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| Photo by Darla S Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved |
By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA (September 12, 2020) Playing without the services of Rachel Daly, the Houston Dash played the final 40 minutes of the game with ten players, and fell to the North Carolina Courage 4-3 in the first match for both squads in the Verizon NWSL Community Shield.
Houston, playing their first game since winning the NWSL Challenge Cup, were without the talent of team co-captain Rachel Daly, who currently is "on loan" to West Ham United of the Barclays FA Women's Super League in England.
In reality, the Dash held a 2-1 lead until the final seven minutes when the Courage scored their final two goals in the 83rd and 86th minute. Whether it was fatigue or playing almost the entire second half down a player, is a discussion for another time. They scored two of their three goals early in the match; both off assists by Shea Groom. Veronica Latsco tallied Houston's first goal in the 25th minute, to even the score at one. Abby Dahlkemper put North Carolina on the board in the 18th minute, with a successful penalty kick, for the first score of the game. Kristie Mewis followed Latsco's goal 12 minutes later, to give the Houstona 2-1 lead at halftime.
In the 53th minute, the Dash when a player down when Allyssa Chapman received a her second yellow card of the game; colliding with a North Carolina player along the touchline. She received her first yellow card in the 18th when she slipped into Debokhs' ankle, in an attempt to break up the play. The caution foul resulted in Dahlkemper's pentaly kick goal
The Courage evened the score at two, in the 52nd minute, with a goal by Debinha. Houston responded in the 70th minute with a go-a-head goal bu Sophie Schmidt. North Carolina close out the match with their two final goals to secure the win.
Houston head coach James Clarkson expressed his disappointment in the loss after the match.
“I’m really disappointed in the result, I thought we could have had the game won by halftime. We had a number of chances that we didn’t put away and if you leave a team like this hanging around there is always a chance they can come back and take it. Obviously, getting somebody sent off that early in the second half made it difficult. I think the players showed amazing courage and fight to get back into the game and take the lead. We just had a quick chat about it and we are really disappointed in how we handled and finished the game out, because there were three points to be won out there today.”
In addition, he also praised the play of Groom.
"She has maintained a fantastic level and the way she played today was incredible on both sides of the ball. Two really good assists, she is disappointed because she could have had a couple of goals in the first half and ultimately, when you go back and look at the game they have two World Cup winners and arguably the best player in the league on the field. They scored their chances and their finishing has been top drawer, their finishing has been great. We have been very wasteful in front of goal.”
The Dash return to play on Saturday, September 26 when they host the Orlando Pride at BBVA Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CDT.
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