Sky Blue FC (0-16-5, 5 points) returned to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Saturday, falling to the Houston Dash (9-9-5, 32 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium, 6-1.
Houston was able to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute of this contest. On that sequence, a ball was sent over the top for Rachel Daly as she entered the penalty area, playing her into a 1v1 situation with Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. After Daly took a quick touch, Sheridan came off her post to make a diving stop, but her rejection landed directly at the feet of Linda Motlhalo just outside the 18, where she was able to one-time a go-ahead tally that gave the Dash a 1-0 advantage.
In the 48th minute, the Houston lead was stretched to 2-0 after a ball was thrown-in to Sofia Huerta with space on the right flank. She then cut inside before sending a cross to the far post, where Veronica Latsko was waiting to redirect a header into the back of the net.
Sky Blue FC did pull one back in the 54th minute after Shea Groom looked to cut a through-ball into the box for Katie Johnson, but a defender was able to poke it before the feed arrived. As it fell to a defender, Imani Dorsey powered her way into possession of the ball before slotting a shot underneath Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell to make it 2-1.
In the 65th minute, Kealia Ohai made a run down the left flank before delivering a cross that was just a bit heavy and made its way to the right side of the box. As the ball bounced into that area, Huerta found herself well-positioned to strike a side volley that she tucked inside the far post, making it a 3-1 game.
Two minutes later, the advantage was extended to three goals when Huerta was taken down in the box for a penalty kick opportunity. Stepping over the ensuing try was Daly, who converted to make it 4-1 in favor of Houston.
The tally soon became 5-1 in the 88th minute of play, as Kyah Simon found Haley Hanson on a late corner kick. The final 6-1 count was then placed on the scoreboard in the 90th minute when Thembi Kgatlana acquired the ball in the midfield from Hanson and made a long run with possession before slotting a shot into the goal.
Sky Blue FC will continue its current four-game road stretch next Saturday against the Washington Spirit before returning home to Yurcak Field for its 2018 season finale on Saturday, September 8, hosting the Orlando Pride for a noon kickoff. Tickets for that game are available now online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849). The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a Carli Lloyd bobblehead, courtesy of Brielle Orthopedics.
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NWSL Match Report
Match: Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash
Date: August 25, 2018
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Attendance: 4,257
Weather: 90 degrees, partly cloudy
Scoring Summary:
NJ: 0 | 1 – 1
HOU: 1 | 5 – 6
22 HOU Linda Motlhalo
48 HOU Veronica Latsko (Sofia Huerta)
54 NJ Imani Dorsey
65 HOU Sofia Huerta (Kealia Ohai)
67 HOU Rachel Daly (Penalty Kick)
88 HOU Haley Hanson (Kyah Simon)
90 HOU Thembi Kgatlana (Haley Hanson)
Lineups:
NJ: Sheridan, Tiernan, Frisbie, Richardson, Freeman (Gibbons-63), Dorsey, Killion, Lloyd, Hoy (McCaskill-58), Johnson (Pierre-Louise), Groom
Subs not used: Casey, Meehan, Skroski
Head Coach: Denise Reddy
HOU: Campbell, Chapman, Van Wyk, Brooks, Comeau, Huerta (Kgatlana-78), Motlhalo, Ohai, Latsko (Simon-75), Daly (Prince-85), Hanson
Subs Not Used: Prudhomme, Jordan, Keever, Agnew
Head Coach: Vera Pauw
Stats Summary: HOU / NJ
Shots: 21 / 14
Saves: 4 / 6
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 6 / 8
Offside: 4 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
N/A
Officials:
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referee 1: John Krill
Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan
Fourth Official: Estafania Estrada
