PNC Stadium | Houston, Texas – Sunday, June 12 at 8:00 PM ET
Players to watch:
Houston’s strong start to the season has come on the back of its excellent defense. The Dash have allowed just three goals in seven matches this season, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Jane Campbell, a record that is tied with Gotham FC in 2021 for the fewest goals allowed at this stage of a season in NWSL history. Up top, the dynamic duo of forwards Rachel Daly and Nichelle Prince has helped to combine for eight goals and three assists, short only of San Diego duo Alex Morgan and Taylor Kornieck’s tally.
Portland forwards Christine Sinclair and Sophia Smith both scored in the team’s draw with San Diego on Wednesday, taking each of their totals to four goals on the season. Of the six players with at least four goals in the 2022 regular season, four play for either the Thorns or Dash (Daly, Prince). Goalkeeper Bella Bixby also carries three clean sheets into the match, the most recent of which came in a 3-0 win over Angel City to open the month of June.
Match facts: The Houston Dash are still riding the momentum of a six-game unbeaten run as they welcome Portland Thorns FC to PNC Stadium in the last of the weekend’s action across the league. Both sides enter off the back of draws in their last time out and look to get back to winning ways in what will be a difficult contest all-around.
In the six-game unbeaten run for the Dash, including its scoreless draw against Angel City on Tuesday (W3 D3), Houston has equaled the longest regular season unbeaten streak in Dash history, along with a six-game run in June-July 2017.
Portland, though, saw a two-goal lead slip away in the final 10 minutes in a 2-2 draw with the Wave on Wednesday. It was the first time in team history that the Thorns failed to win a regular season game after leading by two goals in the 80th minute or later, ending a run of 50 straight wins from that position.
When the Dash and Thorns met earlier this season in Portland, Houston came away with a 2-0 win. It was the Dash’s second ever multi-goal win in league play in the fixture (20 matches) and the Dash are looking to win consecutive matches against the Thorns for the first time since joining the league in 2014.
