Houston Dash vs Kansas City Current: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash picked up another point at home, drawing 1-1 against the Kansas City Current Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Michelle Alozie scored for the Dash to earn a point after going behind 1-0 in the second half.
MATCH SUMMARY
Houston Dash 1-1 Kansas City Current
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium - Houston, Texas
Referee: Shawn Tahini
Assistants: Seth Martin, Jeremy Smith
Fourth Official: Melvin Rivas
VAR: Robi Hullner
Attendance: 4,536
Weather: 101 degrees, sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
KC: Lo LaBonta (unassisted) 51’
HOU: Michelle Alozie (unasssisted) 67’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Natalie Jacobs (caution; foul) 4’
KC: Michelle Cooper (caution; foul) 61’
KC: Izzy Rodriguez (caution; foul) 90+7’
LINEUPS & STATS
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell, Caprice Dydasco, Katie Lind, Natalie Jacobs, Michelle Alozie, Sarah Puntigam (Marisa Viggiano 46), Joelle Anderson (Ryan Gareis 65’), Sophie Schmidt (c), María Sánchez, Ebony Salmon (Diana Ordóñez 66’), Cameron Tucker (Nichelle Prince 46’)
Unused Substitutes: Emily Alvarado, Courtney Petersen, Ally Prisock, Sophie Hirst, Madelyn Desiano
Total shots: 15 (Ebony Salmon 3)
Shots on goal: 1 (Michelle Alozie 1)
Fouls: 17 (Caprice Dydasco and Michelle Alozie tied with 3)
Offside: 2 (Ebony Salmon 2)
Corner kicks: 3
Saves: 7 (Jane Campbell 7)
Kansas City Current: Adrianna Franch; Izzy Rodriguez, Gabrielle Robinson, Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava; Lo'eau LaBonta, Alex Loera (Chardonnay Curran 81’), Hailie Mace (Alexa Spaanstra 68’); Cece Kizer, Michelle Cooper, Kristen Hamilton (Mimmi Larsson 68’)
Unused substitutes: Cassie Miller, Rylan Childers, Stine Ballisager, Jenna Winebrenner, Croix Soto, Addisyn Merrick
Total shots: 16 (Lo LaBonta 4)
Shots on goal: 7 (Lo LaBonta and Michelle Cooper tied with 2)
Fouls: 7 (Izzy Rodriguez 2)
Offside: 3 (three players tied with 1)
Corner kicks: 4
Saves: 0
HOUSTON DASH HEAD COACH SAM LAITY
On goalkeeper Jane Campbell’s performance:
“Somebody needs to buy Jane Campbell a beer because she kept us in the game the first half. I'll be contributing to that beer fund. Very early we had some bright moments. We didn't capitalize on them and then we enabled Kansas City to take control of the game. It became incredibly frustrating. Started off right, you think you're going to build on last week's performance and then we were out of the game for long periods, and Jane kept us in it. Happy with the point, and we're still in (the playoff race), that’s the important thing. You lose that game, and playoffs are probably out of reach, because then Kansas City jumps a few points ahead. I’m delighted with the point.”
On moving Michelle Alozie to wingback:
“She’s a threat from that position. She played four games at the World Cup there and did well in that position. We’re not trying to give her too much information and try and make things perfect, because things will never be perfect. Trying to utilize her on the attacking side. She has a little bit more space in front of her, I thought she took her goal really, well.”
On supporting Spanish player Jenni Hermoso:
“It's pretty freaking sad that we're talking about her and her team for this, as opposed to them having an outstanding World Cup and being World Champions. For me, these things should have been dealt with very, very quickly. Unfortunately, the federation and the people involved just allowed things to escalate. They could have deescalated the situation very quickly. Instead, they escalated the situation. Amplified it even more with some of their statements and their actions. It's absolutely mind blowing. It's archaic. It's embarrassing. The talk now is about that incident and the lack of sort of moral compass for a couple of individuals, and it sounds like it's systemic in the federation. The situation should not be brushed aside but dealt with very quickly and then we can all start talking about how amazing that team was during the World Cup.”
HOUSTON DASH FORWARD MICHELLE ALOZIE
On the match:
“It was a hard game. We played Kansas City; it feels like a thousand times this season. It feels like we knew what to expect. They have some pace up front and they leave those spaces behind their fullback and we tried to exploit them, try to switch the ball. We wish we didn’t concede that goal, but it was a good strike by Lo (LaBonta). We were able to equalize and kind of keep them on their heels.”
On supporting Spanish player Jenni Hermoso:
“Enough is enough. I really stand by her, I stand by her teammates, the solidarity that they were able to push through. To get those signatures from past and present players (was important). I hope that FIFA and the other representatives can make a decisive decision to make a change that's necessary and obviously needed. As a player, as a woman, I stand by her, and hope that, people can make the difference that needs to be made”
HOUSTON DASH GOALKEEPER JANE CAMPBELL
On Sam Laity’s praise for her:
“It's a very flattering comment from him. I'm very thankful for his support and his belief in me. I'm really honored that he said that. I would never ask him for his opinion about me, or what he thinks of me, but it does mean a lot. I just want to play good for my teammates. I've always said, since I've started playing that if my teammates and my staff have faith in me, then I'll be the best version of myself. It does mean the world to me, but I know I can always be better every game, every training, and I just want to push myself and push my teammates to be the best. I know this team can be so good. That's why I've stayed around this organization for seven years. I've just had faith in the whole organization from top to bottom. It's really honoring to hear that”.
On supporting Spanish player Jenni Hermoso:
“As a soccer player, also a female soccer player, the actions we saw photographed, or even videoed done by the president – you never want to see that. In any organization, not even just soccer, that should never be occurring. First off, I want to say congrats to Spain for winning the World Cup. That should be the headline for the next year, that they won the World Cup and nothing else. Those women put on a fantastic performance all throughout the tournament. They deserve all of that. Now it's getting overshadowed by something, so negative. I hope Jenni knows that not just the team, but the whole NWSL and everyone around the world is backing her, backing Spain, backing her team. I hope they figure it out. I'm glad their team is taking a stand and they're standing strong. It takes quite some courage and some bravery to do that against a big federation. We're with them and we hope for the best for them.
