The Houston Dash extended their eight-game unbeaten streak against Orlando Pride this evening with a 2-1 victory at BBVA Stadium.
Houston opened the scoring in the 18th minute when forward MarÃa Sánchez punched a ball in the net to score her first NWSL goal. Houston midfielder Kristie Mewis dribbled through the Pride defense and crossed a ball into the box to find Sánchez, who scored past Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and into the right corner.
Houston came close to scoring two minutes later when Mewis served a ball into the box to find forward Veronica Latsko, who shot but was blocked by Harris.
The second goal for the Dash came in the 27th minute when Latsko headed the ball past Harris through a clipped-in ball from Dash midfielder Sophie Schmidt.
The Dash tested Orlando from the beginning of the match, creating close chances in the box. The first chance came at the ninth minute when Houston defender Allysha Chapman cut through Orlando midfielder Marta and scooped the ball into the box past two Pride defenders to find forward Nichelle Prince. Prince missed the ball by inches in an attempted header.
Orlando’s lone goal came four minutes into the second half when Gunny Jonsdottir headed a ball in from a curled corner-kick ball from midfielder Marta.
Houston continued to press. Midfielder Gabby Seiler took a chance three minutes before the halftime whistle when she picked up a loose ball in the box and shot a right-footed ball that went inches above the crossbar. Orlando followed with an attempt in the 45th minute when forward Sydney Leroux cut through Mewis and shot a left-footed ball over Houston’s goal.
Orlando had another chance in the 59th minute when Marta took a free kick that filtered through the Dash defense but found Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell’s hands at the goal. Houston responded in the 80t minute when Latsko stole a ball from the Pride midfield and found Mewis, who dribbled into the box and shot a left-footed rocket that slightly missed the left corner. Eight minutes later, Latsko found the ball on breakaway run, shooting towards the upper corner and missing.
Houston return to BBVA Stadium on Friday, July 2 to face OL Reign. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDash.com.
