Shutout loss extends home winless streak
Lynn Williams scored early in the first half as NJ/NY Gotham FC denied the Dash their first home win of the season with a 1-0 victory in Houston’s second match of a NWSL double-game week Wednesday night at Shell Energy Stadium.
Houston (1-4-3) is winless in its last five games after fighting for a 1-1 draw against Kansas City last Sunday.
“In the second half, we were better, in terms of duels we fought better, we were more together, but well, we didn’t create enough during the game,” Dash coach Fran Alonso said. “We have to keep working. We have to continue growing. I think we are still on the right path, but well, days like today are very disappointing because we play at home and we want to bring joy to the fans and today we couldn’t.”
The Dash, who remain in 13th place with six points, were quiet offensively with Diana Ordóñez recording the only first-half shot on a right-footed kick from outside the box that was saved by Ann-Katrin Berger in the bottom left corner. Gotham FC came out guns blazing with six players firing a total of nine shots.
Williams sent one to the back of the net unassisted on a rightfooted shot from close range to the bottom left corner off Jane Campbell’s rebound in the eighth minute for the game’s lone goal. Williams tied Esther González, who had a game-high four shots, for the team lead in league goals with two.
The Dash conceded the opening goal for the fifth time this season. But Campbell did come up huge in the 38th minute, saving Williams’ header from the right side of the 6-yard box in the bottom left corner to keep it 1-0.
“Obviously, everyone wants to start off strong and be leading as quick as we can, so we have to push a little bit more after that happens,” said Natalie Jacobs, who replaced Andressa Alves at the half. “We want to start a little bit stronger so that we don’t have to come back every time.
“It’s always hard for every team to have that many games without a win but we have to keep staying together and fighting because it’s a long season. There’s plenty of games ahead. We have to figure it out but we have each other and that’s what’s so great about this group. It’s a good group that believes in each other and it’s going to come and we are positive in that and we believe in what we’re doing.”
The Dash were held to zero shots in the second half until Sophie Schmidt fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box that was saved by Berger in the bottom right corner in the 83rd minute.
Schmidt was replaced by Jyllissa Harris two minutes later due to an injury. Bárbara Olivieri nearly found the equalizer in second-half stoppage time but her right-footed shot from outside the box sailed high from a direct free kick.
Gotham FC outshot the Dash 19-3 with a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal while holding 52% possession. Campbell finished with four saves, following a career-high performance of a dozen saves against KC, and leads the league with 44. Berger had two for Gotham FC while collecting her second straight clean sheet.
“After a defeat, the most important thing for me is that the next game comes as soon as possible to try to correct the mistakes, try to improve the aspects that we have not been good at,” Alonso said. “Let’s hope we have a better performance.”