HOUSTON DASH VS UTAH ROYALS | 2024 NWSL SEASON | FULL MATCH 31.08.24

[Music] Orlando one to nothing Michelle alosia replaces Diana ordones as the center forward yosia came in the second half for odones in their last match up against Orlando gets the start today otherwise this group one major change might be rolling out a different lineup they've been traditionally having a freb with tarani as the anchor of that three back system and now might be looking to get a little bit more defensive pressure with having a forb back and for Houston or Utah Royals iner Jimmy KRS just one change from the team that defeated BFC last Friday Ali sentor is away on the u20 World Cup taking her place as the Canada International Khloe laass he laass gets her first start had her debut last game gets her first start of this one and then Paige manahan Mina Tanaka the two goal scorers in their last outing all on the lineup today and when you've won three in a row I don't think you Tinker too much with your starting lineup so they have the same units outside of chlo laass getting the go today second meeting of the season they played to a scoreless draw April 27th in Utah Utah in yellow Houston Dash in blue perfect field at Shell Energy stadium tonight dash of outt with many weather delays this season but tonight Pleasant conditions 87° f at kickoff humidity at 72% it feels about [Music] 88 a late night in Houston here we go from Shell Energy stadium the dash trying to break this long scoreless streak Utah trying to carry the momentum from the summer Cup in last Friday's win against AFC Renee Washington what are you watching for early on in this one well I'm interested to see for Houston how they come out because against Orlando at the end they had a chance Andress I'm sure would still love to have back that hit the post that gave them an opportunity to nearly tie that game up they finished the game with some life I want to see if they can continue that starting from the opening whistle today and then for Utah that was the opposite actually gave up a late goal and although they still got the win I'm intrigued to see if they're able to reset after that and get back to that stretch they saw they gave up double digit Corners double digit shots against BFC in their last outing can they be tighter defensively today Miss clearance from Natalie Jacob leads to a break there for Utah they broke the pressure beautifully you can see in the first minute Anna Tada how well she handles the pressure she's a 22-year-old from Spain and she had two moments there right on top of her penalty area where she was under pressure and remain C and that's what you love to see the Poise from one of your players on the pitch that can have the ball under pressure and still be able to keep it and make a play out of it Yi nagas Sato 36-year-old from Japan in Midfield back to tarani one of the stars for Brazil at the Olympics where Brazil finished second to the United States she continues to win trophies with Brazil won three titles with Corinthians came up with the flumen Youth Academy bronze ball with Brazil at the u20 World Cup when they finished third she scored three goals best ever finish and they car that momentum to the Olympics here she is down and and a stat that will not go in the books for tarani last game against barbar Banda had a number of blocks hard collisions and gritty plays that just kept that game tight and at times even looked like a second goalkeeper working alongside Jane Campbell and net just was all over the place and was the biggest pesky problem that the pride could not figure out how to get around tarani they they knew what she would bring when acquired by Houston and has been such a big boost to their backline a bending ball and it's key reel out to clear it re returned from injury in the summer cup and has been an anchor since Real's returned from injury Utah has outscored opponents 15 to5 that's in the hands of Mandy hot grew up in Jacksonville went to Virginia Tech Utah has a nice emerging triangle with Mandy hot Kaylee reel and Kate delava you've got a mixture of someone like hot who's coming off winning a championship you've got real who as you mentioned immediately comes back in and shows how she can help solidify this back line and then K do fava both those two center backs have scored goals for this team have helped them get um big stops and plays and so it's a nice triangle that you can see they're on the same page and learning each other clicking very nicely a talking to here for Hannah Bedford we talked to Jimmy krats over the last two weeks you see the split screen of the two goalkeepers J Campbell out of Stanford hot out of Virginia Tech but Bedford scored twice in the summer series and really unsung hero up front leading the press for this Utah team and does so many things off the ball they don't show up on the score sheet throw in coming some confusion on the field the assistant referee indicated a throw in the central referee Geral Flor is didn't blow the whistle bford still seeking her first goal of the regular season alosia gets Inside the Box Schmid from distance in the the hands of Mandy HS Well Done by Michelle loia to be able to work down that right flank give Houston time to get some numbers forward and Sophie Schmidt who Ricky Clark mentioned is all over covers a lot of ground and is a player that always is putting in the extra work at practice to get her Fitness level higher to be able to make runs just like that that's an area she actually wants to work to be better at is getting into the attack getting into the final third as you see her winning aheer and on that play was able to do exactly that a good start for Houston tarani all the way back to Jane Campbell Jane Campbell one gold in Paris earlier this month last year's nwsl goalkeeper of the year there's a free kick in midfields h Han coms the foul there's paig neelon a new contract guaranteed deal extending her in Houston for three years she was traded from Angel City to Houston earlier this season and she'll be staying around for a while two anchors to build around in neelen and Jane Campbell at the back yeah and for Houston who didn't do anything through the transfer window the only Club across the league that did not make a move they did have the trade as Courtney Peterson was traded for allocation funds but did not acquire any players I should say so they were at least able to extend neelon and keep her here for the future andessa applying pressure on Mandy hot Aon distribution there she tried to find Olivia Griffiths good Tempo from Houston they try and play quickly a Patterson set to throw it in yukin nagasato the wide areas is where Houston wants to play big picture description from Ricky Clark the interim head coach says overall we're a group that is fully committed describe the Orlando loss has a reflection where they have been there's a turnover now it's Avery Patterson inside alosia shots blocked good timing on the sliding block from Kate delava and you like the pressure you're seeing from Houston able to Win It back and on the attack again loia stays down in the Box as Houston played on gerl Flores Blows the Whistle take a look at what led to this Michelle alosia gets knocked it actually starts on the defensive side able to win the ball back with Patterson and then alosia trying to split the Gap with a quick first touch into two Defenders here and you see the slide there by Del fava up ends Michelle who Takes a Tumble you see her grabbing at her back immediately a hard fall there and a really tough tackle as well Dava did get the ball of course there was no whistle or anything blown until later just to stop play but Michelle Loi I will make note was out during the last game as well came in at a halftime sub got hit in the stomach and the ribs was out had to step off for a moment they play to player down came back in has had a couple of and it was a similar very hard tackle um so Michelle Lo has been taking some tough tackles here Matt now there is Ricky Clark act head coach and play of Fran Alonzo talking things over with Natalie Jacobs good shot with Ricky Clark he has been as upbeat as possible it's hard to really know what's happening but every time we talk with him he stayed upbeat you appreciate that and I think as a player with all the unknown around the organization you have to appreciate the positivity he seems to bring yeah and that's something that you heard from him that's something that you also heard from Natalie Jacobs that spoke with us pregame as well of just this group's belief clip to the back post just too far for him dress up kept in play on the right side back for the [Music] Brazilian Jacobs into the wide areas corner kick coming for Houston set pieces could be the way they break out of the scoring Funk it started at 552 minutes they haven't scored a regular season goal since May 24th they beat North Carolina 3 nothing at home they're approaching the club record scoreless drought but you would think maybe if you can't get it in the Run of play it might come from a corner kick like this from andessa yeah Utah gave up 12 Corners last game and 19 shots that's an area Houston can look to exploit they go short clip back into the near post and it's cleared away and dressa back inside it's off the back of a Houston player and back for nagasato good second phase here for Houston it's Clinton it's a old goal that ends the scoring drought last Touch by Kate delava and Houston finally has a goal for the first time since May 24th and you can let a heavy sigh of relief out for Houston because the drought is over it's been a very long time as you mentioned since that May 24th day when they last scored and you look at this just the resilience of Houston and not let this corner kick out you mentioned in Pat Matt being able to capitalize off of a corner kick it's Yuki nagas Soo was able to win it back to find Sophie Schmidt and then out wide a beautiful driven ball across the box and when you play a ball across a six like this when you have Utah racing toward Wards their goal you are bound to make great things happen Well Done by Houston as a team just to be relentless here to not let this ball clear you get Runners crashing the goal you get a great second wave opportunity and then with that alen rubinson gets the goal and Houston back on the scoreboard for the first time in months K to fa has played every minute this season she's been an anchor just an unfortunate moment and now is coming for Houston sometimes you get a little lucky they were do some luck as they will regroup and they're going to look at the monitor here the video assistant is Kevin Broadley maybe something off the ball maybe something during that corner kick that might negate this goal yeah I want to I think they want to check to see also if there's maybe any offside or anything like that um it isn't it was off Kate delava ultimately but I think they're just checking here to make sure everybody was in an onside position as this possession was played through that is that is what they are checking for indeed so as is she offside on the return ball back to Andressa watch where Andressa is in the corner as it's returned to her she is in an offside position when that ball is played that would be heartbreaking if this is overturned but off of that initial look it did look like andras was in an offside position when the pass was made back back no goal offside andessa and that's really good defensive play from Utah they stepped out they put the corner kick taker in an offside position you know Houston just continues to have some very unlucky plays Andressa hit the post last game and a chance to tie it up against Orlando late and this time with a chance to get