Houston Dash vs Portland Thorns FC staff picks
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash return home to take on the red-hot Portland Thorns. We asked our staff for their predictions on tonight’s match.
Rudy - 1-0 Dash win
(Record: 2-6)
Houston needs to build consistency, and tonight is the perfect opportunity to do so. Taking advantage of the heat and humidity at Shell Energy Stadium against a northwest-based team like the Portland Thorns is a must. They need to outpace them, dominate the tempo, and find a way to get the win. I believe they will.
Dustyn - 0-0 draw
(Record: 3-5)
No Yazmeen Ryan is a big loss for the Dash. Maggie Graham can’t score every game (can she?). The defense has been great however, and I think Abby Smith gets another start in goal and another clean sheet.
Manny - 1-1 draw
(Record: 4-4)
This is shaping up to be a cagey match, much like the clash in Seattle, as the Dash continue to build a defense-focused side with a strong counterattacking approach. Complicating matters, key attacker Yazmeen Ryan is sidelined for this game, leaving a gap in Houston’s front line—especially given her versatility across the front three. Meanwhile, Portland has managed to secure results despite the absence of star player Sophia Wilson. A stalemate seems likely.
Joey - 1-0 Dash win
(Record: 2-5)
The Dash defense really showed up in a massive way last week against Seattle. If they can perform up to that level again, then there’s no reason they can’t beat a Portland team missing some of their star players.
Diego - 1-1 draw
(Record: 4-3)
The Dash gained a lot of momentum with a massive win against Seattle last weekend. Portland, however, is equally as dangerous, and will cause the Dash’s defense some headaches. With that being said, I don’t see it being a big enough issue enough to be a loss.