A second half brace from Seattle Reign FW Jodie Taylor gave the home side a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dash at Memorial Stadium this evening.
After a scoreless first half, Reign MF Theresa Nielsen sparked the first goal of the game with a low cross near the penalty spot that found Taylor for her eighth goal of the season in the 58th minute.
Taylor doubled her tally three minutes later after she created space for a shot at the top of the box. The forward’s curling effort beat Dash GK Jane Campbell at the far post.
Houston’s best opportunity came in the 75th minute when DF Taylor Comeau’s cross found FW Kealia Ohai at the far post. The forward controlled the ball prior to her shot on goal, which forced a save from Reign GK Lydia Williams. The rebound bounced off a Seattle defender and then the goalpost before Williams collected the ball to quell the danger.
Dash MF Sofia Huerta was inches away from scoring her eighth goal of the season in the 68th minute off a cross from FW Rachel Daly. The England international found Huerta at the near post, but her header slipped just wide of the far post.
Seattle MF Jessica Fishlock was inches away from the first goal of the game in the seventh minute with a shot from the edge of the box that bounced off the far post.
Fishlock found Reign FW Megan Rapinoe with a through-ball in the final third in the 36th minute. Rapinoe’s cross went uncontested across the face of goal but her service was too fast for Taylor at the far post.
Rapinoe was awarded a foul 15 yards outside the box and took the free kick resulting in a shot on goal that was saved by Campbell, who finished the match with six saves.
The Dash face a quick turnaround as they return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday to host Carli Lloyd and Sky Blue FC for Fan Appreciation Night, presented by BBVA Compass. Tickets for the match start at $19 and are available at HoustonDashSoccer.com.
