**HOUSTON, Tex.** – The Houston Dash defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 2-0, at home on Wednesday night for their first positive result in the Challenge Cup. A goal in the fifth minute via Bárbara Olivieri was then added to in the second half thanks to a goal via forward Diana Ordóñez. The win is Houston’s first in the competition this year after losing to Kansas City in their opening match, while Chicago opens its Challenge Cup run with this loss.
Just two minutes in, Chicago had the first look on goal as a ball in from the right side via Brenna Lovera attempted to find teammate Jenna Bike in the center of the penalty area, but before Bike could get to it out came Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. Diving to meet the cross, Campbell punched the opportunity clear before getting some help from her defense in clearing her lines and the chance was seen away.
Four minutes later, Houston then flipped the game as midfielder Bárbara Olivieri scored her first goal of the year for the Dash from close in. Winning a set piece on the far side, María Sánchez whipped a ball in to the center of the penalty area and Olivieri wasted no time meeting the delivery. Getting her right foot on the effort, Olivieri gave Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher no chance as she pushed it past the shotstopper and into the back of the net to open the scoring for Houston. After a VAR review for offside, the goal stood and Houston’s celebrations continued.
Houston then spent the following 20 minutes peppering the Chicago backline with chance after chance, with forwards Michelle Alozie and Diana Ordóñez coming closest both from open play and from set pieces. Ordóñez in particular had a couple of quality opportunities in front of goal, but Chicago’s defense did well to recover and get in front of all three of those efforts to prevent a second goal within the first half.
Chicago’s best move in the first half came in the 41 ^st minute when Sarah Griffith had a shot blocked from the left side of the box, resulting in the ball falling into the path of teammate Julia Bianchi. Hustling to beat the Houston defense to the ball, the midfielder Bianchi unleashed a rising drive that landed just over the crossbar and out of play to come narrowly close to equalizing. Then, just before the half, a chance in stoppage time for the forward Bike came as she met a Yuki Nagasato pass just inside the box to the right. However, Campbell came out to smother the chance and end any final look at goal. At the halftime interval, though, Houston clung it their one goal advantage.
Houston came out in the second half determined to add to their lead and nearly did so on the hour mark when a tantalizing cross from the right side forced a good save out of Naeher. Sánchez was again on set piece duty and she delivered a phenomenal ball into the box that the forward Alozie was able to meet and flick on toward the back post. This made Naeher demonstrate her flexibility and reactions as she dove to her right to get two solid hands on the ball and keep it out of the goal.
However, Houston could not be deterred forever and they were presented a golden opportunity in the form of a penalty kick in the 72 ^nd minute as defender Bianca St-Georges was judged to have fouled Alozie in the penalty area, resulting in the spot kick decision. Up stepped Ordóñez, and she sent Naeher the wrong way with a well-taken penalty to double the Dash’s lead.
Attempting to mount any semblance of a late comeback, Chicago nearly pulled one back in the third minute of stoppage time as teammates Ally Schlegel and Ella Stevens linked up right in front of goal, but Stevens was unable to keep her effort on frame and her shot missed high over the bar.
In the end, after dropping their first result 2-0 to Kansas City, Houston redeemed their efforts with a 2-0 win over Chicago. The Red Stars’ loss is their first in the competition having embarked on their Challenge Cup campaign against Houston, meaning there is plenty of time for Chicago’s own redemption story still.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights