Houston Dash down Orlando Pride 2-0 for third win of season

Marta and Carli Lloyd (10) faced off twice in one week in NWSL action.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications

ORLANDO CITY, FLORIDA (June 24, 2017) The Houston Dash broke their six-game losing streak in downing the Orlando Pride by the score of 2-0 at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, June 24, 2017. The win raises their record to 3-7-0 (9 points) for eighth place in the NWSL standings. 

Orlando forward Jasmyne Spencer kicked a  cross in the fifth minute, but Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell handled it to shut down the Pride's attempt. After Orlando won back-to-back corners, Pride defender Ali Krieger's header was a near miss on the far post. Camila took a shot  in the 21st minute from the edge of the box, but Campbell was in position to handle the ball and continue to deny Orlando a goal. She tallied a safe in the 23th minute when Hill's shot was on target, but right at Campbell. The Pride continued their assault in the 29th minute with a shot off the bar, but Campbell got a hand on it to keep the game scoreless.

Both teams took a hydration break in the 30th minuet with in the 30th minute with temperatures hovering the high 80s at kickoff. Just six minutes later, Andressinha's free kick was cleared by the Pride, The rebound found Janine Beckie outside the box in the 36th minute, but her volley was off-target, The 5-8 forward, who played her ccollege ball at Texas Tech, also took a shot from outside the box, which was too high. The Dash closed out the first half with Carli Lloyd shooting from outside the right side of the box, in stoppage time. with a right-footed strike for her first goal of the NWSL season.

The Dash added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute when Poliana got the ball on the counter-attack, dribbled down field and fed the ball to an alert Rachel Daly. Daly quickly put the ball in the back of the goal to put Houston up 2-0.  With the assist, Poliana became the Das leader co-lead in assists.