the go-ahead goal just 12 minutes in the offside off the initial pass back and it's crazy to think that that was even reviewed because the play had gone on for so long before the goal happened but what led to it was that initial short corner kick was in an offside position on the pass back to andresa as Utah did a good job getting their line higher and that was about a step or two keeping this game from being a one nothing Houston lead right now ouch for the dash that's painful to see if that goal counted it would have been four-minute shy of the club record sent in set in 2016 of 567 minutes I'm thinking about this Houston team and something that we heard from Natalie Jacobs was how they're just all bought in and understand they have to help each other they're trying to quite the noise it's about staying together as a team supporting each other through the ups and the downs and right now they're in a slump you know every team goes through it they're dealing with some tough results some unfortunate bounces and calls that are not going their way but they understand that they're doing the right things and that the results will come if they continue to do the right things consistently so I think to be honest even though that goal that hurts that it gets called back to see the ball hit the back of the net to have that moment to feel a sense of relief of what you can do this should could motivate them to just want to get another one that will [Music] count Hanah for back into Midfield anada real soad in Spain before Utah Royals free kick one by delava and there's di ordones moved to First when she was young born in Riverside California went to University of Virginia for college started out North Carolina set a rookie record and outout to a rookie of the year season traded to Houston she's back in her home state of Texas there's the offside flag coming up on this right side against Olivia Griffiths this is the first time we've really seen Utah get forward with good numbers we've seen them get forward to defend Houston but primarily this game actually has been in favor of the home team in terms of all possession and see if maybe that goal changes the tides a little bit for Utah last game it started off similarly Matt in heavily defending Orlando in those opening minutes excuse me not Orlando heavily defending Bay FC for Utah and then waking up as the game went on and progressively getting better Ricky Clark was very proud of his size performance against Orlando he said many teams gam have been played off the park by the league leaders this season Orlando did not play us off the park we had to play on the front foot in the second half the best moments for Orlando came in [Music] transition but they're trying to overload teams that's the new changes after the summer cup trying to play in more lines than what the other team defends in and he said sometimes the ball would turn over against Orlando and the best pass was the direct ball over the top and we would play play square or negative or the safe ball not really realizing I'm over to transition was on as it is here for Utah Royals three against four for Utah pull back space here for [Music] Griffiths and it is a corner kick for Utah a close one there as tarani was defending Olivia Griffiths Griffiths making the high run Utah does a good job to s the point of attack and tarani was able to get there and slide un fortunately did not give up a foul in the box but unfortunately did give up a corner kick short Corner clipped in headed away I'm not sure if that would have been offside either way but there were three yellow jerseys in the six closing on Jane Campbell you look at this corner kick again a nice set piece whipped in very nicely by Claudia zosa then three players in the Box wide open Gos in to score Kate delava gets the final header that's unable to get that on frame interestingly we had a double pivot last week for Utah against BFC was the Spanish double pivot but on the Tactical board we were giving a single pivot now as a yellow card will be shown here Gerald Flores brandish is the yellow it's on Natalie Jacobs had a good shot with her this week really enjoyed that she had to go to Spain where she really launched her career coming out of USC she had to learn Spanish now she uses that a little bit playing with a port Portuguese speaking Center back in tarani get a little bit of translation a little bit of help from andessa who's a little bit [Music] older clipped in towards the middle shot is blocked came off the foot of reel recycle back to the left side well right now for Houston they're going to have to get on the same page defensively because it's definitely going a change of momentum in favor of Utah corner kick coming again you look here nicely done by Paige manahan on the turn Jacobs does grab the Jersey leads to what was that foul being called and Houston Under Pressure here another corner kick they've given up in the last five or six minutes driven towards the middle header is wide from bford still seeking that first regular season goal she continues to get the starts because of all she does off the ball and she did score twice in the summer cup well Hannah Bedford is a goal score and you saw that in her time with Portland she does such a good job exactly what you see there making runs in the Box finishing off of services great 1 V one it just hasn't clicked yet to be able to hit the back of the net and sometimes as a score not more than many of us can relate myself included when you miss one it just kind of snowballs and when Hannah sees one hit the back of the net it might open things up for her to help this Utah offense another win in midfields T it's one back here now Utah and Houston they play to a scoreless draw April 27th but so much has changed for both teams since that game particularly on Utah side Big Time Midsummer Acquisitions clonia or noza me to Tanaka Khloe Laos so noza comes over from Real Madrid she was part of the World Cup winning team last year with their home country and then Tanaka a star for Japan at the just completed Olympics and then Laos also scored for Canada at the Olympics and it's very interesting you have a 29-year-old head coach Jimmy Kratz who leaves a player like amandine HRI truly one of the better midfielders for France over the last 10 years or so she's now a substitute so it's a big statement in some ways that the best fit right now in midfields Tanaka zor noza andana yeah I think right now you just see some they're trying to figure things out you know for both of these groups they are they're not getting the results that they want and especially for for Utah when you have so many so much new as a new club you know you're trying to figure out a lot of things on the Fly and they're taking their lumps but they're also still learning through that of what their identity is how they're going to get better each game and I think that's the small victories when you look at how they're playing now compared to earlier in the season you do see the difference offside flag comes up against Mina Tanaka she is a true goal scorer 139 goals in 221 pro games it's her first experience outside of Japan for the 30-year olds in that quarterfinal loss to the United States in extra time Trinity to ran of the game-winning goal T knocka played every minute now treatment on this near sideline head-to-head Collision there training staff out to check and so much has changed since as you talk about a lot changing since that goal that was called back about 12 and 1 half minutes in we are only 10 or so minutes since that moment and you can feel the change of energy as you talk about Tanaka we've seen Paige mon hand we've seen Utah having the better of possession Claudia zosa with a near chance to score chlo laass getting involved Hannah bford getting a good opportunity off of the corner kick it went from Houston having the the better of possession keeping in their attacking third in the opening minutes to with that goal being called back I was curious to see how both teams would respond Utah's responded by picking things up creating waking up a little bit you could say and I now here you have another moment Matt another moment where the game has now had to stop teams got a chance to talk things over as they were able to take a look and make sure that everything okay was okay with Avery Patterson for Houston this also gives teams both teams a chance to reset so now will we see another change in the tide of this back and forth game we'll see that's the rookie Avery patter C she played in North Carolina picked by the dash 19th overall in this year's draft first assist came the last time the dash scored May 24th against North Carolina she returns to the field so it's 11v 11 Madison poar over the top bford will try and run it down against Arion bford gets their first in the corner and the call is a goal kick both players had different views on that you could see how adamantly they were both pleading for the call to go their way that was a great 1 V one and want to keep an eye on this matchup of Hannah Bedford and tarani because Hannah does attract a lot of attention with the runs that she makes and tarani just continuing to follow her every step of the way using the endline there as her helper for that goal kick good speed for mosia but she cannot beat kayy reel to the spot back to Mandy hot that's really good football there from Utah Under Pressure nicely done some quick passes just to break through the pressure and now they can get out the other way that's a great buildup nicely done by Utah again this is a team don't let the record fool you three wins on the season they had only two before last week's game they look like a completely different team not a Long Leash for Emy Rodriguez in her first season as the head coach now it's Jimmy kun's opportunity h29 from Belgium he was in the Belgian women Super League with hurt that club for five years excellent block that time from Patterson against Olivia Griffith well done down the right side Olivia Griffith's so active getting forward to join into the attack for the sets up for yet another corner kick Lo lass from in Ontario she play college soccer in Iowa that's out for a goal kick now the Cass had to go to Iceland to play earned Iceland citizenship and all of a sudden was to play for Canada's na ranks last year and the Olympics this year Utah with some great great Acquisitions Chloe laass Claudia zosa you can see the immediate impact they have here is laass she's at the top of the boxer shot is blocked played an all of One all but one of ked's games in Paris she arrived in Utah on Wednesday and came off the bench just 48 hours later in the win against Bay FC sometimes when you're not getting the results that you want to be able to bring in some new Personnel that that's it's going to come in and kind of spark spark things change the the the momentum change the Vibes of the team so to speak especially a player that's coming in used to winning and coming out of the Paris Olympics you have to imagine that Chloe probably came into this club excited and eager to bring that International experience to this team and help them become a winning club and so I imagine that you see that contagious energy through the rest of the team that we're noticing on the pitch and how they're progressing as a unit to play by just bringing in some fresh blood Griff with taba here a throw into Utah Griffith played at BYU came back from injury last week she throws it in next to her head coach JY [Music] rats foul at midfields [Music] now dressa is just all over the pitch for Houston you look at this play Anna tahada looking to get around Sophie Schmidt and then it's Ando on the slide actually missed the