Recap: FC Kansas City 4 Houston Dash 0
By Hal Kaiser
The fighting spirit that defined the Houston Dash during their first three matches was not in evidence Saturday night as they fell to FC Kansas City by a score of 4-0. For the first time this season, the Dash looked like an expansion team as FC Kansas City put on a soccer clinic, especially after defender Osinachi Ohale was sent off with a red card in the 58th minute of the match.
The Dash went into this match with five changes from the lineup which faced Seattle a week ago, including two changes to the back line: Kika Toulouse in at left back for Nikki Washington who departed in the Kaylyn Kyle trade, and Marissa Diggs in for Holly Hein who sat out the latter half of the week with plica in her knee.
The lack of familiarity in the back line was obvious, particularly for the rookie Diggs who struggled for much of the match. With midfielder Lauren Holiday pulling the strings, FC Kansas City sought to take full advantage of the inexperience.
It was the Dash, however, who might have taken the early lead when forward Kealia Ohai got behind the Kansas City defense from the left, but her shot went straight at FCKC keeper Nicole Barnhart.
Kansas City made the Dash pay for the missed opportunity in the 13th minute; Holiday saw the run of Liz Bogus on the left side of the pitch and slotted a pass through the Dash defense. Bogus got behind Ariana Romero and knocked the ball past an onrushing Erin McLeod for the opening goal.
The Dash regained their composure and controlled possession for the remainder of the half, but struggled with turning that possession into opportunities as the ball often went backwards in the face of FC Kansas City’s overwhelming numbers in the midfield.
FC Kansas City would make it 2-0 just three minutes after the break on another through ball. This time it is was Jenna Richardson putting a ball through for Amy Rodriguez who held off both Ohale and Marissa Diggs before applying the finish.
In the 58th minute Rodriguez again got behind the Dash back line; this time Ohale brought her down as the two fought for possession. The match official ruled it a foul and showed Ohale a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity.
With a man advantage, FC Kansas City dominated the remainder of the match, generating opportunity and after opportunity. Goals in the 80th minute by Erika Tymrak and 89th minute by Frances Silva made it 4-0. However, without the goal keeping heroics of McLeod, the winning margin might have been wider.
The Dash play next at the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday, May 11th.
Houston Dash vs. FC Kansas City
May 3, 2014 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX
NWSL Regular Season
Scoring by period 1 2 F
Houston Dash 0 0 0
FC Kansas City 1 3 4
Scoring Summary:
Kansas City: Liz Bogus 13
Kansas City: Amy Rodriguez (Lauren Holiday) 48
Kansas City: Erika Tymrak 80
Kansas City: Frances Silva (Lauren Holiday) 89
Houston Dash: Erin McLeod; Arianna Romero, Osinachi Ohale (ejection 59), Marissa Diggs, Kika Toulouse; Becky Edwards, Kaylyn Kyle, Ella Masar (Rafaelle Souza 66); Kealia Ohai, Tiffany McCarty (Jordan Jackson 46), Stephanie Ochs (Holly Hein 64)
Unused Substitutes: Bianca Henninger, Teresa Noyola, Lindsay Elston, Dominique Richardson
TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (Stephanie Ochs 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players with 1); FOULS: 8 (Kalyn Kyle, Arianna Romero 2); OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5 (Kika Toulouse 4); SAVES: 10 (Erin McLeod 8)
FC Kansas City: Nicole Barnhart; Becky Saurbrunn, Kassy Kallman, Nikki Phillips, Leigh Ann Robinson; Jen Buczkowski, Jenna Richmond; Merritt Mathias (Frances Silva 80), Lauren Holiday, Liz Bogus (Erika Tymrak 61); Amy Rodriguez (Melissa Henderson 83)
Unused Substitutes: Sarah Keane, Morgan Marlborough, Nia Williams
TOTAL SHOTS: 23 (Lauren Holiday 9); SHOTS ON GOAL: 15 (Lauren Holiday 6); FOULS: 3 (Amy Rodriguez 2); OFFSIDE: 4 (Amy Rodriguez 2); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Lauren Holiday 2); SAVES: 3 (Nicole Barnhart 3)
Disciplinary Summary:
HOU: Osinachi Ohale (ejection) 58
HOU: Holly Hein (caution) 72
Referee: Juliana Duncan
Referee Assistants: Jennifer Garner, Deleana Quan
Fourth Official: Samantha Moos
Attendance: 5198