The Houston Dash were shut out for the third time in four games and played the final 32 minutes with 10 players in a 4-0 loss to FC Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Four different players scored for Kansas City as the Dash remain winless at home to start the season with their overall record standing at 1-3-1. Kansas City recorded their second win in four days to improve to 2-2-1.
Kansas City took care of chances early as midfielder Liz Bogus opened the scoring in the 13th minute via a through ball into the left channel from 2013 NWSL MVP Lauren Holiday. Bogus shrugged off defender Arianna Romero and finished just under a diving Erin McLeod.
Mistakes at the back three minutes after the halftime break led to the second goal for Kansas City as Amy Rodriguez ran onto a pass from rookie Jenna Richardson, muscling past two defenders and converting the chance. The goal was Rodriguez’s fourth of the year, tied for the league lead.
The turning point of the game occurred in the 58th minute when Rodriguez again found herself played in behind the defense. Osinachi Ohale caught up to the FCKC striker but brought Rodriguez down as they tangled feet just outside the area. Ohale was given a straight red card for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity, and the Dash were forced to see out the remainder of the game with 10 players.
The Dash held off the Kansas City onslaught for several minutes thanks to the efforts of captain Erin McLeod, who made eight saves on the night. In the 80th minute, FCKC struck again to deal a decisive blow to the exhausted Dash squad as last season’s Rookie of the Year, Erika Tymrak, drove at the defense into the box and unleashed a shot past the diving McLeod to push the lead to three.
The damage was complete in the 89th minute as Frances Silva scored her first professional goal, playing a combination with Holiday before finishing with a shot to the upper corner.
The Dash hit the road once more looking to snap their two-game losing streak against the Chicago Red Stars on May 11, while FCKC will play their third game in eight days against the Western New York Flash in Rochester, New York, on Wednesday.
Houston Dash vs. FC Kansas City
May 3, 2014 – BBVA Compass Stadium
NWSL Regular Season
Scoring Summary:
Kansas City: Liz Bogus 13
Kansas City: Amy Rodriguez (Lauren Holiday) 48
Kansas City: Erika Tymrak 80
Kansas City: Frances Silva (Lauren Holiday) 89
Houston Dash: Erin McLeod; Arianna Romero, Osinachi Ohale (ejection 59), Marissa Diggs, Kika Toulouse; Becky Edwards, Kaylyn Kyle, Ella Masar (Rafaelle Souza 66); Kealia Ohai, Tiffany McCarty (Jordan Jackson 46), Stephanie Ochs (Holly Hein 64)
Unused Substitutes: Bianca Henninger, Teresa Noyola, Lindsay Elston, Dominique Richardson
FC Kansas City: Nicole Barnhart; Becky Saurbrunn, Kassy Kallman, Nikki Phillips, Leigh Ann Robinson; Jen Buczkowski, Jenna Richmond; Merritt Mathias (Frances Silva 80), Lauren Holiday, Liz Bogus (Erika Tymrak 61); Amy Rodriguez (Melissa Henderson 83)
Unused Substitutes: Sarah Keane, Morgan Marlborough, Nia Williams
Disciplinary Summary:
HOU: Osinachi Ohale (ejection) 58
HOU: Holly Hein (caution) 72
Referee: Juliana Duncan
Referee Assistants: Jennifer Garner, Deleana Quan
Fourth Official: Samantha Moos
Attendance: 5198