ball initially and you see from that angle how tahada just got oness in the back of the head fortunately okay you see her still kind of holding her head a little bit As She's Walking Away [Music] this game has been very tight you see just how many plays are so close both teams arguing for every call their way you see the urgency of of just understanding every possession every whistle here's a good touch but Jane Campbell off her line in front of Paige Monahan Monahan scored last week in the 2-1 win over Bay FC [Music] Tarion Jacobs back for Jane Campbell 30 minutes in Renee Washington your thoughts so far it's been so back and forth we saw Houston had the better of play in the first 10 to 12 then it swung in favor of Utah now it's kind of leveled out a little bit I I think as we progress to the halftime break you want to see which team can be quicker and more intentional with their possession that was kind of the difference in breaking down your opponent being more Dynamic more dangerous more threatening but also even more poised where it makes sense to just keep it and make the extra pass so I'm interested to see which team could do a better job not only keeping possession but using their possession to unbalance and be threatening as they're getting forward pogar Tanaka turning good defending there from Jacobs kept him play with andesa andesa goes down asking for a call that never comes edford heads it wide onam was applying pressure a throw in for Utah Houston's had so many different looks they're reback sometimes is looking more like a fullback sometimes they're only attacking with one forward it might be Michelle alosia sometimes they're doing a better job getting two and three I think they're just getting a little bit disconnected now it's it's good they're interchanging when they have the ball and not getting so rigid and structured but playing more free flowing when they're when they have it offensively but you do see defensively them getting pulled out of shape pretty often Sophie Schmidt receiving treatment on that calf good story told by Ricky Clark about her work great she's constantly talking with the sports science team about getting into the Red Zone more the Red Zone would be when you're at your V2 Max when you're really maxing out when you're in the red for all the sports scientists when they're tracking your heart rate and the miles you've run she trains in Houston in the summer heat with a full hoodie on and long sleeves underneath her short she really wants to push herself to be ready for these moments but she's struggling here in the first half well those are the things that are so contagious through a team especially one that only has three wins coming into today instead of just going into practice doing the bare minimum you have a player that's raising the level raising the bar doing the extra Fitness the extra work even purposely putting yourself at a at a disadvantage with dressing with long sleeves and pants just to challenge yourself physically as well as mentally and things like that when you see players putting in the extra work others start to follow suit and that's what helps to build a winning culture she's back to her feet she told the sports scientists I'm not in the Red Zone enough so the sports scientist has to manage it after practice she really understands what her body is capable of according to Ricky Clark the acting head coach she understands the limits there she is talking through what looks like maybe a CF discomfort or maybe a cramp on that right leg yeah it does look to be a cramp that she's dealing with she has played also so many roles with this team she's played on the back line she's played in the Midfield she's helped them get forward to score goals she does a lot of different things for this team and is really the engine behind this group so it was by no surprise when I heard that story that she's the player that you see covering so much ground and just constantly moving to help this team try to get the results they're looking for the biggest moment of this game a called off goal initially an own goal for Kate delava off across from the right second phase of a corner kick but now video assistance Kevin Broadley alerted Gerald Flores the referee of a potential offside Flores looked at the video and saw that it looked like the right call with [Music] andesa left the corner she was in offside position when the ball was returned to her here's a long run which ends at the end of the box from Avery Patterson of Houston Avery Patterson just kind of ran out of real estate there did a good job in transition that's another example of a play where Houston did not go in numbers though and now let's see if Utah can get forward on this transition and make something out of it there's a long range try gets off the Mark at the near post a Paige Monahan got that goal her first of the season and her 17th appearance she also scored against t in the last summer G summer Cup game so she's scored in two straight games in all competitions and her last goal against BFC was in a similar spot on the field where she was able to just open up some space top of the box and drill one home at the 48th minute there's Michelle alosia good balance from alosia her shot is blocked by Del fava alosia pulls it back it's clipped in headed out by kayy Reel and now space for Utah breaking forward this game has opened up here in the 36th minute definitely seeing the physicality the intensity it's very back and forth a lot of bodies hitting the ground but it's also been a very uptempo game as well Matt where both teams are playing a lot more direct in transition Bahan turning the corner deflected by Jacobs aasat back with schmidth all the way back to Jane Campbell tahana Olivia Griffiths had not appeared in a regular season game since May 12th before last week Jacob slides in can really see the understanding of Houston with that back three now with tarani Natalie Jacobs paig neelon they haven't scored in six but they've been hard to score against one of the most difficult teams to score against as of late yeah that's the biggest difference is their defense has been solid laast stays on her feet two dash players go down it's clipped in free header Tanaka brings it down with the chest her side volley is blocked by tarani and into the hands of Jane Campbell nicely done by Mina Tanaka off of this one and you love the composure in the box that you saw for the quick two touch rhythm but for Houston as you mentioned their defense so stingy you look at that play you've got a couple of Defenders sliding even into each other whatever it takes to try to block that service by Chloe laass then off the shot by Tanaka it's tarani who's throwing her body in front of it just to deflect it to make it an easier save for Jane Campbell this is what the dash have been providing defensively just stingy they're playing great gritty defense of whatever it takes to slide to block to disrupt their opponent's offense they just still have been at the bottom of the league in terms of shots created in any a number of offensive categories of course including scoring goals at this point that's clipped into a good spot bedford's header is right at Jane Campbell and a Bedford who's very active up top does a good job drifting along the backline to get that header just didn't have enough arm on it not enough juice to really challenge Jane Campbell this is the goalkeeper of the Year we're talking about got to make a really difficult shot to get it past her a free kick in Midfield one by eloia the last two regular season games G both one nothing defeats I lost to Orlando last weekend the last one before the Olympic break was a goal for mallerie SW Swanson before that timma chinga scored twice in the final quarter hour for that win here come the dash up the right side with andessa alosia Central olier further to the back post it falls near the spot and it's cleared myor NOS up you can see some fatigue even kicking in for every play players really just giving it their all just imagine someone's going to run out of gas if this game continues this Up Tempo and that can even be the difference between who can get that go-ahead goal the dash by the way did add one FR an office member Eric ustruck formerly the GM of Orlando pride and that added in an advisor role yesterday they're in the free agency period which ends tonight at midnight East Coast time that was after the club fired Alex singer from her GM role in Late July Fran Alonzo has been away on a leap of absence for the last few months it was Fran Alonzo first season in charge the shot from Tanaka hits the side of the head of Natalie Jacobs and she is down oh oh she's bleeding a lot right in the nose of Natalie Jacobs that's on the play tarani was down Natalie Jacobs goes down and you can see that shot immediately block hits off the face of Natalie Jacobs ouch you take a look at this again Tanaka working up trying to get the shot off working around Yuki nagas Soo and then that ball drills into the face of Natalie Jacobs again they already had tarani down who fell on the previous Block it's two of your three Defenders then down on the same play rooky Clark giving instruction Eric ustruck is officially the interim general manager added for yesterday and he was in an advisory role as the club resigned Paige neelon nilson now signed for the 2028 season that's the other thing Houston has been in active during this transfer period we've seen a lot of clubs making roster Acquisitions and moves Houston have had has had other issues to deal with in terms of their front office in terms of you know what the this the club as a whole is going to be doing hiring wise that may have even had them at a standstill to make any Acquisitions and as a team that's struggling it's a shame because they probably could use similar what we're actually saying with Utah some new voices some new Personnel to help this club be able to win games now of course as you mentioned with that deadline the deals just have to be done by midnight they don't have to be official paperwork has to be signed by midnight it could be announced afterwards but as long as the eyes dotted and the te's are crossed by midnight tonight they could have a new player for any team across the league they are adding but again Houston the only Club around the NW cell that has not made a an acquisition during the transfer window Jessica O'Neal the dash president told the SPN earlier this week October at the latest would be the goal for a timeline to hire a new general manager again Eric ustruck appointed yesterday as the acting general [Applause] [Music] manager corner kick coming as Jacobs walks off Houston LED all nwsl teams with 12 players on the initial list of impending free agents at the league released earlier this week you'll soon was one of those 12 but she has since been signed at that multi-year deal but the season began and a tough note Maria Sanchez demanding a trade after signing a league record deal and then was traded to San Diego here's the corner kick flicked on back post off the post again and now it's cleared off the line Utah saying it was over with the line it's a goal for Utah Royals they are celebrating after that corner kick wow what a sequence of events to lead to that tarani not agreeing with that goal for Utah we've had a goal called back for Houston and a goal that hits off of the crossbar and then off of the side post the first one was called a goal you look at where that ball bounced look again from this angle off of the first header watch where Tarion is standing she's three yards in the goal when the shot comes off the foot of Tada correct so the first one off the crossbar was not the goal that was