Jane Campbell super save steals the show in LA stalemate

LOS ANGELES - In the space of roughly two and half seconds, Jane Campbell made two magisterial saves that punctuated an electric 0-0 between Angel City FC and the Houston Dash. The draw extends Houston's unbeaten streak to six NWSL matches, the longest stretch in club history.  

On a night when neither team could break the deadlock, the loudest yells that came from the 16,739 fans at Banc of California stadium were reserved for the player between the Houston posts. Not in celebration, but in frustration.

"It was definitely a huge point on the road, this is a crazy atmosphere to play in," said Campbell after the match. "In that moment they were getting a lot of momentum, we couldn't hear a thing with the wall behind us. Our back six did great and a huge point on the road." 

The Dash's acting head coach Sarah Lowdon applauded Campbell's astonishing night after the whistle. "When you have got a goalkeeper that is playing like that, you're going to pick up points, what an amazing performance," she said.

Campbell finished the match with four saves from an expected goals of 1.41. The clean sheet tonight was her fourth of the season, which means the Houston goalkeeper is now tied for the most in the NWSL. 

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With Rachel Daly away on international duty with England, Lowdon opted to play Maria Sanchez as a center forward. This meant the only change to the Dash’s lineup from the 5-0 win over the Pride was Elizabeth Eddy starting as a left wing back. 

Campbell wasn't alone in pulling off impressive stops. Just after the half hour mark, ACFC's shot stopper Didi Haricic was called into action. Sophie Schmidt collected the ball 30 yards out and thrashed a clean effort on the ACFC goal. The LA goalkeeper hurled herself in the way and forced a corner, the Bosnian's first superb save of the night.  

The flow of the match was disjointed at times. Neither team found their stride early on. It’s not unlike the Dash to sit back, block off passing lanes in the box and stifle its opponent. Throughout, the Dash’s 3-4-1-2 formation resembled more of a back five than a back three. 

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The hosts' only significant chance in the first half came from a corner kick. As the second ball bobbled around the Dash box, Vanessa Gilles swiped at it from six yards out. The ball sailed wide. Campbell barked at her defense.

Even though Houston had the better chances in the first half, they mostly all came from long range and without sustained pressure on the ACFC backline. One Nichelle Prince header that crept onto the crossbar, just before the interval, was the one exception from beyond the penalty spot.

At half time, ACFC’s most dangerous player had been neutralized. Christen Press went into the break with just 13 touches, the fewest of any player on the pitch.  The one time she did possess the ball in a dangerous area, Haley Hanson couldn’t be misled and stopped the U.S. national team star’s move in its tracks. 

During the break, Lowdon was forced into a change. Prince was removed as a precaution and Michelle Alozie came on in her place. The substitution positioned Alozie in the exact same role as Prince. As the highest attacker, she was tasked with playing on the shoulder of the last Angel City defender. 

"Nichelle is dong well, she had some hamstring issues, I talked to her on the sideline, the long term is really important. We tried to squeeze as much out of her, but the substitution was obviously in the best interest of Nichelle," said Lowdon about the substitution.

Around the hour, the match began to kick into life on the attacking side. ACFC started committing more players forward. Full backs Tyler Lussi and Ali Riley left their defensive posts to try and force a goal. The ambition from LA helped create chances for both teams. Shea Groom became the spark, an outlet to carry the ball from end to end and help feed Sanchez and Alozie in front of her. 

"The general message was how to exploit them in transition with our outside backs pushing a little bit higher. It was about us being able to keep calm head and keep the ball," said Lowdon on the second half. 

Soon after, Haricic tipped a shot from Marisa Viggiano onto the bar. Immediately, ACFC went straight down the other end. Attacking down Houston’s left hand side, Lussi sent an inviting pass across the face of goal but there was no player in a black jersey to meet it. 

A couple of minutes later and the Dash were carved open by Simone Charley at full speed. The forward slalomed passed Allysha Chapman and Katie Naughton with two exquisite touches, but couldn't get her shot off in time. 

The chances continued to present themselves. Then the 70th minute, the Houston goalkeeper's moment arrived. Campbell stole the spotlight and produced the double-save that would go on to keep the match scoreless.   

Savannah McKaskill stormed forward from a midfield position and slipped in June Endo, who was waiting on the edge of the Houston box. The Japanese international sent a wicked shot towards the goal only for Campbell to slap it away with both of her gloves. 

The rebound fell to Press, who looked certain to score. Somehow Campbell reset herself and reacted quickly. Besting the first-time shot from the ACFC forward with a one handed save that wouldn’t look out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster. The North End howled in disapproval and shock. 

"I was just hoping to get in the way of it. I did that. So I am glad they didn't score," said Campbell coyly. 

With 15 minutes remaining, Lowdon brought on Michaela Abam and Bri Visalli in exchange for Viggiano and Eddy. The switches prompted Sanchez to return to the left wing back position that she had played the last few weeks. Abam took her place in the two player front line. 

There was still enough time for Groom’s influence in the match to grow. The midfielder stretched the pitch in the match's final stages, sending a hopeful shot from range onto the crossbar. The third occasion the Dash hit the woodwork on Tuesday night. 

Ultimately, despite a few close calls, there was to be no goals. At full time, the Houston players looked the more pleased of the two sides. Angel City's noisy faithful had lived up to the billing. Were it not for Campbell, then perhaps Endo and Press would have had their names in lights. 

“Our speed of play and being able to create those chances was a little slow, and I think that allows teams to get compact, whether it’s Portland or whether it’s Houston tonight," said ACFC head coach Freya Coombe.

The draw keeps the Dash second in the NWSL after seven matches, behind the San Diego Wave by one point. Houston will close out its short week against the Portland Thorns on Sunday night at PNC Stadium.

"To play here is obviously difficult. They have got a great atmosphere. To get a point away from home again. Just another point in the bag and we'll keep building on it," said Lowdon.