Match Preview: Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars
PNC Stadium | Houston, Texas – Saturday, July 16 at 8:30 PM ET
Players to watch:
Houston midfielder Marisa Viggiano led her team in possessions won (11) and passes played into the box (5) against the Orlando Pride on Friday. The only other Dash player this season to have won possession 10+ times in a single game while also playing at least five passes into the box was María Sánchez (twice), who has been away with the Mexican National Team.
Chicago midfielder Amanda Kowalski scored her second goal this season, this one coming in the 95th minute to tie the game against North Carolina on Sunday. The goal is the second latest game-tying goal in Chicago history, behind only Lori Chalupny’s 96th-minute goal to earn a 3-3 draw against FC Kansas City in July 2013.
Match facts: The Houston Dash look to get back to winning ways as they host the Chicago Red Stars at PNC Stadium in the first of two games across the league on Saturday night. Houston has lost two consecutive home matches though, while Chicago is riding a nine-game unbeaten streak that has seen them collect four points in their last two away outings.
The Dash have conceded 10 goals in their last four games after conceding just three goals in their first seven games of the season. The only team to give up more than 10 goals in a four-game span this season is Orlando, who has done so in multiple four-game spans in 2022. However, Orlando is who beat Houston in their last time out and the Dash have only amassed three points in their last five games.
Chicago, though, has just one loss in its first 11 games, tied for the fewest losses this season with the Thorns. It also matches the fewest losses through 11 matches in the club’s NWSL history with the 2015 season when the team lost just once in their first 14 games. Playing in rhythm as well, Chicago has followed each of their three most recent draws up with a win, meaning after their dramatic 2-2 draw with North Carolina the club would be due for a victory on Saturday.
The most recent regular season matchup between Houston and Chicago was a 1-1 draw last September but the Red Stars beat the Dash twice in this year’s Challenge Cup. The Red Stars have won 12 of the 24 all-time meetings between the teams in all NWSL competitions (D8 L4).
