Dash welcome reigning NWSL champions to Shell Energy Stadium: What to watch for

(image via Houston Dash)

The Houston Dash are back at home at Shell Energy Stadium to face the reigning NWSL Champion Portland Thorns tonight. The Dash are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat against OL Reign last weekend. The Thorns are coming into this game off back-to-back 3-3 draws against Angel City and North Carolina. Houston and Portland met already once this season with the teams drawing 1-1 after a back-and-forth battle.

When: Friday, May 12 | 7:37 PM CT kickoff

Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas

TV/Stream: Paramount + & AT&T SportsNet Southwest Alternate

Getting the band getting back together

At the beginning of the season the Dash suffered a lot of injuries to key players like Nichelle Prince, Shea Groom, and Annika Creel. Just a few games in, more knocks affected players like Ryan Gareis, Joelle Anderson, and Cameron Tucker. Head Coach Sam Laity provided an update on the injuries this week. “Joelle [Anderson] is back in the mix. Ryan Gareis is back in the mix. Shea Groom back in the mix,” Laity said. “We've got three players returning to the squad and that's massive for myself, massive for the team because we need more bodies. We've been pretty thin, we've been pretty frail, so having three players with that quality is massive for myself, for the team and the club.” Laity went on later to add, “Katie Lind is somebody that always gets brought up in conversations and she's still working her way back to fitness and she's going in the right direction for sure. We had four or five players out for a significant chunk of time which impacts the impact of the performance of the team.” It looks like the Dash are getting the squad back at the right time before the heavy part of their schedule.

Stopping Portland’s attack

It’s been less than a month since the Dash played the Thorns to a one-all draw. It was an exciting and nail-biting affair. Since then, the team can learn from the mistakes from the last match and set a better plan to get all the points this time around. “The fact that we played them so recently is fresh in our memory, but we also have to make sure that we do our due diligence, and we scout the last four or five games to see if there have been any changes in how they defend.” Laity mentioned going into the game.

The Dash head coach also laid out what his team needs to do to slow the Thorns down. “The game plan is there. Number one: when we have possession of the ball, making sure that we are not loose with it. If the opponent drops off, especially if the opponents in a mid-block, not forcing the ball down their throat, stretching them out a little bit with length, width. Also being a bit more patient to deny opportunities for Portland to transition through Smith. You've got Morgan Weaver on the left-hand side as well, that is a big threat transition. We had a meeting today about how we're not going to stop everyone. But when we do end up in that situation once or twice in the game, individuals have to make the right decision at the right moment. That's what it's going to come down to.” The last encounter was encouraging, and the Dash can get the result they need if they get their game plan and tactics right.

Improving the attack

It feels like a broken record now, how long will it take for the front three to start firing? From missing open chances and players going missing on occasion, the offense seems stalled out, especially last weekend in Seattle. “We weren't threatening the backline, so it enabled their backline to squeeze the lines a little bit higher and that was definitely to our detriment,” Laity said reflecting on the lack of chances in the loss to OL Reign. “I’m unhappy that we didn’t execute in certain areas, but a good lesson for the team that if we have a game plan, then we have to try and execute it as much as possible. We sort of fell into the trap. I would have been much happier with less possession but more opportunities. I actually think as a as a team we're a team that doesn't need to have the ball as much as the opponent for us to be dangerous.” With the extra prep time and having time for the players to relax, it should give them a clear head going into tonight’s game.

Availability Report

Houston Dash - Out: Nichelle Prince (Achilles - season-ending injury),  Ella Dederick (right knee - season-ending injury), Emily Curran (left knee - season-ending injury), Makamae Gomera-Stevens (left knee - season-ending injury), Annika Creel (right knee - season-ending injury), Devon Kerr (excused absence); Questionable: Diana Ordóñez (illness), Ally Prisock (illness), Cameron Tucker (right lower leg)

Portland Thorns – Out: Janine Beckie (knee – season-ending injury), Tegan McGrady (thigh), Becky Sauerbrunn (foot)

Predicted Lineup