headed it was this ball here as tarani is in the net off of the shot by Anna tahada but look at that Kaylee reel gets in on the first one here going up against Sophie Schmidt wow how that hits off the post and bounces out but perfectly to the feet of Ana tahada who was able to finish it and Utah on the scoreboard I told you tarani like a second goalkeeper nearly was able to cleanly save that one but was inside the goal when she blocked it what a great play design there on the set piece Renee was off the newcomer mean it to knock a perfect flick header for Kaye reel and then it was a bit of a scramble and that was a smashed hit from Anna tahana she came over early this season really made an aim for herself in the summer during the summer cup she's a converted Center back who has played the last few games at Central Midfield that's her first goal for Utah Royals and it comes at a really tough time just minutes after the treatment assessed for Natalie Jacobs and now Houston is staring at another one- nothing deficit yeah that's quite a change of how this game has been going when you look at the amount of things that we've seen throughout this first half a lot to unpack there but as you mentioned for anaha as a player that's played center back a lot of center backs and Center mids are very interchangeable you know Sophie Schmid on the other side is a great example player that's played both that's one of those positions that's a little bit easier to transition from Once to the next because you're you're in a similar role just higher up the pitch and that goal that on a finish just smacks it on frame with the way that that play had developed and the positioning of Jane Campbell and houon anything on frame you knew could be a goal and that's just a very composed finish to be able to put Utah on the scoreboard first T joined real associ H17 won the Euros in the world cup with the Spain u7s then the world cup with the u20 team one cap for Spain she left real associate on with 86 appearances I'm just still impressed by that set piece because it's hard to defend that Tanaka is running away you might think she's coming over for some support of the corner but it's a perfectly flicked header for a target of a center back in reel really well-designed set piece for Utah Royals and they have another lead yeah Tanaka on that play got to give credit there because just a heads up play she's in a position out of scoring out of scoring position essentially but was able to just help it on and as an attacker that's all you want to do keep it alive to allow your teammates a chance to score and Tanaka did exactly that just to head it towards goal let her teammates do the rest from there here come the dash up this right side with alosia she cuts in field off pogar back for nagasato Tanaka something that's remarkable when you look at Utah's progression we we've talked about it a number of times how they've gotten better as the season goes on while just to paint it into numbers p in terms of a picture in their first start of the season they had just eight goals I'm sorry 10 goals that they scored total coming into today eight of those goals were prior to the summer series in that summer series they had nine goals scored across three games and then came out mad of the break scoring a pair of goals against BFC and then another goal so far today olivary good ball into the feet aalia and now it's back on this right side cross into the near post there's a little bit of a tackle there and she covers up strong defending andesa thought you was fouled there's a yellow card after the fact for Michelle alosia as Mandy hot clutches her face but that was a really real big challenge with a lot of contact on the Brazilian Andress as she tried to stab at home well as I was talking about to the offense for for Utah let me let's talk about the offense for Houston here because olivary does a good job trying to make this pass and then wins it right back and now you've got numbers crashing the Box off the service by rubinson and you look there it's and dressa in on halt initially you look at the great defending by Kate delava does a good job to help out Mandy halt and then on the rebound that's where halt got hit in the face as Michelle osia was looking to follow up there was a loose ball there and the there's a the W you've got Hal down game on the line you're down by one Michelle loia makes the right play to look to finish that rebound but unfortunately as you look again hits H in the face so here's a service that we get from the wide space from rubinson Andressa goes down and then the ball is on the fingertips of Mandy H but does look look like it's not fully loose in play and alosia goes for the kick there and that's where the yellow card is issued to Michelle alosia but you wow wow I'll say two things here Rene I wonder if you agree I think the first call is very good I think there's no penalty I think two players are both fighting K Del fava and Andressa are both grabbing each other they're grabbing the hip they're grabbing the shirt they're grabbing the shorts I think that's a really good no call I disagree with the yellow on alosia because hot comes very very quickly and as soon as she grabs it elia's foots there I think that's a harsh yellow on alosia trying to attack a loose ball yeah in slow motion it looks a lot worse than what it was was in real time because even I thought the ball had squirted out of her hands and into a position where it was live and in play but when you look at the replay again in slowmo you can see Mandy ht's fingertips on it but when you're an attacker crashing the goal you just see what looks like a loose ball and a chance to score as you mentioned for the first part though I do agree K Del fava and andresa both battling to see who can get to that ball first knowing if Anda gets Anda gets that ball first this could very well be 1-1 so that's a great battle play I I think it is fine and just not blow any and call anything there don't blow the whistle let it play out and good most importantly to see that Mandy H is back up on her feet and okay after that scary play anytime a player gets hit in the face so I agree with you I think it was a it looked harsher in slowmo than it was in real time and even just what was intended on both sides extremely brave from Mandy hot she J right in the mix over both delava and Andressa to get that ball but I really feel bad for alosia cuz she sees a loose ball she's swinging her foot at it there's nothing cynical there's nothing Reckless there it's just the quickness of hot really leads to the yellow card on alosia that is why goalkeepers are built different you dive towards the danger in that situation face first for Mandy Hall and a great play because honestly with alosia there if Mandy Hall doesn't dive on that ball and it does get cleanly to the feet of Michelle loia we could again be looking at a one one game it's been a tough night for Andressa she seems very frustrated she had the goal call back on her offside off to the corner she thought that was a penalty there she is really working hard but it feels like the disappointment of this long goal is drought now Nearing 600 minutes is affecting some of these Dash attacking players what makes it worse for Andressa isn't that last game and I still remember the play like it was yesterday so I'm sure she does too as the game was winding down down by one the ball comes across the box and Andressa hits the post had a wide openen goal a chance to tie things up hit the post and they dropped that game one nothing then you look today the goal gets called back and they're down one nothing so you have to hope this team sticks together a lot and and is going to need some of that support because she's been helping them create some really good chances it's just been extremely unlucky good run that time Elia to stay on S side she is in on goal Michelle alosia for Houston Dash tipped over the bar by Mandy Hots no touch it is a goal kick well done here by Michelle gets the pass off the Run nice run out wide gets a feed from Patterson and it doesn't really have good numbers here goes herself you see you could see her getting her footing set to get that shot off and does a good job getting past Olivia Griffiths you did see the touch by Mandy Hall this will be a corner kick it was a corner I thought the referee pointed towards the goal area here's the corner from Andressa hangs in the air hot comes out to claim we might have 15 minutes of first half stoppage time it was 12 before that that little scrum in front of goal in the yellow card was shown I think at least 14 is coming yeah everybody sit tight we're in for quite some more time for this first half but that gives a lot of time for things to happen in this game with how it's been so back and forth first Utah Royals goal on it to 22-year-old Spaniard first to react after a scrum and key reel header hit the crossbar and bounce towards the spot Well Done by rubinson on that last play defensively to avoid the corner kick and then that gets another good touch on it rinon had a good first half 31-year-old from Sweden has been pushing up this right side supporting alosia and I think most of the danger from Houston has come up this right side Renee it has and that's where they actually scored that goal that was called back it was rubinson that got forward and played that ball into the box poar pleading her case it's definitely been a battle and we've got so much time left before halftime like I mentioned before seems like someone's going to run out of gas of course we'll get substitutions as the game wears on but I imagine those will not be until we get into the second half so for this 22 got to be weighing on them with how Up Tempo this game Spin and a lot of collisions and a lot of times we've seen bodies hitting the ground good step for paig neelon here comes the newly extended Center signed a new deal de with Houston Dash earlier this week Olivier Clips it towards a good spot it's neelson arriving and it's out for a goal kick Houston is certain that was deflected Paige neelon pleads her case and dressa joins the discussion as well frustrations continue andessa cannot believe it watch Paige neelon plays that ball out wide to Michelle alosia alosia then finds a nice turning olivary and it's again neelon that gets on the other end of it just continues her run here you see Olivier does a good job quick two touches to turn and serve it across and that's where Houston thought it should have been a corner kick rather than a goal kick off of the shot attempt by paig neelen heavy touch that time alosia nearly there to challenge Mandy hot free kick is one olivary frustrated now been a busy first half for Gerald Flores the referee in charge of this one it has been a lot of whistles that we've seen and it's been on both sides this has been very evenly matched in terms of fouls that have been called uh but this game you've got two hungry teams that are scraping and clawing to get three points I did anticipate this kind of a game from what this matchup was bringing on paper and it's played out in this first half exactly as I thought it would Patterson up this left sideline booming clearance from T the goal score Jan Campbell will restarts we're in the 13th minute of first half stoppage time Alia fighting Tana wins it it was this new look all Spanish Midfield with tana and zor no on the first game back against Bay FC Jimmy Kun rots the Belgian manager sticks with the same Midfield three has a nice turn from Bedford she's released Khloe laass laass to the end line back to her left Chloe laass top of the box Tanaka shot blocked by neelon it's fallen and it's just past the far post great strike there from