Conceding goal after goal remains an alarming trend
The goals are coming at a record pace for the Dash. It’s just not the record they thought they might set.
The Dash began the season with an arsenal of attacking talent and an expectation of turning that into one of the higher-scoring teams in the league. Instead, they are on pace to become one of the worst defensive teams in NWSL history.
Their struggles hit a low point last weekend against Orlando when they conceded four goals in 68 minutes. Two came quickly after halftime and burdened the Dash with a 4-0 deficit.
In nine games, the lastplace Dash (2-7-0) have conceded 20 goals. Only three teams in the fouryear history of the league have ended the season allowing more than two goals per game. The Dash are on track to be the fourth.
Forward and captain Kealia Ohai said it is especially concerning because it is not just the defense. All 11 players are to blame at one point or another.
“It is little moments that we keep getting broken down,” Ohai said. “When you’re in a situation like we’re in, and you get scored on you think, ‘Again?’ Then you get scored on again and you think, ‘Again?’
“It is so difficult to get out of. This is one of the hardest times I’ve had in my career.”
Making changes
If the Dash are going to escape their rut this week, it will come during a road game against Orlando — the same team that just scored four goals against them.
The Dash have been using a 4-3-3 formation all season. Ohai suggested after last weekend’s game that perhaps it is time to switch formations for more support.
The biggest weakness has been transition defense. Dropping one forward into the midfield could help with that. The tactics, though, are more important. Interim coach Omar Morales has made that an important part of training this week.
“We worked a lot on our shape going forward and our shape coming back,” Morales said. “With Orlando, the counterattack game is what they are very good at. We worked on how to kill it and how to deal with different situations.”
It should make a difference that Morales had all the players in training this week. Leading up to last week’s game, there were a handful of players missing on international duty. Having two weeks to prepare does not mean much if everybody is not there to learn the lessons and tactics.
One of those players who has returned for a full week of training is forward Carli Lloyd. She is expected to lead the Dash out of their hole and potentially challenge for a playoff berth.
Time to ‘dig deep’
It took her one game to determine the Dash are not fit enough. Fitness does not improve overnight. Neither does reversing a trend of losing and conceding goals at a record rate.
“For anyone coming in, to think from the last three months that miraculously everything is going to be different and we were going to get a win and everything was going to be peachy, that’s not reality,” Lloyd said after last weekend’s game. “It is going to take a little bit of time. Unfortunately, we’re playing catch-up. We have to dig deep.”