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Saturday, the Houston Dash will host the Orlando Pride as they look to turn around their season under interim head coach Omar Morales. This is the first of two back-to-back games between the two teams. This weekend the Dash will host while Orlando will host the following game. The Dash are at the bottom of the NWSL standings with just six points heading into the weekend. Orlando are in the seventh spot with nine points on the season. The NWSL was off last week due to the international break.
The Dash have a number of players returning from international duty. Janine Beckie scored for Canada in their 4-0 win over Costa Rica. Andressinha had an assist for Brazil in their 2-1 win over Spain. Nichelle Prince (CanWNT) and Denise O’Sullivan (Ireland) will also be returning from international duty.
Carli Lloyd will be available to play for the Dash for the first time this season as she returns from international duty and Manchester City. Lloyd spent part of the off-season and the first part of the NWSL 2017 season with Manchester City Women’s Football Team. Lloyd and Manchester City won the FA Cup in May completing her stint with the team.
This game will be the Dash’s Sarah Hagen’s first time to play against her former club, Orlando, since joining the Dash for 2017. While Orlando has former Dash players Toni Pressley, Camila and Chioma Ubogagu on their roster. The later two joined Orlando in the off season.
This will be the first time that the Dash face Marta since her signing at the start of the season. Marta has scored three goals for the Pride so far this season tying her with Jasmyne Spencer for top scorer on the team.
The Pride’s Alex Morgan has spent the last six months in France playing for Lyon. Unfortunately, for the Pride Morgan returns to them with a hamstring injury. The forward isn’t expected to see the field for Orlando for 3-4 weeks putting her out for the game against the Dash. Orlando will also be with out Ashlyn Harris who is out for eight weeks with a quadriceps injury.
The game kicks off at 7:30 pm CT at BBVA Compass Stadium.