Claudia zor noza and there's halim after a wild 58 minutes in Houston common on the pitch and was able to figure it out and how she was able to bring those Lessons Learned to Houston and to this team and has been such a pivotal part of this team's backline from the stegosaurus hairdo to just her play that she provides as a Defender the stegosaurus Herod do named by the previous goalkeeper coach both teams remain unchanged aahan did well through traffic there Here Comes de the goal scorer back into delava any tactical adjustments you expect maybe for your other side here Renee to start the second out well for Utah they did generate 12 shots in that first half and did a fantastic job as the half went on creating Corner kicks creating good shots and near chances Four Corners in the first half as well as nine crosses I think it's to continue to put the pressure on and not get complacent with this score as I was mentioning before they had have been doing a better job scoring goals as of late compared to the eight goals they had to the first 16 games of the regular season to then have nine in the three summer Cup Series and one two in their last outing continue that ride the coattails of that scoring success Houston it's to let go of that goal that was called back let go of the goal that got scored against you and play this 00 and just go out and win the next 45 here's alosia Crossing nobody there and the header is pushed wide expected goals in the first half 1.89 for Utah Houston Dash 0.27 12 shots for Utah as you mentioned Renee four for the Houston Dash each team with two On Target both teams with 25 final third entries but Utah seemed the more threatening team there's alosia Sato Avery Patterson's joining there's two in the Box for Patterson to the near post alosia shot is saved good cover right at that pose from Mandy Haw well done down that Left Flank by Avery Patterson turned on the Jets you saw her explode in his space to get forward and Houston has created a lot of their best chances including the goal that was scored back out wide through Patterson and rubinson nicely done though by Mandy hot as well to get there first before Michelle loia and dresser from the corner olivary back for the Brazilian this time she's on side her cross is deflected and clear if you're houst you've got to go into this half understanding that you've been knocking on the door but you have to continue playing at that high level it's definitely very frustrating when you think of all the Mis chances the the near opportunities The Unlucky bounces the The Unlucky goal called back you want to try to just focus on the positive when you are playing well what are you doing and how can you do more of that getting numbers forward taking advantage of your chances whether it's a set piece or in run of play and try to put one away arani all the way back to Natalie Jacobs good to see Jacobs back in the game after taking that shot off the face rinaa Tanaka alosia has had a good night great Hold Up play there she recycles It Wide clipped in from the left and disappointing service in the end from Barbara Olivier that's unfortunate by olivary because that's two chances now he saw on the corner kick previously as well as that service you've got to get these final Services passes into a position to set your teammates up to score Mandy Hall very active goalkeeper and a tremendous keeper is is going to read and pick off any of those services that are too direct so that execution in the final third for Houston is very important so you're not wasting chances to tie this game up Olivier plays for Venezuela started twice in the summer window played for CF Monterey previously she's a HomeTown product screw up in ktie on the west side of Houston before playing at Texas A&M and I'm so impressed watching this Spanish Midfield handling the ball Under Pressure we've seen moments where feels like Claud or NOA is under and she's going to lose the ball and she calmly wiggles out of it same for anada who's a converted Center back and they love the pressure as they build out of the back here it's led to a chance for paage Monahan Monahan to the top of the box her shots blocked it falls near the spot and there's a save for Jane Campbell off a left footed shot there from Chloe the C and it all starts with Paige manahan you can see the confidence in Monahan offensively especially in transition doesn't always need to be pretty or great numbers Tanaka plays that one across to manahan who's Off to the Races here and you could see from that first touch attacks the space gets her head down looks for that shot and then off of the rebound a good save by Jane Campbell you need that player in transition that you can play through and it's Monahan right now another chance here for Paige Monahan she goes for goal pushed aside by C laass runs it down wave after wave of attack here for Utah Royals 5 minutes into the second half towards the end line another chop from laass hard Challenge olier free kick is given right outside the penalty [Music] area Liv the area in the dash do not agree with this foul called here you'd see laass working One V one up against Patterson cuts it back across Patterson then turns her away and then olivary comes in for the double team and gets called whistles blown right outside the 18 kind of on the end line this is a really great spot for for Utah as well because you can play this like a short corner but you also have some options here whether you drive this in or nice and a nice sloted ball across the Box video review is checking this it seemed like a certain foul there olivary is arguing but she stepped on the foot of laass it was a pretty obvious foul with how tight this game has been I agree with the decision to go ahead and review this though because this isn't a really good spot on the pitch for Utah and now he will go to the monitor perhaps deciding if maybe the foot was on the line which would give it a penalty and Kevin Broadley is the video assistant watch where this foul occurs maybe a hand ball on laass before the foul laass fell outside the box but when you look at how close that is between the timing of olivary stepping on the cast it is right on that line and you see it from the angle and get a nice shot of what he's watching you see there lass's right foot is inside the Box box Olivier's foot is on the line and leaning more outside the box and the ball itself is outside the box when the foul occurs but you look at where Khloe lass's body is currently at at the foul it's actually in the 18 now what the official will rule the final verdict I'm not sure but to me I think this could be a penalty kick penalty is given Gerald Flores alerted by Kevin Broadley yellow card to olivary and a chance for Utah it has been one of those kinds of seasons for Houston that's the stretch when you look at this game they were at one point winning one nothing or so they thought that goal called back a goal well earned by Utah the other way and now you give up a penalty kick and an opportunity for Utah to extend this lead get the insurance goal goal number two just minutes into the second half would be such a deflating goal for a Houston team that's fighting trying to tie this game up Campbell trying to ice paage Monahan it's actually going to be Claudia zor noza to come to the spot it's her second competitive game with Utah Royals the 33-year-old from Spain zor noza against Jan Campbell a World Cup winner against a gold medalist [Music] goalkeeper Claudia zor noza for Utah Royals and it's just past the outstretch dive of Jane Campbell a first goal with Utah for Claudia zor noza and the Spaniards carrying the scoring load tonight Tada in the first half zor noza in the second and Jimmy Kun rots and Utah have a two- nothing lead in Houston and this is what led to the penalty kick the foul Khloe laass cutting back against Avery Patterson and then Barbara olivieri comes in for the double team fouled she picks up the yellow James Campell difficult to score on on penalty kicks she's saved about a third of her PKS that she's had to face in this league and that time for the first penalty kick of the season for Utah the first attempt leads to the first penalty kick goal Well Done by clauder zosa who puts it away buries it with Pace past Campbell and gives Utah the insurance goal just minutes into the second half that is huge for this game with the direction that it was going for Utah to deflate and kind of quiet a little bit of Houston's attempts to tie this game up cross from the right it's Fallen here and now it's cleared just to remind our audience the line is part of the penalty area so if that stop if that step occurs on the line the line is considered part of the box so it's the same as a penalty as something inside the Box yeah and of course the cast was actually her body was inside the box as well as you mention with the line being a part of it too just she fell outside the box which made it appear to be a foul outside that is the correct call on that play and with that yellow card olivary also misses the next game due to Yellow Card accumulation for Houston it just feels like everything that can go wrong is going wrong for them just very unlucky and it's a learning moment for levier because you have to defend differently around the Box you have to be very careful with your feet if you challenge the ball I think you keep it closer to the ground any sort of Stomp like that if you stomp on the attacking player's foot it's going to be a foul every time and if you're inside the box or on the line it's a penalty every single time and what's unfortunate about it as well is because of the way that play was unfolding Chloe laass was actually dribbling away from the goal towards and was towards the end line so with the double team of Patterson and Olivier you actually could have been more patient there there's no need to jump in and try to win it you should have just allowed lookast to keep dribbling away use the endline and now you're basically between the endline Patterson and olivary triple teaming L Cass and probably could have forced her out of a threatening situation versus giving up a PK T scored in the first half so NOS up from the spot in the seconds this Utah team that really struggled to score goals really until July July was during that Olympic break when the offense became ignited with some new faces hosia does well there's a long range shot well Off the Mark if you squint that shot went in well that's also two of their midfielders that score tahada you get zornosa who's also one of the recent acquisitions and players that they've picked up on the other side for Houston trying to see if they can get something going Michelle loia attacking against Kate delava got has three different players around her the ball does bounce off of tahada back for a shot from olivary just unable to get that one on frame this is where also for Olivier she's got to be smart with these fouls this is now a game you're playing on a yellow card you don't want to give up a sec get a second yellow card and have your team a player down they're already playing uphill down to goals you don't want to also be a player down as well again you have to look at the recent success for Utah Royals they had scored eight goals in the first 16 games the first half of the regular season a goal every other game really disappointing for Utah but since the calendar turned to July from July 1 onward they have outscored opponent 17 to5 including the summer cup and some big time results in there beating Tiana 5-1 beating Portland 3-1 they lost to Seattle 3-1 they won the group but didn't advance to the semi final Tiana game by the way they fell behind one nothing and then won 5 to one maybe