The Houston Dash earned its second road victory of the season in dramatic fashion with the final kick of the game at BMO Stadium earlier today. Defender Paige Nielsen scored the game-winning goal following a corner kick from midfielder Andressa. Nielsen charged to the ball and found the bottom corner of the near post for her first goal with the team.
Nielsen was traded to Houston from Angel City FC on April 20 as part of the deadline for incoming transfers for the first portion of the NWSL season. The defender joined Angel City FC for their expansion year and the 2023 campaign, where she led ACFC to the NWSL postseason. Since joining the Dash, the team has tallied two clean sheets and key points against the top-ranked Kansas City Current. The move to acquire Nielsen was one of four transactions completed by Dash General Manager Alex Singer prior to the transfer deadline.
Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell earned her third clean sheet of the season and finished with two saves against Angel City. The Dash goalkeeper currently leads the NWSL with 46 saves this season.
Houston has found the back of the net seven times in the second half this season. The team has also claimed four points from their first three-game week of the season. Dash head coach Fran Alonso made four changes following Wednesday’s match.
Dash forward Amanda West was threat from the opening whistle and applied pressure on the Angel City backline to generate Houston’s first opportunity of the game. Midfielder Sarah Puntigam found West open on the left flank after Angel City failed to clear the ball. West’s cross into the box missed forward Diana Ordóñez who was at the far post. The rookie forward finished with six crosses and led the team with 10 recoveries against Angel City.
The Dash backline was tested twice in the opening 15 minutes of the match, first a shot from Alyssa Thompson that went wide of the far post. Houston conceded a free kick outside the box minutes later, but Sydney Leroux’s header went wide of the near post.
Puntigam played a ball into the box that found Ramona Bachman, but her effort went over the crossbar in the 25th minute. Defender Avery Patterson was well positioned to keep the offensive push alive after the Angel City backline cleared a cross intended for Ordóñez.
Campbell made her first save of the match in the 34th minute. Campbell was well positioned to handle Madison Curry’s volley at the near post.
Ordóñez forced a save in the 35th minute, her effort from the top of the box was saved by the Angel City goalkeeper.
Houston’s best attempt of the second half began in the 81st minute after defender Courtney Petersen found Nigerian forward Michelle Alozie in stride. Alozie was able to get past Angel City defender Sarah Gorden and dribbled into the 18-yard box with ease. The striker took the shot but DiDi Haracic was well positioned to quell the danger.
The Dash return to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, May 17 to host Portland Thorns at 7 p.m. for Pups at the Pitch night, presented by College Ave, tickets for that match are available here.
