Match Preview: Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit
PNC Stadium | Houston, Texas – Saturday, August 27 at 8:30 PM ET
Players to watch:
Houston forward Ebony Salmon scored a right-footed curler for the Dash’s only goal in the loss to the Wave. Since the beginning of last season, Salmon has 13 right-footed goals, which is the most by any NWSL player over the last two seasons. The Dash are led in scoring by Salmon, though, who arrived in mid-July via trade with Racing Louisville. Her eight goals have her three above fellow forward Nichelle Prince, who completes the dynamic scoring duo in the side.
In Washington’s last game against the Thorns, it was defender Sam Staab’s header that forced a Bella Bixby own goal. More known for her work on the other end of the field, Staab’s 101 headed clearances since the beginning of 2019 are the second most in NWSL in that time behind Katie Naughton’s 120 (regular season).
Match facts: The Houston Dash host the Washington Spirit at PNC Stadium on Saturday night as they look to build on a run that seen them win four out of their last six games (D1 L1) to take them to third place in the standings.
The Dash did lose their last match, though, falling by a 3-1 scoreline to San Diego on Saturday with Salmon on the scoresheet. In fact, in each game Houston has scored a goal Salmon has been one of the goalscorers if not the only goalscorer in one-goal games. Houston has four wins when four or more combined goals are scored, though, meaning if the goals start flowing it would only add to the league-leading tally in that category.
Washington is in a downward spiral in terms of results, unfortunately, with the side extending its winless run to 15 games (D9 L6) with a loss to Portland in its most recent match. It matches the longest winless streak in Spirit history (May to September 2019) and the second longest winless streak in NWSL history, behind only Sky Blue FC’s streak of 23 games without a win in 2018.
Houston is winless against the Spirit in its last four league matches against them since September 2019 (D2 L2), tying its longest winless streak in the fixture’s history. However, in home games in the matchup, Houston has not lost in five games dating back to August 2016 (W3 D2).
