The Houston Dash close their participation in the Women’s International Champions Cup on Saturday against FC Barcelona. Houston will face the six-time Spanish league champion at 6:30 p.m. CT and fans can watch the game live on ESPN U in English or ESPN Deportes in Spanish.Â
Houston fell to the Portland Thorns on Wednesday in a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation. Dash team captain Rachel Daly finished with two assists and a goal line save to force the penalty kick shootout. Forward Shea Groom scored two goals on Wednesday and the Texas A&M alum has now scored 11 goals for the Dash across all competitions since her arrival in 2020.Â
FC Barcelona fell to Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday in a five-goal opener that featured a brace from Mariona. The 25-year-old scored 13 goals for the club last season as FC Barcelona finished with a 33-1-0 record in league play. Barcelona’s success went beyond Spain as the club claimed the UEFA Champions League for the first time after defeating Chelsea FC 4-0 on May 16, 2021.Â
The Dash return to league play on Aug. 29 to host Louisville Racing at BBVA Stadium. This is the first meeting between both teams at BBVA Stadium and Houston look to even the series after the first meeting on June 20 that finished in favor of Louisville.Â
WHAT:Â Â
Houston Dash vs. FC Barcelona Â
WHEN:Â Â
Saturday, Aug. 21 – 6:30 p.m. CT Â
TV:
STREAM:Â Â
ESPN U (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish)Â
DAZN (International)Â
Here are the three key points ahead of Saturday’s game: Â
1.      DASH OLYMPIANS JOIN TEAM IN OREGON: Three Dash players will return from national team duty on Saturday prior to the match against FC Barcelona. Olympic gold medalist Nichelle Prince and bronze medalists Jane Campbell and Kristie Mewis arrived in Oregon on Thursday afternoon. With the arrival of Campbell, Mewis and Campbell the Dash will have five of their six Olympic players with the squad available for selection on Saturday. Canadian defender Allysha Chapman will join the team in Houston next week prior to their return to league play on Sunday, Aug. 29.Â
2.      HOUSTON VS INTERNATIONAL OPPONENTS: Saturday’s match will be the third encounter with an international opponent for the Dash. Houston faced CF Monterrey in their first international friendly on July 3, 2018 at Houston Sports Park. The Dash earned a 3-1 victory in a shortened encounter due to inclement weather. James Clarkson and the Dash traveled to Mexico in 2019 to face Tigres Femenil at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Tigres scored a late penalty kick to claim a 2-1 victory over Houston.Â
3.      FC BARCELONA END 2020 WITH TREBLE: FC Barcelona finished 2020 with their first treble after winning the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Queen’s Cup and league title. The six-time Spanish league champion scored 167 goals in 34 games last season, more than twice as many goals as Real Madrid Femenino, who finished with the second highest tally with 75 goals. Defensively, Barcelona conceded 15 goals in league play, the fewest allowed in Spain that season. Wednesday’s loss to Olympique Lyonnais was the first defeat for the Spanish side since a 4-3 loss to Atletico de Madrid in league play on June 1, 2021.
