Red Bull Arena | Harrison, New Jersey – Sunday, October 1 at 6:30 PM ET
Players to watch:
Gotham forward Esther González, in just her second NWSL appearance, scored both of Gotham FC’s goals in its win over Washington on September 16. Already introducing herself as a potent threat for her side, González is the sixth player in league history, and just the second since 2015 (Sophia Smith – 2021) to score a brace in one of her first two regular season NWSL games. Heading up the team in the goals department is forward Lynn Williams, though, who has seven goals (one penalty) on the year so far.
Houston attacker María Sánchez assisted fellow Mexican international and teammate Diana Ordóñez on the only goal of the match in Houston’s 1-0 win over Louisville on September 15. At least one of Sánchez (4 goals, 4 assists) or Ordóñez (4 goals) has been involved in 11 of Houston’s 17 goals in all competitions this season.
Match facts: Gotham FC and the Houston Dash face off on Sunday night in the first of a two-game slate across the NWSL on Sunday as the regular season comes to a close in just a few weeks’ time. Gotham is currently in 3rd place with 30 points from 19 games played, level with 2nd place with San Diego but behind on goal differential. Meanwhile, Houston are in 10th place and still lobbying for a playoff position with 23 points from 19 games played.
Gotham FC is unbeaten in a club-record seven straight home matches (W4 D3) in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Washington in its last home match. Gotham hasn’t won consecutive regular season home matches in over six years, since beating OL Reign and Boston in August 2017.
On the flip side, Houston have lost only three road games this regular season (W3 D3 L3) with only Angel City (2) having fewer defeats away from home in 2023. The Dash have collected 35 points away from home since the start of last season (W10 D5 L5), more than any other NWSL team in that time.
The Dash have won seven of their 11 regular season matches against Gotham FC since 2018 (D2 L2), including four of five on the road (L1), the most road wins for Houston against any opponent in regular season play in that time.