a turning point of its season well as we talk about July that's also the time they picked up Tanaka July 5th as Houston's on the attack here Advantage was play two players down behind the play including Paige neelen and Khloe lass well to go back to your point about Utah what changed also in that time obviously new coaching that time Mina Tanaka gets signed July 5th as well as zor zosa Paige Monahan here she has a third her third straight game with the goal and Utah running away with it at Shell Energy stadium that one even caught me by surprise I thought someone was going to stop the ball for Houston PA manahan in transition the ball was just at the top of the the 18 for Houston with Michelle losia and the dash trying to get a shot off and look this starts right outside of the D as that ball is played forward nicely into this the path of Paige manahan who then just goes uncontested drives towards goal you see tarani trying to retreat back Jane Campbell trying to cut the angle down and Paige manahan makes it three for three and three on the night with that finish what a dagger for Utah to be up 3 nothing when at one point this was what we thought a one nothing game in favor of Houston and that is how things have changed Utah just continuing in transition to get out into space and I said it before PA manahan has been a big player for them in transition doesn't always need good numbers but she's got the confidence right now give her the ball in transition let her go and you see what she did there in that play in transition Sarah punon prepar to come on the 31-year-old from Austria alongside de odones this is a team that had eight goals in the first 16 games before the break they now have five goals in the first two games since the Olympic break Sophie Schmidt is coming off as is Yuki nag gasat oronia back on the fields a Paige Monahan very similar to Hannah bford goal scoring in her career before for the summer break manahan had 10 goals to her name it's a proud proven goal score and that's the under line for Khloe lass as they ease her back after a long Olympic Journey she came on in the second half she's replaced here by the Dutch midfielder Donna foder comes on for the 15th time this season yeah you just look at how Paige Monahan's been playing lately when the ball is at her feet it just feels like something special is going to happen just playing very confident but also playing aggressive on the front foot that's a situation just turning and going Alia earns a corner kick last Touch by K fava on the other side for Michelle loia also doing the same trying to just turn and go for her Squad doesn't always have numbers as Houston trying to transition forward with her but does a good job on that one to work against K FAA for the corner kick corner kick Houston they will not go short here the last few have been short that's towards the middle closest to it tarani right off the bench it's fired wide good warning shot that time from saraha yeah hello and heads up to everybody behind the goal in the pitchside patio and the area around as we do now have a player down looks like K Del fava is down currently just tying her shoes I think that penalty attempts and conversion from claudo zor noza first penalty attempt of the season for Utah Royals as they play their 18th game here is the corner kick previous beautifully done flick header from Tanaka reel off the bar and smashed in by tahada yeah that goal there when you look at how it started just such a team goal that Utah was just gritty to finish and then the Finish By zor noza just lets a little bit of relief and this one was the one that really catches You by surprise because it happened on a play that just seemed a little bit flat it was an attack for Houston they get caught in transition Paige manahan's Off to the Races and Utah able to convert for that third goal off of the foot of manahan and as we were talking about the success of the of Utah and the changes you get some Personnel changes all the way through from coaching all the way through Players three of those players Tanaka zosa and laass you see their immediate impact today getting you goals getting you assists laass draws the penalty kick that zosa finishes Tanaka heads on the first the flick for the first goal the ball that gets played out I believe that was actually off of the foot of zosa so they are directly impacting this team and helping them nearly double the goal scoring production we saw in the first 16 games of the regular season for Utah recky Clark given instructions to his team Jimmy kunr the 29-year-old Belgian head coach has to be happy with his group now Paige Monahan three game at the summer cup scored once assisted on two others she was drafted out of Butler by Gotham 57 games in four years then she went to racing Louisville for last year now on her third Club a well taken goal from Paige Monahan scored in the 48th minute last week against Bay FC she scores again in the second half tonight when you look at how this roster is constructed for Utah they've had the forward prowess and Ali Senter who of course not here on Olympic Duty with the u20s you have a Hannah bet forward you have Paige manahan to solidify your Midfield and even adding depth in a Chloe laass who can play up top that gives you more attacking depth that gives you more of a dynamic attack that allows you to play through your Midfield and the to have Mandy H in a defensive unit like this with now a strong offense in front of you Utah's a scary team to maybe play at this point of the season season they certainly are you really have to throw out the record Ali Sor in columia with the US u20s preparing for the under 20 World Cup they're missing three goals and three assists from a potential rookie of the year but they have not missed her tonight with all due respect to Ali Sor the other pieces have really picked up the pace it's been really dominant in the second half that says a lot about this team that you have a player away with the u20 for the World Cup and your team is still scoring goals still winning games and she's one of the league leaders for rookies but also does a good job leading this team in terms of goals and production the shots the goals the assists the minutes that she's played has coming and really played bigger than just a traditional firste player and she's not here away for the World Cup for the u20s and this team is still rolling second time Utah has ever scored three on the road in a regular season match the last time August of 2019 at Seattle that's the other thing you're looking at a number of Firsts for Utah which just shows in itself the change that we're seeing from this group and how they were playing prior to the break versus how they look now this is a group that hadn't even had a lead in the first half hadn't leted in the first half on the road since May of 2019 in that game Amy Rodriguez actually got the assist on the goal good turn in Midfield foder towards Mahan one back by rubinson alosia continues to run she has not given up for Houston goes for goal and these are the moments there's a corner kick but you just feel like with Houston it feels like the parts haven't really fit there's a lot of wayward attempts from a long range array they're still trying to figure things out as the calendar turns to September in the final third yeah it's unfortunate because the regular season is winding down and both these teams went into the summer break needing to fix some things and it feels like only one came out having made some major adjustments Houston still has a lot of pieces to put together I I think they're starting to figure it out defensively but on the offensive side to have this group be unable to take the pressure off of your backs it's tough to deal with game in and game out high ball into a crowd hot punches away tarani goes down referee had a good view she goes down again now she grabs her ankle after some contact from Paige Monahan yeah I think that is a no f a no uh foul there tarani just unbalance losing her foot in now the Royals can break four versus three for the visitors long forward run from the right back Olivia Griffiths she goes for goal into the hands of Jane Campbell the game is opening up a little bit more you do see frustration kicking in for Houston this is a group as we talk about scoreless and winless since May 24th and this this is a type of game that can almost break you when you think about the excitement that they had 12 minutes in thinking they scored first broke the streak were finally in the lead and then here they are now down three to nothing is tarani still down off of that previous play you saw off the corner kick here Matt tarani trying to Shield against Paige manahan getting up Falls Twice gets back to her feet once got clipped in the ankles there and it's still down the other game has gone final at Linn Family Stadium it's a come from behind win for Seattle rain win number 101 for Laura Harvey G so young equalized in the 75th minute in an Aaron R own goal in the 81st minute gives Seattle its second win in about about seven days they won late Sunday night on a dramatic own goal adamus nearly had that goal but it was changed to an own goal a bit a little bit later so Seattle rain a late Sunday night win last week and they win in Louisville so there's teams here at the bottom of the table talking about Seattle speaking about Utah Royals might creep up towards the playoff places wow what a remarkable comeback for them talk about uh a string of two back-to-back incredible games the excitement of Lura Harvey's 100th win the excitement of Megan Rino's Jersey retirement and of course the excitement of adamus getting that uh creating that own goal for them to win it late last week and then you have a comeback win today that also had a weather delay on top of it man this is what we love about the league though Matt so back and forth so up and down in every game you never know what to expect Bethany Baler loses in a return game against her former team and there is Paige neelson pleading her case it was unfortunate L Harvey did not travel to Louisville was sick this week so Scott Parkinson handled the coaching and stepped into L Harvey's place to get a win but we look here at this play as the foul Tanaka again on the attack going up against paig neelon trying to turn the corner against neiel neiel of course not happy with that call because this sets up for another set piece for Utah a good spot on that wide right flank it does feel like maybe Houston's a little overly emotional we've seen multiple players starting with andessa then olivary arguing almost every call there's the delivery from the right side they want to win you want to be emotional you want to care but sometimes it crosses a line and maybe you lose your mental stability yeah I think unfortunately that's where Houston is at currently they are on side here nice touch from Andressa she can walk this one in the Brazilian has a goal back we'll see what the video review says they will check this goal but for now the Brazilian has a goal and Houston has broken the long scoreless drw which stretched over 600 minutes and you look at this play that's a beautiful ball in by Natalie Jacobs does a good job fing on Anda who stays as of now on side and able to get that touch around Mandy halt finishes Well Done by Andressa to be able to stay composed uses the speed and just the composure to be able to get forward and get this goal for a team that has not scored since May 24th finally to get to see the ball hit the back of the net this is huge and honestly could not have come in a better time as we were just talking about the emotions being so high for Houston the frustration kicking in this does