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| Rachel Daly (3) scored two goals in the Houston Dash's first game of the 2020 Challenger Cup. File photo from 2018 by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved |
Dash head coach James Clarkson characterized the draw with these words: "We’re obviously a little disappointed." A little disappointed, are you kidding me? You and the team should be infuriated with the way you gave the game away AGAIN! A little disappointed, are you kidding me? You and the team should be so upset that you want to get up and knock the crap out of somebody. A little disappointed is when you work your butt off but things don't go well not for lack of effort but because it just wasn't your day. Giving up two late goals and relinquishing a two goal lead is not working your butt off to the end. A match is 90 plus minutes, when will you and the team understand that and do something about it?
Houston fell behind a score in the 35th minute off the foot of Diane Matheson. Houston star Rachel Daly responded with a "l'll see your one and I’ll raise it one" as she netted her fifth career brace to Houston a 2-1 lead in the 47th minute. Newcomer Shea Groom added her first goal as a member of the Dash in the 67th minute giving Houston what appeared to be a comfortable two goal advantage.
She very nearly had the hat trick in the 61st minute knocking home a loose ball off the foot of Utah keeper Abby Smith. Referee Karen Abt disallowed the goal calling Daly for obstruction and preventing Smith from playing the ball.
“Exactly what we expected and what we’ve seen through preseason," continued Clarkson. That’s the sort of thing that Rachel can give us. She’s a constant thorn in the opposition’s defense."
Six minutes after Daly's disallowed goal, Groom in her first game as a member of the Dash scored the team's third goal of the match. Groom's blast from the 18-yard mark came off a centering ball from fellow newcomer Katie Stengel
The two goal advantage would not hold as Utah got two late goals off set pieces to pull even in the 89th minute. The Royals final goal came off the head of rookie Tziarra KIng, her first professional goal in her first professional match.
"We got ourselves in a great position –three to one up with probably ten minutes to go and unfortunately,we gave away two really soft goals that cost us three points,"concluded Clarkson.
Houston nearly pulled the joy of victory from the agony of a draw but midfielder Christine Nairn's right footed strike was deflected just wide.
The Dash take on OL Reign next on July 4th in a 9:00 PM CDT kickoff on CBS All-Access.
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