Carli Lloyd & the Dash look to make it two in a row
The Houston Dash breathed a sight of relief following the team’s 3-1 win over Boston on Wednesday night. It was the return of midfielder Carli Lloyd for Houston. After 17 days of wondering when the USWNT star would return, the Dash had their answer. With her disappearing act after the USWNT’s loss in Rio behind her, Lloyd came back with a vengance scoring a laser like strike from 35 yards reminiscent of her goal against Kansas City a season ago and adding an assist against the Breakers. Now to see if the Dash can make it two in a row as they return home for Saturday’s match against the Orlando Pride and Lloyd’s post-Olympics home debut. If the trend continues, more questions will be raised about what might have been had she come straight back to her NWSL side after the Olympics.
Kealia Ohai continues to be hot having scored seven goals in the club’s last six matches. Her play has been unsurpassed this season and worthy of the captain’s armband she proudly wears.
Houston sits in eighth place in the NWSL standings eleven points back of the fourth place Western New York Flash who hold down the final playoff berth. Not mathematically eliminated, it would take more then a miracle and a win out for the Dash to hoist themselves into the playoffs and possibly the championship game to be held at BBVA this October.
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Saturday night’s game against the Pride represents an opportunity to not only avenge some early season missteps against the NWSL’s latest expansion side. The Dash dropped a 3-1 decision in the season’s second game to Orlando and then consecutive 1-0 losses to Orlando in May and June.
Orlando sits two points ahead of the Dash with four games to play. Kick-off on Saturday nite is set for 7:30p.m. CT.