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If you don't live in Houston or haven't made it out to HSP then chances are that Saturday's match was your first chance to see the Houston Dash in preseason action. The Dash played the Portland Thorns as part of their preseason tournament.
The first half was a tale of offside calls. Players on both sides, but predominantly the Dash, saw players whistled for being just a little too fast. The Thorns looked like they had gotten on the scoreboard just 14 minutes into the game but Mallory Weber was whistled offside. Houston was called eight times for being offside in the first half while the Thorns were whistled twice. Many of those calls came against the speedy Kealia Ohai for the Dash.
Thorns goal keeper Adrianna Franch came out to stop Ohai from scoring taking her down earning a yellow card and a penalty kick for the Dash in the process. However, Franch turned right around and stopped Amber Brooks on the ensuing penalty kick.
The second half went much of the same way as the first half with the offside whistle getting a workout,but the game eventually gave way to some goals late. Brooks kicked off the second half with a shot at goal but she was once again denied by Franch.
Portland finally scored a goal that stood in the 79th minute of the match. Shade Pratt took a shot at goal that was blocked by Henninger. The ball was still loose and Dagny Brynjarsdottir finished it off to put the Thorns up 1-0 over the Dash. They wouldn't hold the lead for long as Janine Beckie hit a shot into the lower left corner of the net just four minutes later to level the scoreboard 1-1.
As stoppage time started Janinie Beckie set Ohai up for what would be the game winning goal. Beckie got behind the defense and made a beautiful pass to Ohai who finished it off. Giving the Dash the 2-1 lead and a win before heading back to Houston.
With their time in Portland over the Dash have one more preseason match left before the season kicks off. The regular season starts on April 16 against the Chicago Red Stars.
Lineups
Dash starting XI: Henninger; Poliana, Moros, Privett, Chapman; Brooks, Andressa, Ohai, Heap; Ubogagu, Daly #DashOn
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) April 2, 2016
Thorns XI vs. Dash: Franch, Reynolds, Menges, Williamson, Berryhill, Lofton, Brynjarsdottir, Boureille, Shim, Weber, Sinclair (c) #BAONPDX
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) April 2, 2016
HT substitutions: Ochs in for Chapman, Beckie in for Heap and Brush in for Privet.
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) April 3, 2016
30' - Thorns FC substitution: IN - Gilberston, OUT - Shim #BAONPDX
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) April 3, 2016
70' Substitution: Gavilsky-Florio in for Ubogagu
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) April 3, 2016
72' - Thorns FC substitution: IN - Pratt, OUT - Lofton #BAONPDX
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) April 3, 2016