HOUSTON, TX – Wednesday saw the Houston Dash, defeat Gotham FC at PNC Stadium. Last week saw Gotham FC part ways with head coach Scott Parkinson. Less than a year into his tenure as head coach, Robinson went 8-8-11 over 27 matches. Parkinson’s interim replacement is Hue Menzies. Menzies is known as the manager who led the Jamaican national team to their first-ever Women’s World Cup in 2019. Now, he is tasked with seeing out the rest of the season with a squad that sits second to last in the standings.
Houston Dash defeats NJ/NY Gotham FC thanks to two late goals
GOOD MORNING H-TOWN 🗣#DejaloTodo pic.twitter.com/ovL4BGgEFw
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) August 18, 2022
Game Summary
The first half saw several chances from both sides but was ultimately scoreless. In the second half things started off terribly for Gotham FC. Midge Purce, who was shown a yellow in the first half, was sent off with a second yellow in the 58-minute.
7️⃣ for 7️⃣ in the 7️⃣1️⃣3️⃣, @ebony_salmon!@HoustonDash | #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/Keob3QPIwV
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2022
With Gotham down a player, Houston looked to pounce on a depleted side with over half an hour left to go. In the 73-minute, Ebony Salmon struck a loose ball inside off the crossbar and into the net to make it 1-0 for the Dash. Not even two minutes later, Houston’s lead would expand with a strike outside the box from Marisa Viggiano found the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.
Double-Dash! Viggiano!@HoustonDash | #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/4mfklwgFnK
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2022
After earning a free kick in the 80-minute, Gotham’s Kristie Mewis delivered a ball into the box that was headed in by McCall Zerboni to bring Gotham within one. However, down a player and with just ten minutes left, this was only a glimmer of hope that the visiting team could pull off a result. The match ended 2-1 and helped Houston Dash defeat Gotham FC.
How do you celebrate 15k #NWSL Minutes? Put your team on the board! What a second #HOUvNJNY half!@McCaLL2 | @GothamFC pic.twitter.com/VkNnVKLHM6
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 18, 2022
Game Analysis and Games Coming Up
While not shaking up the standings position-wise, this result was ultimately important for the rest of NWSL. Houston is now firmly in second place after being tied on points with San Diego Wave FC. The Dash is now temporarily tied on points with the first-place Portland Thorns but is well behind on goal difference. As for Gotham FC, they remain in the second to last spot in the table. They are well behind many teams in the playoff hunt. They do however have a couple of games in hand compared to the rest of the league. And if Hue Menzies can build even a temporary winning culture, they could make an attempt at the 11-point gap for the last playoff spot.
Photo Credit: Houston Dash on August 17, 2022.
