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Houston dropped their third straight match and the second of their two-game set against Sky Blue 2-1 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ.
For a majority of the second half, the two teams went back and forth in search of three points.
Sky Blue attacking midfielder Raquel Rodriguez scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute, to end Houston's hopes for a draw or late victory. Daphne Corboz lofted a free-kick towards the far post, the ball fell to Rodriguez's feet and she placed home an easy finish past Lydia Williams.
84' From the center of the box to the bottom right corner, Raquel Rodríguez gives @SkyBlueFC the 2-1 lead late in the game. #NJvHOU pic.twitter.com/lH07l3STgE
— NWSL (@NWSL) May 20, 2017
Kealia Ohai continued her battle against Erin Simon, a matchup that created Houston's lone goal last week. A minute after Rodriguez’s goal, Ohai beat Simon and sent a perfectly weighted ball across the face of goal and in the direction of a streaking Melissa Henderson, but the 27-year-old forward was unable to get a touch on the ball to equalize for Houston.
Henderson made her first appearance of the season for the Dash entering in the match for Nichelle Prince in the 71st minute. Randy Waldrum shuffled the backline of his starting eleven playing Rachel Daly and Poliana as fullbacks and Cami Privett and Cari Roccaro in the center.
The Dash conceded a penalty kick in the 19th minute. Rodriguez was fouled from behind by Amber Brooks in the penalty area after Houston’s backline failed to clear the ball away from danger. In a mirror result from the penalty kick scored by Sky Blue in last week's contest, Sarah Killion side-footed the ball into the bottom left corner as Williams went in the wrong direction.
20' @skillion16 converts the penalty to give @SkyBlueFC the 1-0 lead. #AlmostIntsantReplay #NJvHOU pic.twitter.com/6DqqZF1ncf
— NWSL (@NWSL) May 20, 2017
Williams made a crucial save in the 68th minute to stop Sam Kerr's header from point-blank range. The terrific save to rob her fellow Australian international of a goal will likely earn Williams an NWSL Save of the Week nomination.
68' Big save from @lydsaussie for the @HoustonDash. #NJvHOU pic.twitter.com/7onUplo5az
— NWSL (@NWSL) May 20, 2017
Andressa scored Houston’s lone goal of the match to equalize before halftime. Ohai made a run around Simon, cut across the end line and received a gracious deflection on her pass to find Andressa alone in the area. The midfielder fired an initial strike off the post, followed her shot and placed a left-footed rebound attempt into the back of the net.
40' Andressinha's left-footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner ties this one up for the @HoustonDash. #NJvHOU pic.twitter.com/mClFHBuIEb
— NWSL (@NWSL) May 20, 2017
With the loss, Houston’s record falls to 2-4-0. The Dash will look to end their three-game losing streak against Seattle Reign FC next Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm CT.
Heartbreaker.
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) May 20, 2017
Dash fall 2-1 to Sky Blue at Yurcak Field. #NWSLonLIFETIME pic.twitter.com/SsmNaIa7lR
Lineups
Dash Starting XI: Williams; Poliana, Roccaro, Privett, Daly; Brooks; Andressinha, Brian; Prince, Beckie, Ohai #NWSLonLIFETIME pic.twitter.com/cldTuJgSkb
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) May 20, 2017
Today's Starting XI presented by @HMHNewJersey. #NWSLonLIFETIME pic.twitter.com/c4yOxCOGcX
— Sky Blue FC (@SkyBlueFC) May 20, 2017