help you have a small moment of relief as andresa immediately gets the ball brings it back and Houston finally on the scoreboard it is official and now back the other way Utah Royals with an opportunity it's back to Jane Campbell video review is complete they started with a 52-minute goal is drought the previous Club record was 567 that was surpassed tonight the drought officially ends 640 minutes of regular season play without a goal for Houston Dash and Andressa ends it with her second now it's ordones but a whistle after she won the ball so there's a lot to impact from that goal because it's only fitting that it's andessa by the way and we have already talked about the post we know about the goal that got called back today andr has had her fair share of frustration in the last two games alone of near scoring chances or chances that should have been a goal to be completely blunt and for her to get that opportunity to put Houston on the scoreboard is huge you look at this play again Natalie Jacobs finds Ando drifting along the backline splits the center backs and is able to get in you saw her able to outrace real and Del fava get the touchr H to get the goal and for this team regardless what happens in this result the fact that they got a goal today that in itself feels like a small win obviously it's not going to get them three points and help them climb the standings but it will at least help get one of those big targets off their back that the next the next goal that they have to focus on achieving is a win a game you see the emotion there from Andressa she definitely cares she definitely hates to lose it's obvious with her body language and emotion in her second season with Houston after five with Roma in Italy well Houston to make an offensive substitution oron much more offensive minded player uh that came in to replace Sophie Schmidt and then also even getting pagon in for a different look in the Midfield outside of nagas Soo so some changes that may have also been helping them pick up the tempo a little bit you don't want to play to the scoreboard there still is a good amount of regular season action left to play and a lot of time left in this game specifically olivieri makes the run towards the corner there's four in the Box for Olivier it goes to the near post alosia shot is blocked by Reel Here Comes Jacobs she has fouled Bedford fouls Jacobs good spot for a free kick for Houston here Natalie Jacobs has done so much in this match from getting hit in the face for the bloody nose to the assist on the goal and now on the attack here working up against Hannah bedf for draws the foul outside of the box the defender does a good job getting forward draws the contact and this is a huge opportunity the dash just scored to make it a two goal game a great chance here they could take advantage of to make this a one-goal game we're going to have a good amount of stoppage time I'm sure in a dangerous spot on the pitch if they can execute this well and bring this game within one Matt we could be in for a crazy ending to this match and dress is going to leave it Olivier to the middle and two Houston players going for both Paige Neel anari and it's a really open game at Chell Energy stadium here comes the goal scorer Claudia zoroa across field Mina Tanaka her shot is saved by Campbell she may have seen it late she gets a hand to it but a warning shot from the Japanese star Mina Tanaka well I thought that that set piece would lead to a very dangerous goal scoring opportunity I just thought it was going to be for Houston but it's Utah that comes out in trans position off of the the attack by Claudia zosa gets forward and you can see here surveying looking for options looks across and finds Mina Tanaka and how about the play that we're seeing from Tanaka my goodness a good job working that shot you see how close that was pass Paige neelen and then Jane Campbell gets a touch on it Tanaka has been such a surge of energy for this offense for Utah in the games that we've seen so far corner kick handled by Jane Campbell off the delivery from Claudia NOS up the goal scoring drought ends at an official Mark of 625 minutes for Houston Dash previous regular season goals came May 24th against North Carolina in the three nothing home win all sorts of space on this left side for Utah it's one of the goal scorers paig Monahan she scored in three straight games now at all competitions and dressa thought she was fouled but she went in on the challenge of [Applause] manahan and she remains down behind the pl this is where some frustration absolutely is kicking in for Houston they're getting caught in transition flat you take a look at this play here Paige Monahan going up against andresa andresa stabs at it with the left foot and manahan does step on her left foot that's a challenge that both players just going for the ball not going to get a foul there unfortunately but Houston has been so frustrated this entire game and rightfully so we know they came into this haven't scored in six games haven't won in six as well but the the plays that we're seeing it's just unfortunately taking them even more out of their game in instead of being able to keep them composed and locked in and focused a play like that you actually defend it well you're out in transition but now the game has to stop to tend to Andressa unfortunately and you can see tarani pleading her case for a fell Brazilian but the attacking player you're a forward Renee you can't think about where you're Fe you're going to land you're dribbling towards goal I mean that's almost never going to be called on an offensive player unless there's something obvious she's asking for a video review here I mean at some point you got to just play the game yeah I think that's what huson has to get back to they need someone whether it's Ricky Clark or one of their leaders Jane Campbell Natalie Jacobs someone that just has to re them all in because this team took themselves out of it in some plays of this match you can point to specific plays including paig Monahan's goal to be honest where they were just caught flat maybe too focused on the officials or no call instead of just playing the game and it's leading them to give up opportunities and chances or even being unable to finish chances because they're not focused on the play at hand so this is where some of that leadership and those veterans have to kind of pull the group together I've had to have those moments I've seen those moments before bring the team in get them to focus on just just playing good soccer for the rest of this match and not arguing calls zornosa goes for a goal and it's into the hands of Campbell ambitious take from the 31-year-old Claudia zor noza it's been a wild game 3-1 Utah Utah had two wins the entire first half of the season two wins through 16 games but during the Olympic break they reinforced three big time signings and now they're in position for their second win in as many games following the Olympic break set for six points from two games after the Olympics yeah when you think about those numbers as you mentioned the the two wins in the first 16 games beyond Behind eight goals total to now have five goals in your first two games back from the Olympic break oh yeah they won twice also in the summer series with nine goal scored this Utah team is turning a page and you can see where they are coming together as a team playing great team soccer and improving each game similar for Seattle rain they had two wins in the first half of the season they have two since following their win in Louisville tonight foul called on Michelle alosia as she went against K fava this is the other reason why especially for a team like Houston you've got to stay focus and you can't get caught up in complaining and arguing the wrong things there is such a a close margin in terms of standings I know we looked at it at halftime you look at that bottom group on in the standings that are separated by one or two points I mean from Utah who came into today with 12 points to you know that eighth team which is Bay FC with 21 there's grounds to be able to to to close that Gap and so overall for this race to the push for a playoff spot you've got to stay focused because you can continue to get points and there's a battle for that seventh and eighth spots in the playoffs that is still up for very well everything's up for grabs at this point but nobody's completely locked in or completely out of it as well so bigger than even today you've got to stay focused for long term to have your best soccer in the next nine games of the or eight and a half of the regular season Bel breedy comes on first year with Houston after two with San Diego and on the opposite side just the second change needed tonight for Jimmy Co shot Zoe Burns comes in played at University of Southern California she replaces Madison pogar it's a good time for some more substitutions get some fresh legs in this game has definitely had its fair share of back and forth and hard plays and I imagine we for a good amount of stoppage time as well a Seattle rain up to 17 points points after backtack wins 11 points the entire first half of the Season Laura Harvey's team has six points in two games since the break and they've done it basically with a youth movement Bethany Baler in her prime but moved to Louisville they bring back Jaylen Howell but they have many u8 initiative signings including adamus who forced the own goal last week so a very different look from Laura Harvey side from what we've seen over the years you still have some big names that have been there a long time such as Jess fishlock but it's a fascinating table here as we turn into the fall months starting tomorrow it is as you mentioned Seattle jumps up two spots with their two wins that they had coming out of the break you know there is such a close battle with that bottom of the standings uh that anybody really can still lock in a playoff spot they just have to focus one game at a time it's very cliche on taking care of business to set themselves up for the best chance to get into one of those eight playoff [Music] spots Utah did end the first half with back-to-back draws so if they win this it'll be a four match unbeaten streak in League Play longest since this time of year five years ago and Utah Reed off five in a row and Dro will leave this B breedy Off the Bench he's from alphared Georgia towards the spot over tarani and away from Utah Patterson back towards breedy some space for Utah Royals head for in front Sosa takes the space good ball for Bedford it's Hannah Bedford to a right foot shot is blocked I think Hannah Bedford actually slowed that down a little bit too much we know she hasn't scored so far this regular season someone that's used to seeing the ball hit the back of the net think you got to just go ahead keep it on your left and knock that shot on frame kept in play there by Burns or noza has a lot of energy here she has found Monahan Monahan tried to slip it through for burns good defending there from Ellen rubinson and now it's alosia in some space alosia has ordones ordones pulling away alosia towards the end line against Kaye reel reel kept it in Play Good defending from reel alosia expected that to turn into a corner yeah you saw loia going to Shield there just heads up play by real Ordon fouls Kaye reel just see here Kaye Rio looking for some options ordones comes in with the heavy slide started that slide very early slides there and then again has the balls rolling out of bounds working up against Real Hannah Bedford will come off 88 minute shift for her and some equipment adjustment for our Central referee tonight Gerald Flores Al tonight's had a little bit of everything