MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2016
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Forecast: Thunderstorms, 99 degrees
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referees: Benjamin Wooten, Christa McCurley Fourth Official: Juliana Duncan
Webstream: www.thornsfc.com
MATCH DAY PREVIEW
Following back-to-back home matches, Thorns FC travel to square off against the Houston Dash in the first of their final two matches before a league-wide break for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Saturday’s match marks Portland’s eighth road match of the season, and it’s first match against Houston Dash. The two teams will square off again on Sept. 7 in Portland.
Thorns FC suffered their first loss of the season after posting a 12-game un- beaten streak through the first 12 games of the season (7-0-5) that stretched from April 17-July 2. Houston is looking for its first win since May 7, register- ing six consecutive 1-0 losses.
LAST MATCH RECAP
Playing the second of back-to-back home matches, Thorns FC were unable to overcome a two-goal deficit in a 2-1 loss against FC Kansas City on July 9 at Providence Park. Portland surrendered a goal in each half and cut the deficit to 2-1 after defender Kat Williamson knocked in a loose ball near the edge of the goal line in the 76th minute. The match was Williamson’s first since suffer- ing a knee injury in the second game of the season against FC Kansas City on April 23 and the goal was the first of Williamson’s NWSL career. Portland made a push late and held a 10-6 advantage in shots in the second half, but were unable to find a late goal to equalize.
SCOUTING THE DASH
Houston (2-7-1, 7pts) enters Saturday’s match in search of its first win since May 7, having dropped six straight games by a score line of 1-0. The Dash fell to Sky Blue FC in their last match on the road at Yurcak Field on July 9. Houston has received goals from six different players this season, but no player has tallied multiple goals. Rookie forward Rachel Daly leads the team with 23 shots and has tallied a goal and three assists in nine games for Houston this season. The Dash rank among the top teams defensively, conceding the fourth-fewest goals in the league (11). The Dash are currently without seven players who are headed to the Olympics with their respective national teams. Defender Poliana and midfielder Andressa for Brazil, forward Janine Beckie and defender Allysha Chapman with Canada, goalkeeper Lydia Williams for Australia and U.S. Women’s National Team midfielders Carli Lloyd and Morgan Brian.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s match marks the sixth meeting all-time between Portland and Houston. In the last meeting the two clubs played to a scoreless draw at BBVA Compass Stadium on June 6, 2015. Four of the five previous meetings have finished 1-0 with Portland winning three of those four matches. Thorns FC are 2-0-1 on the road against the Dash and have not surrendered a goal in those three meetings at BBVA Compass Stadium.
