Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, Texas – Friday, May 12 at 8:30 PM ET
Players to watch:
Houston defender Natalie Jacobs completed 74 of her 85 pass attempts (87.1%) in the 2-0 loss to the Reign. Those totals tie Jacobs for both most passes attempted and completed in a league game by a Houston player over the last seven seasons. The Dash have been held scoreless in their last three matches, with only attackers María Sánchez and Diana Ordóñez on the scoresheet through their six games this season. Sánchez scored twice in two games in a win over Chicago and draw against Portland, while Ordóñez’s goal also came in the win against Chicago.
Portland midfielder Olivia Moultrie scored the game-tying goal in the 83rd minute of the 3-3 draw with the Courage. It was Moultrie’s 10th goal contribution with no other NWSL players having ever recorded a single goal contribution at Moultrie’s age (17y, 231d as of Saturday). Moultrie is one of eight goalscorers on the season for thus far for the Thorns, with teammates Sophia Smith and Crystal Dunn leading the way with four goals apiece.
Match facts: The Houston Dash welcome Portland Thorns to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday night, with the Dash looking to recover from back-to-back losses while Portland will aim to remain unbeaten for a seventh consecutive league game after back-to-back 3-3 draws against Angel City and North Carolina.
The Dash fell to the Reign over the weekend after giving up two goals in the second half. Over their last nine regular-season games, Houston has given up second-half goals in just two of those matches, both against OL Reign (also last September). Ironically, most of the Dash’s struggles have been at home this season with the side losing one and drawing one, though they will have opportunities against Portland and San Diego in consecutive games.
Dating back to last season, the Thorns are unbeaten in their last 11 regular season matches (W6 D5), one game shy of tying the club’s longest-ever unbeaten run in league play. Of the seven unbeaten streaks of more than 10 games in league history (regular season only), three have been by Portland. Portland has won one and drawn one on the road this year with their most recent road game last week an energetic 3-3 draw at North Carolina.
Portland has won each of its last five road games against Houston in league play, having outscored the Dash by a combined score of 11-2 in those matches. A win on Friday would give the Thorns the longest regular-season road win streak against a single opponent in league history.
