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NWSL Houston Dash

Dynamo and Dash Return to League Play and Dynamo 2 Begin Postseason Run

September 29, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Houston Dash News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC return from winning the 2023 U.S. Open Cup to host in-state rivals FC Dallas in the final leg of the Texas Derby on Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium. The Houston Dash return to league play for the first of three pivotal matches to close the regular season. Houston Dynamo 2 travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Tacoma Defiance in the opening round of the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs after the familiar foe selected Houston in the new postseason format.

DYNAMO HOST FC DALLAS IN FINAL LEG OF TEXAS DERBY

Houston returns to league play at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30 as they host Hispanic Heritage Night and in-state rivals FC Dallas in the final leg of the Texas Derby. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Dynamo enter Saturday's match after hoisting the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy in South Florida on Wednesday. After first-half goals by defender Griffin Dorsey and forward Amine Bassi, Houston defeated Inter Miam CF 2-1 to secure its first title under owner Ted Segal, general manager Pat Onstad and head coach Ben Olsen. The victory also secured Houston's fourth domestic title in Club history after the Dynamo won back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, as well as the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. Head coach Ben Olsen became the third coach to win the U.S. Open Cup with two different teams. Notably, Houston never trailed in a match during its U.S. Open Cup championship campaign. Fans are welcomed to take photos with the U.S. Open Cup trophy on the concourse of Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday.

Houston currently sits fourth in the Western Conference standings and has the opportunity to clinch its first playoff berth since 2017 based on five different multi-step scenarios. The Dynamo boast a 6-1-3 (WLD) record since returning to MLS play after Leagues Cup on Aug. 20, outscoring opponents 21-6 during that stretch.

FC Dallas enters Saturday's match sitting in the Western Conference's final playoff spot with 40 points, after playing the Philadelphia Union to a 1-1 draw on the road. Alan Velasco scored his first goal of the season in the 36th minute to salvage the result, and Dallas has earned a league-best 17 points after trailing this season.

Both clubs are looking to secure their playoff position in the closing stretch of the regular season, and the final leg of the Texas Derby could go a long way to determining their fates. Houston holds a 10-4-9 (WLD) MLS all-time regular season record over Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium. In all competitions this year, the Dynamo boast a 14-3-4 (WLD) record at Shell Energy Stadium.

After drawing 1-1 at Dallas in May, Houston must beat Dallas on Saturday to bring El Capitán, a Civil War-era replica cannon, back to Shell Energy Stadium. Each season, the overall winner of the regular season series between the two in-state rivals earns the right to house the cannon at their stadium for the next season. The Dynamo will also need to find victory on Saturday to secure Copa Texas, the fan-inspired head-to-head competition between Houston, Dallas and Austin. Both titles are at stake on Saturday, and while securing an MLS playoff position is the priority, Houston controls its own destiny to becoming the Lone Star State's 2023 regular season champ.

The Dynamo next travel to Canada to face CF Montréal on Wednesday, Oct. 4, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.

DASH CONTINUE PLAYOFF PURSUIT IN THE BIG APPLE

The Dash returns to league play against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. CT following the conclusion of the September FIFA international window.

Houston will look to improve its place in the NWSL standings as the playoff race continues to heat up with three regular season games remaining in 2023. Houston currently sits in 10th place with a 5-6-8 (WLD) overall record. With 23 points earned this season, Houston is only three points away from sixth place, which is the final spot to qualify for the playoffs.

The Dash will welcome back several players who were called for international duty. Forwards Maria Sanchez and Diana Ordonez return after a successful Concacaf W Gold Cup qualifying campaign with Mexico. Sanchez started and scored in both matches. Ordonez started the first match against Puerto Rico. Forward Nichelle and the Canadian Women's National Team clinched the berth for the 2024 Paris Olympics after back-to-back victories over Jamaica. Prince scored the game-winning header in the opening game of the series. Midfielder Sarah Puntigam started and captained both matches for the Austrian Women's National Team in the UEFA Nations League matches.

Houston enters Sunday's game following a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC on Friday, Sept. 15 at Lynn Family Stadium. The victory snapped a winless streak that began on June 3 and this was the first victory under interim head coach Sarah Lowdon and her fifth overall with the team. Ordonez scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute of the match. Midfielder Marisa Viggiano found Sanchez on the left side of the field. Sanchez then crossed the ball into the box for Ordonez who was waiting at the far post. The Prosper, Texas native was able to fend off a pair of Louisville defenders to give Houston the lead in a crucial match for the team's playoff implications. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell made six saves in the game to preserve the shutout victory. Campbell has the lowest goals against average in the NWSL at 0.81 goals allowed per game.

