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Houston Dash
One had to only watch the final eight minutes of Tuesday’s game to realize that despite all the changes made by the Houston Dash in the offseason, some things have not changed. The inability to close out games cost Houston a 3-1 win over the Utah Royals and instead the Dash had to settle for a 3-3 draw.
Dash head coach James Clarkson characterized the draw with these words: “We’re obviously a little disappointed.” A little disappointed? Clarkson and the team should be infuriated with the way you gave the game away. Giving up two late goals and relinquishing a two goal lead is not good enough. A match is 90 plus minutes, when will Clarkson and the team play a full match and do something to stop surrendering late leads?
Houston fell behind a goal in the 35th minute off the foot of Diane Matheson. Houston star Rachel Daly said I’ll see your one and I’ll raise it one as she netted her fifth career brace to give Houston a 2-1 lead in the 47th minute. Newcomer Shea Groom added her first goal as a member of the Dash in the 67th minute giving Houston what appeared to be a comfortable two goal advantage.
As has happened in the past, Houston couldn’t hold the lead surrendering two goals in the final eight minutes of regulation.
The Dash take on the OL Reign on tonight in a 9:00 PM CT kick airing on CBS All-Access.
Houston Dynamo
Two interesting things happened in the 24 hours surrounding the Houston Dash draw in Utah. The first involved the reported interest around Costa Rican attacker Joel Campbell. The news broke in a tweet by Lester Gretsch of KXLN Univision and former communications director for the Houston Dynamo. If the interest in the former Arsenal and current Liga MX player is valid then the saga of what happens with Alberth Elis could be nearing an end. Elis has been rumored to be on his way out for a while now in Houston.
On Wednesday morning, the Dynamo made more news in a move that saw them acquiring $50,000 in General Allocation money from Atlanta United in exchange for the Discovery Right’s to Jurgen Damm.
General Allocation Money is money that is available to a club in addition to its salary budget. Each MLS club receives an annual allotment of General Allocation Money, which can be traded by clubs. Allocation Money can be used to “buy-down” a player’s salary budget charge as part of managing a team’s roster, including buying a salary budget charge below the league maximum of $612,500.
MLS clubs may have up to seven players on its Discovery List at any time and may remove or add players at any time. There is no limit to how many players a club can sign from its Discovery List.
Houston wraps up its preparation this week at Houston Sports Park before heading to Orlando, Florida on Sunday. The team opens the MLS is Back tournament July 13 with a 7:00 PM CT kick against LAFC on FS1.