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The Houston Dash have done it! They are off to face the Portland Thorns in the semifinals of
the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. In the game against the Utah Royals, the Dash had to play a
more scrappy game than they are used to. The field referee allowed the game to get more and
more physical as it wore on and tempers started to flare towards the end of the stalemate.
Megan Oyster was taken to the hospital for evaluation on a rib injury, which she confirmed was
a rib fracture, that she sustained in the waning minutes of the game. With both teams equally
matched in grit and determination, the game continued in this scrappy fashion of uncalled
pushing, shoving, tripping and arm pulling until regulation time ended.
The game ended in a 0-0 draw/. According to the Challenge Cup rules, extra time beyond stoppage
time was removed and both teams went straight to penalty kicks in the semi, quarter and final
matches of the tournament.
Houston’s "Ace in the Hole," Jane Campbell, leads the NSWL in penalty kick saves with a career
total of 7.
Campbell’s calm and cool demeanor was evident leading up to the kicks. A
Goalkeeper can shine or fall fast during PK time and this became Campbell’s time to shine. The
final score was 3-2 in penalty kicks. While Utah put up a valiant fight, in the end they were no
match for the determination of the Houston Dash. Many Dash players and fans told the teams to
not sleep on the Dash or write them off. After the last 2 games that looked like the Dash of old,
the players showed what can happen when their backs are against the wall in an elimination
portion of the tournament.
The Dash will take on the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at either 12:30 p.m. or
10:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time at Rio Tinto Stadium. The times have not been announced
according to the NWSL website.
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