Dash Fight Back Twice to Earn Point in San Jose
(image via Houston Dash)
After a long summer break with international tournaments, the Houston Dash returned to NWSL play on Saturday night in San Jose against Bay FC. Both teams came into this match below the playoff line and were looking for valuable points to help try and climb the table.
With a number of players unavailable, head coach Fabrice Gautrat had to make some changes to the lineup. Evelina Duljan and Maggie Graham played in the attack along with Yazmeen Ryan. Allysha Chapman got her first start of the season on defense.
Bay FC took the lead early in the first half after a good but of play from their star striker. Racheal Kundananji, just back from the African Cup of Nations, got the ball at the top of the box and turned and drove forward. She played the ball back across goal and Penelope Hocking was there to slot it away to make it 1-0 in the 16th minute.
Houston got their first chance in the 21st minute. Avery Patterson rolled a ball into the path of Yazmeen Ryan as the two USWNT players linked up. Ryan cut onto her left but couldn’t keep her shot down, sending it over the goal.
The Dash got another good chance in the 41st minute as the first half wound down. Delanie Sheehan received a pass and turned well to find space. Unfortunately for her, the shot rattled the cross bar and came back out. Bay FC took the 1-0 lead into half time.
Bay nearly doubled their lead in the 54th minute. Kundananji did well with a solo effort, getting away from Paige Nielsen. She cut back onto her right foot and curled a shot that caromed off the inside of the post.
The Dash would find an equalizer in the 72nd minute. Patterson did well on the right side to get herself some space to send a cross in. Her pass found its way to the back post where Kiki Van Zanten met it on the half volley to score her first professional goal. The score was 1-1, but not for long.
Just moments after kickoff, Bay charged down field. Alyssa Malonson was slipped into the space one the left and she fired across goal, as seemed to be the theme for this match. The ball was met well on the volley by Taylor Huff and she restored Bay’s lead, making it 2-1 in the 74th minute.
Second half substitute Messiah Bright was played in behind the Bay defense in the 86th minute but shot high and off target. Moments later, the Dash would find yet another equalizer from one of their veterans.
Sophie Schmidt, who checked into the match in the 86th minute, immediately made her presence known. The Canadian rose to meet a Delanie Sheehan corner in the six yard box and found the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2 in the 88th minute.
Both teams hunted for a winner in the seven minutes that were added on to the second half. Bay, mostly through Kundananji, attacked but the Dash held firm. The final whistle blew and the teams split the points in a 2-2 draw.
The Dash will return to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, August 8, when they welcome the North Carolina Courage to Houston.
