**HOUSTON, Tx.** – The Houston Dash edged Racing Louisville FC in a tight encounter that saw former Louisville forward Ebony Salmon score the game’s lone goal to separate the two sides in the end. The result keeps both teams where they were prior to the match, with Houston in 3 ^rd place with 6 points from five games, while Louisville suffered its first loss of the competition but remains in 1 ^st place with 12 points from five games played.
An aggressive Houston side came closest to scoring early on when midfielder Cameron Tucker forced a good save out of Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund in the 23 ^rd minute. A flick on from a throw in on the right side allowed Tucker to chase a ball into the penalty area, allowing her to open up a shot on goal from the right side. Tucker took aim at the bottom near side corner with a powerful effort, but Lund got low in time to deflect the ball out of play and stop the move.
The hosts remained persistent, though, and just a few moments after that break in play they were looking to score again through forward Ebony Salmon. Salmon would hit the bar with a good header from the center of the box following a María Sánchez cross, and then moments later Salmon had a shot blocked that eventually resulted in a chance for teammate Marisa Viggiano, but her effort was tipped over the bar by Lund.
An increase of scoring opportunities forced Louisville to bend but not break, that is until the 26 ^th minute when Ebony Salmon put her side ahead with a strong drive from inside the box. Houston had sprung forward through Ryan Gareis when she created a pocket of space to get in the penalty area. Gareis then cut a pass back for Salmon just left of the middle of the area, and Salmon shook a defender before beating a low drive toward the near post that shot past Lund and lifted the hosts up.
That would be good enough to keep Houston in front well through halftime, with the next chance of the match coming in the 65 ^th minute through Louisville defender Lauren Milliet. The opening came via a one-two with teammate Nadia Nadim, which saw Nadim slip in Milliet behind the defense on the right side of the penalty area. Milliet then went on to produce a fine finish, but the whistle was blown immediately following for an offside decision against Milliet that wiped off the goal.
The visitors continued to press and would see two more major chances created until the end of the match, both also forcing Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell into two very impressive saves. First, in the 75 ^th minute, Racing midfielder Paige Monaghan slid a ball through the Houston defense for forward Parker Goins on the right side of the field. With plenty of space in front of her, Goins worked her way into the box and opted to shoot from there, blasting a ball that Campbell was able to block with her body straight on.
Then, in the 88 ^th minute, the moment of the match came as Campbell produced the best of her bunch, and one of the best saves of the season, on a shot from Nadim. Nadim was on the ball and working from left to right in the penalty area when she saw just enough of a sliver of space to try and curl a shot into the far side netting. Opening up her right foot, Nadim delivered a beautiful shot that looked destined for goal, only for Campbell to launch herself to her left and get just enough on the ball to push it wide of the post, leaving Nadim stunned and Louisville in a tough position.
The Dash would ultimately hang on from there as Salmon scored against her former side to produce a needed winner, but plaudits also go to Jane Campbell for an unbelievable stretch of play in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights