Marilia Macedo provided information.
Image courtesy of Alejandra Rivera
A very busy match took place at Cheney Stadium, where the fans were able to watch good soccer and beautiful goals from the start.
The score was opened in the fifth minute with a Jess Fishlock cross soon to be connected with a header by Bethany Balcer, who would score her fourth personal goal in this tournament. Once again, the Reign formula of scoring quickly in the early stages of the game would pay off, and this would provide more peace of mind to a team that, although it looked confident on the field, needed to be confident enough to propose its game against the Dash.
In 14th the Reign warned again with the same formula, a cross from right by Sofía Huerta looking for Balcer, who was about to score the second. The Dash Goalkeeper Lindsey Harris avoided the goal when the ball was narrowly slipping under the crossbar.
In the 18th minute, an extraordinary play by Le Sommer that would drag the marks of the Houston defenders, yielding the ball for Sofía Huerta who got into the penalty area alone and defined with class in the lower-right spot of Lindsey Harris.
These were good moments for a team that was consolidating a deserved revenge after Sam Laity’s first interim game, the one that was delayed by the weather and that, despite the victory for the Texas players, was marked by the resignation of Farid Benstiti hours before the game.
At the 30th, a sigh for Houston Dash, who would find the discount on a serendipitous play that would end up being an own goal after a rebound off Sam Hiatt. The surprise was installed in the Cheney Stadium.
Peace of mind came on the 34th. Sofia’s doing a great job on the right side seeking for Balcer, would find the feet of Eugenie Le Sommer, who once again confirms her status as a world-class player by scoring her second goal of the season. Not bad for a player who took a few games to show her potential and shine the way she has done in the last two games.
The home team was unstoppable, relentless and eager to score more goals. Then, in the 42nd minute, the talented Fishlock beautifully right footed from far and sent the ball into the back of the net, with no chance for the keeper Harris who will have nightmares tonight. It was the fourth.
Bethany scored the fifth at the 45th, a shot very similar to Zee King’s goal a couple of games ago, where with a cross shot she beat goalkeeper Harris. Everything was joyful in the stadium, a true reflection of the style of play that Sam Laity inspired in this team during his interim.
The second would start unchanged, both in the formation and in the intensity of the team. However, that intensity would no longer be as productive as in the first half.
In 65 Angelina got in the field replacing Dzsenifer Marozsán, trying to recover the spaces that were lost since in the second half Houston Dash closed in defense blocking any opportunity. Although there was a greater participation by Sofía Huerta, this would not translate into goals.