why not add that to the list that even the for him he's got to get something straightened out with his equipment Michelle vasin Salos replaces Hannah Bedford and a break the other way for Houston that was a first CH chance for Michelle alosia which was well saved here by Mandy Hots vas canos eight goals this season last played for ik upala in Sweden [Music] 89th minutes uton position for its second straight win following the Olympic break look like a 541 formation now Renee for Utah with Mina Tanaka as the center forward yeah I think a little game tactics here just to drop in I mean obviously they have a two goal lead but you want to just keep everything in front of you goal kick now in the 90th minutes J Campbell a lot on her mind as she watches her team try and fight back from this goal deficit frustrating is definitely a word if you're Houston you would use to describe a game like this and I'm sure there's some others that they have that come to mind of how quickly this game shifted and the emotional roller coaster it's been but sometimes in sports it's not even just about the talent there's some luck but then there's also who can manage their emotions best throughout the entire longevity of a game to take advantage of chances when they get them and today that's been Utah that's been the better of the two with managing the game managing their emotions and playing consistently throughout and dress up battling there with Claudia zor noza 13 minutes will be added on at the end of the second half it was 12 in the first half it turned into 14 or 15 and there is a hard Challenge and dress up pleading her Cas she is books and dress is still talking we know the frustration has been there we've seen Anda talking throughout this game not happy as a competitor you understand the frustrations your team down just got to try to play smarter there take a look at this Play Again pter Games pressuring T kna and then Andressa just comes in for the slide fifth yellow card for Houston player Olivier Paige neon and Natalie Jacobs Michelle alosia and now andessa at some point Rene it is wasted energy you're trying to survive 13 minutes second half stoppage time all the arguing and talking and gesturing takes a toll it does and honestly as a player you cannot control the officials they're always going to be calls you do not agree with there's always going to be moments in the game that are just extremely unlucky a bounce a post you know things that don't go your your way an offside call you have to be able to overcome that adversity as a team and I know this group for Houston has talked so much about how they stick together how they're there for each other this game is probably one of the biggest moments they have to come together as a group especially after this game to really set the tone of how they're going to focus moving forward to be able to focus on what they can control and how they're playing their game Jacobs excellent ball in the path of alosia alosia against kayy reel Alia's turned in the corner reel has to concede a corner kick excellent ball out of the back from Jacobs to put in Michelle alosia and reel stays down after that challenge against alosia looks like there is some cramping as we know between the stoppage time of each half we are basically getting another 30 plus minutes we are getting another 30 plus minutes of play here it's been a very uptempo game and this is exactly why Michelle loia has done a good job working that backline of Utah turns the corner looks to get endline draws the corner kick as Kaye R gets a touch on it but with that touch you just see the immediate cramping for Kaye Jimmy Kun rots great success in Belgium oud heavly louen he led from 2020 to 2024 they were the runner up to anderlecht every season from 2020 to 2023 they finished third this year we top of the standings in the regular season he was hired as an assisting coach fory Rodriguez June 7th ele elevated to head coach three weeks later following the dismissal of Emy Rodriguez interesting story he really got a early start to his coaching career in his early 20s his sister was playing in Belgium and she called him and said we have an opening with our youth 13 team corner kick is set it away and he said I'll give it a chance he was still in school studying at University while he began his career at a U13 level that's to their back post headed Central and now cleared it was neelon with the first header directed towards the middle well done there by Houston to keep that play alive and dressa serves a great initial ball into the box and then a second one as well you see they're getting the numbers forward this is where again you want to just take advantage of this opportunity back to back corner kicks you've got numbers in play knock it in see if you can knock one home and bring this game within one B breedy from the corner to the back post good talking there you could hear the shout for Mandy hot as she claims it as you mentioned for Jimmy in the work he's done with Utah from Mandy hot all the way through the pitch you can just see how this team's elevated and play the Buy in the chemistry the movement of course it helps when you get tremendous acis Acquisitions that come right in and make an impact P rubinson throws it in back for Natalie Jacobs rubinson 81 caps for Sweden or recently played with BK hakin in Sweden long range strike an easy claim in the end from Andy Hots Sarah pagam with the idea you don't mind this Houston team has been trying to generate offense in a number of ways and on that opportunity punagam just look to take one from distance just unfortunately wasn't able to really put enough on that to test Mandy h put to G most ever appearances for Austria 18 goals and 134 appearances for her country club football in Germany and France before Houston last season excellent ball Ordon will not get there Advantage was play free kick will be given to Houston as Mandy HW clutches her right leg Ardon mixing up with an there and you look here it starts by Sarah pagam on a good defensive play officials let them play Advantage which is the right call because you had a great opportunity on the attack to try to find Ordon and ordones nearly able to get there before Mandy h you just see some aftermath some scuffling going on free kick coming for Anda she scored the goal but brought Houston back within two high line here for Utah the edge of the penalty area andresa three World Cups including last year as over 100 caps for Brazil eighth most little book keeping here Gerald Flores our Central referee little bandage on that left arm the game's lasted so long his equipment is slipping a bit here we go in the 98th minute restart for andessa Clarence from zor noza Patterson away from vasconcelos good delivery from the left it hangs in the a long time nearly arriving with rinon and then Jacobs a tired cross that time from the center back but I like the intensity that we're seeing from Houston they're playing this game as if it's z z and that's what you'd love to see from a group that's not getting the results they want that is down two goals and that's something that's definitely a positive that you can take away from this how can you play this exact same uptempo play You're creating Corners you're creating shots from distance you're getting good services and final passes you need that now in the full game of composed soccer for 90 [Music] minutes and dressa still scrapping she got an arm up now a whistle free kick is given maybe that was a help from the fourth official as the initial call whistle was not blown and more disappointment and frustration for andessa and again you see the dash just playing with everything they've got to try to see if they can get something going here for a second goal you take a look at this play again here Andressa comes in that right arm does catch the face of Claudia Zoros a you look at it again from that angle does hit her in the face and this is also we have to be careful because there have been a number of yellow cards given out and dressed as one of them Michelle alosia is another players that are sitting on a yellow card you've got to be mindful so you're not picking up that second yellow good win tarani excellent ball there to andessa from rubinson and now it's alosia Ordon is joining three more at the top of the box for Michelle alosia that's off the face of Z noza corner kick coming after the cross from aen rubinson that's unfortunate because melia's run was going towards goal that final pass from Andressa just a little bit too heavy to sent her out wide for a service rather than in for a shot but nicely done by Houston to keep it alive to nounce it up for this corner kick here it comes to the back post and a catch there from Mandy HW I think there's two ways to look at this maybe overly emotional from Houston but the glass half full would be at least they care they have not given up on the season they have not given up on Ricky Clark they care they want to win they have not just mailed it in absolutely absolutely that emotion is a great sign can you use that passion that fire and bottle it up to put together a great brand of soccer moving forward that's why I keep saying don't get that second yellow they're already going to be without Barbara Olivier next game with yellow card accumulation you don't want anybody else to have to miss you want to have your team as close to 100% strength so you can use the emotion of this game to now use it positively help you focus on the extra pass the extra run whatever it takes to help your team wi games andesa doing it all tonight for Houston she is fouled free kick coming yellow card shown to Ana tahada we are over 101 minutes into this match and this game still feels like it's 0 Z you look at andessa on the go here working around Anna tahada draws the foul off the dribble and drasa trying to get her offense something here and with this foul again a really great spot on the pitch for Houston centrally right outside of the box you see they're going to for Utah get their wall set up Houston's probably going to be looking obviously to set this one on frame tar on or andessa who will it be Ando tarani tarani over the goal frame that was a great strike by tarani as both were on the ball you see this right footed Bender right outside hits the back post of the PO behind that hold the net up unable to get that on frame but Struck it very well and again to the intensity that ball goes out of bounds you immediately see ronia as an alosia looking to make sure that Mandy h's not wasting time and getting a ball back in play still playing in the 103rd minute as if it's minute number one I'm still Blown Away by the effort of Andressa still running she's run all night amazing motor for the Brazilian andresa yeah the heart that we are seeing from Houston today yes it's been a lot of moments of frustration and even maybe getting a little bit too carried away arguing fouls but the passion the heart that we're seeing from them is really special for this team that's in a rut right now but at least got their first goal to break the scoreless streak a little push here to Olympians tarani with Brazil Tanaka with Japan and just the emotion runneth over for Houston tonight you can hear Jimmy kunat saying that's a clear red card for this after the fact Challenge from tarani on Tanaka you see tarani go charging at Tanaka this is where the emotions are boiling and they're boiling very high the last thing I keep saying this that you want to see is anybody getting a red card getting sent out of this game you wanted this game to finish out with all 11 on both sides that's headed towards goal fulltime from Shell Energy stadium backto back wins for Utah Royals theam [Music] I