Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match thread for tonight’s match-up between the Orlando Pride (2-3-3, 9 points) and the Houston Dash (2-6-0, 6 points). This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the two sides this season. The Pride visit Houston next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The Pride is coming off their second win of the season, a 2-0 home victory over the Boston Breakers. Marta and Jasmyne Spencer provided the offense on a rainy day at Orlando City Stadium.

Orlando is 3-1-0 against the Dash with all four meetings taking place last season. The Pride got their first franchise win against Houston in a 3-1 home victory on April 23, 2016. Alex Morgan and Lianne Sanderson scored for the Pride, along with an Andressa own-goal. Andressa did get the Dash a late consolation goal. The Pride then reeled off a pair of 1-0 wins against Houston — the first coming in the team’s first ever road victory on May 20. Kristen Edmonds’ 81st-minute goal was the difference. The second 1-0 win came in Orlando on June 23 on Spencer’s first goal with the Pride.

Houston got its first victory in the series with a 4-2 home win on Sept. 3. The Dash pulled out to a 3-0 lead before the Pride bagged two to make a game of it before Houston put it away. Kealia Ohai scored twice for the Dash, with Janine Beckie and Poliana also scoring. Morgan and Edmonds scored for Orlando.

Despite having some of the league’s most talented players — including Ohai, who has two goals and two assists this season, and Beckie — Houston is languishing in last place in the NWSL stadings, with only six goals scored, 16 conceded, and a -10 goal differential. The Dash feature a pair of familiar faces, as forward Sarah Hagen and defender Cami Levin are both former Orlando players. The Dash have lost five straight and have fired head coach Randy Waldrum, hiring Omar Morales as the replacement.

“In this league, you can’t look past any opponent or expect to take three points from any game,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “Houston is a dangerous team and, though they are on the bottom of the table, they have to ability to beat any team on any day. I think we showed the standings mean nothing a few weeks ago, so we are going into Saturday knowing we’ll have to work hard to leave with points.”

Ashlyn Harris (quad) and Alex Morgan (hamstring) are out for Orlando due to injury. For Houston, Bruna Benites (knee) is listed as questionable.

Projected Lineups:

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Aubrey Bledsoe.

Defenders: Steph Catley, Toni Pressley, Ali Krieger, Kristen Edmonds.

Defensive Midfielders: Alanna Kennedy, Monica.

Attacking Midfielders: Camila, Marta, Rachel Hill.

Forwards: Jasmyne Spencer.

Bench: Caroline Stanley, Laura Alleway, Chioma Ubogagu, Jamia Fields, Danica Evans, Maddy Evans, Nickolette Driesse.

Houston Dash (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Lydia Williams.

Defenders: Cami Levin, Cari Roccaro, Amber Brooks, Rachel Daly.

Midfielders: Morgan Brian, Carli Lloyd, Andressa.

Forwards: Kealia Ohai, Janine Beckie, Nichelle Prince.

Bench: Jane Campbell, Poliana, Claire Falknor, Denise O’Sullivan, Sarah Hagen, Cami Privett, Janine Van Wyk.

Referees

Ref: Rebecca Pagan.

AR1: Amanda Ross.

AR2: Diego Blas.

4th: Mike Arrington.

How to Watch

Match Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET).

Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium — Houston, TX.

TV: None.

Streaming:  go90.com, go90 iOS and Android app (in the U.S.), NWSLSoccer.com or the NWSL app (outside the U.S.).

Twitter: For live updates, follow along at the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride) and on The Mane Land’s Twitter (@TheManeLand).

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