Two first half goals doom Dash in 3-1 loss to Angel City
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash fell flat against Angel City FC on Saturday, losing 3–1 at Shell Energy Stadium.
Coming off the international break, head coach Fabrice Gautrat was forced to shuffle the lineup due to injuries sustained during the time away. Christen Westphal made her first appearance of the season in defense. Diana Ordóñez, returning from a season-ending injury last year, replaced Messiah Bright at striker in the starting lineup.
In the opening minutes, both teams looked to break each other down, but Angel City quickly began asserting themselves. A slick through ball from Gisele Thompson sent Claire Emslie flying down the wing, and her cross into the crowded box wasn’t cleared. The ball fell kindly to Macey Hodge, who slotted it past Jane Campbell for her first-ever NWSL goal, giving Angel City a 1–0 lead in the 13th minute.
The visitors didn’t take their foot off the gas. Relentless pressure from Thompson, Emslie, Alanna Kennedy, and Riley Tiernan kept the Dash pinned back. In the 29th minute, after a late tackle from Paige Nielsen dispossessed Alyssa Thompson in midfield, the ball deflected to Tiernan. She took a touch and fired a shot from distance, doubling the lead. It was the rookie’s second goal of the season, though she continues to play like a seasoned striker.
At halftime, Gautrat made two substitutions that shifted the game's momentum. Messiah Bright returned to challenge Angel City’s backline and added crucial defensive support. Ryan Gareis brought pace and energy, giving Maggie Graham more freedom to operate in the midfield.
The adjustments paid off. The Dash ramped up the pressure, eventually breaking through in the 61st minute. A poor goal kick fell to an Angel City defender, who was immediately pressed by Barbara Olivieri. She won the ball and laid it off to Yazmeen Ryan, who charged into the box before cutting it back to Olivieri. The Houston native made no mistake, calmly finishing to cut the deficit in half.
Despite controlling much of the second half, the Dash were undone late by a clinical counterattack. A sharp through ball from Tiernan found Alyssa Thompson in stride. The young forward sprinted into space and finished one-on-one against Campbell in the 86th minute to seal the 3–1 win for Angel City.
The first half saw a Dash side that looked disjointed and sluggish, but the second half showed a team that played with purpose and aggression. The question now is: which version of the Dash will show up moving forward—the passive first-half squad, or the high-energy second-half team?
Houston will now travel to Kansas City to face the Current next Saturday, April 19. The match will be televised on ION TV.
