Instant takeaways from Houston Dash's dominant win over Gotham FC

The Houston Dash beat Gotham FC 4-2 on Sunday at PNC Park. It was a matchup of two teams going in different directions: The Dash surging towards the top of the table and Gotham falling closer to the bottom. 

After the bye, both teams had an opportunity to continue their recent play or end their streaks. For Gotham, the loss pushed it further down the depths of the NWSL table. For the Dash, the win pushed it to third place. It was the perfect way for the club to start its second half.

This game was decided by the Dash’s ability to control the game against an inferior team. By the end of the first half, this game was all Houston.

Let's get into it.

Slow Start

It took just four minutes for Gotham FC to take the lead. Left back Allysha Chapman tried to pass back to Jane Campbell in goal, but was intercepted by Taylor Smith who ran the rest of the length of the field and crossed it across the box to Paige Monaghan for the fourth-minute goal. 

Besides the goal, Gotham FC had four shots in the first half and was allowed space all over the Dash’s side of the field. Gotham has had just one goal in their last five games coming into this one and yet looked like a fully functioning offense for most of the first half. 

Sure, Kristie Mewis and Midge Purce have returned from international duty but their offense has been stagnant all season. The Dash is 12th in the NWSL in shots on target per game and goals per match. That allowed Gotham to create pressure and stress on the backline early and for much of the half. Even after the own goal to tie the game, Gotham went back to pressuring the Dash on its side of the field.

Thank you, hydration break 

After the hydration break in the 30th minute, the Dash looked like the team that has now scored four or more goals in four games since June. Taking advantage of lackluster defending and open space in the Gotham FC side, it controlled the last fifteen minutes of the first half. 

That was highlighted by Shea Groom’s 36th-minute header, assisted by Maria Sanchez. A perfect ball played in by Sanchez was blistered by Groom’s head and pushed past Ashlyn Harris to make it 2-1 to go into the half. 

The Dash ended the first half with 52.4% possession, six shots and four corners, also creating a big chance. Each statistic was greater than that of Gotham FC. With the way Gotham FC controlled the first 30 minutes and were still down at half? It took the energy out of Red Bull Arena and dictated the mood of the rest of the game.

"The MO of the Dash is being aggressive," Groom said. "We know that if we can put balls in the back of the net, it is going to be hard for teams to come back."

Necessary three points

As the second half of the season takes off, these three points are important. Next weekend, the Dash plays OL Reign on the road, a team just below it in the standings. This win allows the Dash to separate itself even further in the standings as well as keep it in contention for a higher table finish. 

Beyond the standings, the Dash had to take points back to Houston if it wants to be seen as a true contender. On the road or not, a good team goes into Gotham and finds points. Or, as the Dash did, takes its soul.

They continued to dominate in the second half with a brilliant Schmidt goal and an Ebony Salmon penalty just minutes after. With four goals, it was the fourth time since June the team has scored four goals or more in a game. "[Viggiano] played the perfectly weighted pass to me," Schmidt said. "I don't think I could have hit that any better."

Ultimately, the Dash finished with 15 shots, 11 corners, and two big chances created. All of which are important heading into Seattle next week. "I am extremely happy with the group of players," Dash head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said. "The quality we have had in these games is outstanding."