Houston Dash at Sky Blue FC Preview: Dash look to avenge loss to Sky Blue

Houston Dash vs Sky Blue FC. Doesn’t it seem like we just saw this show? That’s because we did last weekend at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Back home after a three game road trip, the Houston Dash hosted Sky Blue FC last weekend for the NWSL Lifetime Game of the Week. Unfortunately for Dash fans at the stadium and at home they watched the Dash fall 3-1 to Sky Blue. The Dash attack struggled to create chances against the Sky Blue defense. It wasn’t until the 76th minute when Poliana was able to score and keep the Dash from being shut out at home. The goal was due in large part to the efforts of Kealia Ohai as the forward was able to run down the left side of the field and play the ball into the box to Poliana. The game was the first start this season for Morgan Brian who has been recovering from a knee injury. The game also saw the return of Andressa who has been dealing with a hamstring strain.

It was a penalty kick from Sarah Killion in the 33nd minute of last weekend’s game that put Sky Blue up on the Dash. Giving up penalty kicks to Killion can be deadly as she is currently one of the NWSL’s scoring leaders on the season with four goals- three of which come from penalty kicks.

The biggest problem for the Dash will once again be Sam Kerr. While she only scored one of Sky Blue’s three goals last game she played an important part in the dominating score line. On the 53rd minute goal scored by Leah Galton, Kerr was able to draw three Dash defender before passing the ball to Galton. This left Galton 1v1 against Lydia Williams and we all know how that story ended. It’s the kind of defensive mistake that the Dash can’t afford to make in back to back weeks. Kerr later tallied a goal of her own in the last minutes of the game. Shutting down Kerr will be key if the Dash want to leave New Jersey with three points (or any points at all for that matter).

The Dash have dropped to seventh in the standings with a 2-3-0 record while Sky Blue sit one place and one point above them with a 2-2-1 record. Three points would be huge to help push the Dash back up in the standings. Given the upcoming international games later this summer that will leave the Dash without a number of starters (and, you know, backups) they need to stay as high in the standings as possible.

Things will kick off at Yurcak Field at 3 pm CT on Saturday.