couldn’t have come at a better time. The team hasn’t scored in their last five matches. This break will help the players and the staff to come into this match with a clearer mind and a new outlook on their approach. Head Coach Sam Laity commented this week that this break gave the players the rest they deserved and they will come back with new aspirations in the cup matches.
New formation?
With unexpected and prolonged injuries to Joelle Anderson and Sophie Hirst, the Dash will have to find a way to approach the upcoming Challenge Cup games. Laity mentioned in his weekly press conference that the injuries come at the worst time, but it offers the staff and the players a new opportunity to look at the players in a different light. Laity talked about trying “a new shape” to help get more players into the attack and to get the ball into the back of the net. This will be a head scratcher to see how the Dash set up and perform in tonight’s match in KC.
All focus on the Cup
Halfway intp the UKG Challenge Cup, the Dash are 3rd in the table, as mentioned before. Before last week’s break, the Challenge Cup games were midweek games between league matches. Now all the focus will be on these next three weekends of cup matches for the Dash to try and qualify out of the group. There are no league games, just Cup matches. The team will have enough time to focus and recover to turn the table around.
Availability Report
Houston Dash - Out: Emily Curran (left knee - season-ending injury), Ella Dederick (right knee - season-ending injury), Makamae Gomera-Stevens (left knee - season-ending injury), Shea Groom (left knee – season-ending injury), Sophie Hirst (right thigh), Devon Kerr (excused absence), Savannah Madden (eye contusion); International Duty: Michelle Alozie (Nigeria), Allysha Chapman (Canada), Nichelle Prince (Canada), Sophie Schmidt (Canada), Havana Solaun (Jamaica); Questionable: Joelle Anderson (calf)
Kansas City Current – Out: Vanessa DiBernardo (concussion), Hanna Glas (knee - D45) Claire Lavogez (knee - season-ending injury), Hailie Mace (suspension), Sam Mewis (knee - season-ending injury), Desiree Scott (knee - D45), Mallory Weber (knee - season-ending injury); International Duty: Stine Ballisager (Denmark), Debinha (Brazil)
Predicted Lineup
