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The Chicago Red Stars accomplished on Saturday night what 12 previous opponents dating back to April 28, 2018 had failed to do, namely hold the Houston Dash scoreless in a 1-0 nailbiting finish. Houston surrendered an early goal to continue their slide down the NWSL ladder.
“I’m disappointed,” shared midfielder Sofia Huerta after the match. “It’s never good to drop points at home, especially in the position that we’re in where we need the points. I don’t think they were the better team. I felt like we just weren’t getting our chances on frame and that’s frustrating. When we need to get points, we need to get points. It’s getting to a point where if we lose anymore, it’s done.”
The former Red Stars player delivered one of the most dangerous opportunities of the night just two minutes after Chicago grabbed the lead in the 7th minute. Huerta sent a free kick into the box but defender Claire Polkinghorne’s header sailed over the frame from six yards out.
The Red Stars lead came on an early mistake by defender Alyssa CHapman. The rare miscue by the veteran defender landed at the feet of Chicago’s Vanessa DiBernardo.
Katie Johnson took the one touch pass from DiBernardo and rifled a shot from distance just of the grasp of diving Dash keeper Jane Campbell.
Houston had its moments to level the match and even grab a lead had they done so but much like the Dynamo on Friday night, the Dash have had their own difficulties finding the back of the net. Huerta who delivered an opportunity in the seventh minute provided another in the 41st minute. The veteran midfielder found Haley Hanson in the box but Chicago keeper Emily Boyd’s stop at the post kept Houston scoreless.
The Dash (3-4-5, 13 points) tumbled to seventh in the NWSL table with only Orlando and Sky Blue FC worse.
“It is incredibly frustrating, and we keep digging ourselves in a hole especially early on,” lamented Dash head coach James Clarkson after the match. “We are finding it very difficult to get out there. We have players out there that are trying their best and everything, but at moments it’s not good enough.”