NJ/NY Gotham FC enters Sunday's match against Houston in third place in the NWSL with an 8-5-6 (WLD) overall record. Gotham FC defeated the Washington Spirit 2-0 on Saturday, Sept. 16 following a brace from Spanish international Esther Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who recently won the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, joined the team on Aug. 23.

Gotham and Houston met earlier this season on June 11 at Shell Energy Stadium in a tight game that resulted in a draw. Houston took the lead in the 36th minute of the match after Sanchez scored. Gotham equalized in the 53rd minute after Lynn Williams converted from the spot.

Houston will return to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 8 for Fan Appreciation Night, as part of a larger Houston Dynamo Football Club Fan Appreciation Weekend, presented by Verizon. Following the match fans and media members are encouraged to stay for the 2023 Dash Bash, also presented by Verizon. Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc and Rob Base will all perform in a post-match concert. For more, visit HoustonDash.com.

DYNAMO 2 LOOK TO FACE FAMILIAR FOE IN OPENING ROUND OF MLS NEXT PRO PLAYOFFS

Houston will head to a familiar venue on Sunday, Oct. 1 for its first round MLS NEXT Pro playoff match. Tacoma Defiance selected Dynamo 2 in the new postseason format which included a "pick-your-opponent" structure for the first two rounds.

Houston advanced to its second consecutive playoff appearance after defeating LA Galaxy II ‚ 2-1 on Sunday, Sept. ‚ 25 at ‚ Dignity Health Sports Complex. ‚ Forward Papa Ndoye scored his career-high 14th ‚ regular season goal in the ‚ 23rd ‚ minute. ‚ Dynamo ‚ captain ‚ Talen Maples scored the game-winning goal in the 71st ‚ minute to put ‚ Dynamo ‚ Dos back in the lead after Galaxy II equalized. ‚ The roster featured 10 players from the ‚ Dynamo ‚ Academy and seven academy products featured in the decisive game to clinch a berth in the postseason. ‚

Dynamo Dos is led offensively by Ndoye and midfielder Diego Gonzalez, who have combined for 24 goals this season. Although Dynamo 2 has had goal production from a variety of players, including the defensive unit. Defender Talen Maples has scored four goals this season and Dynamo Academy product Tate Lampman scored his first career goal in Houston's 3-1 win over Timbers2 on Sept. 10.

Tacoma enters Sunday's playoff game as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference after posting a 14-5-9 (WLD) regular season record. Tacoma is led by Braudillo Rodrigues, who scored 15 goals in the regular season and had three matches with two or more goals scored. Rodrigues did not score against Dynamo Dos in the two games he appeared in this season.

Here are three key points ahead of the three fixtures: ‚ ‚ ‚

PLAYOFF-CLINCHING SCENARIOS: Saturday holds five potential scenarios where Houston Dynamo FC can clinch an Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth for the first time since 2017. A victory gets the Dynamo closer to the postseason and fans will keep a close eye on a number of matches that include teams at or below the playoff line. A combination of results featuring Minnesota United FC, Sporting Kansas City, Austin FC and the LA Galaxy can send Houston to the postseason with three games left in the campaign. A full breakdown is available HERE.

ALOZIE RETURNS: Forward Michelle Alozie returns to action after the Nigerian international was unavailable for selection in the match against Louisville due to a red card in the previous match against San Diego. Alozie, who has had a breakout season for both the Dash and Nigeria has scored two goals this season, including an equalizer in the 67th minute against the Kansas City Current on Aug. 26 at Shell Energy Stadium. Alozie made her World Cup debut for the Super Falcons and started every match as the Nigerian Women's National Team made history by advancing to the Round of 16.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Several rivalries have developed organically in the short two-year history of MLS NEXT Pro. Rivalries both by proximity and history between the first team's fuel the competition at the MLS NEXT Pro level. Sunday's match against Tacoma Defiance will not be any different. Both teams met in the inaugural postseason nearly a year ago. The game was tied at the end of regulation and was forced to go to penalty kicks. Tacoma narrowly edged out Dynamo Dos to advance in the postseason. This will be sixth match in the series and Dynamo 2 look for their first victory against a familiar foe in the third meeting of the year.

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