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

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride take on the Houston Dash in Houston, TX. The Pride (0-3-1, 1 point) are winless in 2019 after starting against arguably the four toughest teams in the league. The Dash (1-1-1, 4 points) are winless at home, with their lone victory coming on April 20 on the road against Sky Blue. 

History

Orlando leads the all-time series against Houston, 5-4-0. In its inaugural season, Orlando beat the Dash three straight times and outscored Houston, 5-1. The Dash stormed back in the last meeting of the season though and beat Orlando, 4-2. The game seemed over heading into the final 10 minutes of the match with the Pride down, 3-0. However, Kristen Edmonds set up Alex Morgan and then scored on her own to bring the score to 3-2. Orlando was unable to find a third, and Kealia Ohai got her brace in the 94th minute as Houston came away with a 4-2 victory. 

The teams split the series in 2017 with each team winning the away match. Marta wreaked havoc on June 17, 2017, with two goals and two assists, as the Pride won, 4-2. Orlando won the first game last season, but then fell in the final two meetings. Houston has won three of the previous four meetings and has outscored the Pride 7-3 in those games. 

Overview 

The Pride have continued their poor form to start the season and now must face Houston without three key players — Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris, and Ali Krieger — who have all been called up to the U.S. Women’s National team, and Orlando has to learn to win without the trio right away. 

“You have a choice in how you react to things and the choice of this group is to know that they are learning; that they are trying to get better every day…The mood is fine, the mood is happy, the only thing that’s negative at the minute is the results,” said Marc Skinner. “[The players] know the messages, they know what we are asking them to do. It’s just then taking that belief onto the field. Because, when we’re in training, they’re performing what we need them to do. It’s just the transference of that skill onto the field.”

Houston should be an easier task than the four previous teams that Orlando faced this season, as the Dash were one of the two teams that were below the Pride in the standings at the end of 2018. 

Houston is coming off a tough loss at the hands of North Carolina. The Dash nearly kept it scoreless heading into halftime, but the Courage’s Lynn Williams scored in stoppage time as North Carolina took a 1-0 lead into the break. It was then all Courage as the Dash fell 4-1 to the reigning champions. 

Ohai and Sofia Huerta are likely the biggest threats that Orlando faces, but former Orlando midfielder Christine Nairn has also shown Pride fans what she can do in the middle of the field. Up top, Houston will likely have Rachel Daly, who should be the focal point for Orlando’s defense to stop. 

Quite a few players could miss this game. Toni Pressley remains out of the Pride’s picture with a right hamstring strain, while obviously Sydney Leroux remains inactive. Harris, Krieger, and Morgan are in USWNT camp, and Haley Kopmeyer will get the start in net. 

Houston does not have anyone out due to international duty, but Kristie Mewis (left knee), Kyah Simon (right ankle), Taylor Comeau (right arm), Nairn (left thigh), and Cece Kizer (right leg) are all questionable. Meleana Shim (left ankle) has been ruled out. 

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Haley Kopmeyer.

Defenders: Carson Pickett, Shelina Zadorsky, Alanna Kennedy, Erin Greening.

Midfielders: Joanna Boyles, Emily van Egmond, Dani Weatherholt.

Forwards: Chioma Ubogagu, Marta, Rachel Hill.

Bench: Lainey Burdett, Abby Elinsky, Marisa Viggiano, Bridget Callahan, Morgan Reid, Camila, Toni Pressley.

Houston Dash (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Jane Campbell.

Defenders: Allysha Chapman, Amber Brooks, Clare Polkinghorne, Lindsay Agnew.

Midfielders: Haley Hanson, Sofia Huerta, Sophie Schmidt. 

Forwards: Rachel Daly, Kealia Ohai, Nichelle Prince.

Bench:  Bianca Henninger, Jamia Fields, Ari Romero, Veronica Latsko, Ally Prisock, Kristie Mewis, Kayla McCoy.

Referees

Ref: Victor Rivas.

AR1: Katarzyna Wasiak.

AR2: Kevin Lock.

4th: Juliana Duncan.

How to Watch

Match Time: 6 p.m. ET.

Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium — Houston, TX.

TV: None.

Streaming: Yahoo! Sports app (U.S.), NWSLsoccer.com, NWSL app (international).

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

Match Thread Rules

This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you’re new, welcome to our happy home! While you’re here, please observe a few basic rules:

• Absolutely no links to illegal streams. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that.
• Try not to be the person who spews nothing but venom and hate for the team. It’s OK to be critical, and, let’s face it, sometimes even the best teams can be frustrating to watch, but being overly negative relentlessly can sap the enjoyment for others.
• Keep it somewhat clean and fair when criticizing players / officials. You never know who might be reading.
• Do unto others in the match thread, the way you would have others do unto you. We are a fun community and want to keep it this way. We have a moderator, but we’d rather let him enjoy the game instead of having to play babysitter.

Enjoy the match! Go Pride!