**Los Angeles, California** – Angel City FC and the Houston Dash scrapped their way through 90 minutes to a scoreless draw on Tuesday night at Banc of California Stadium. Despite plenty of chances for either side, neither were able to break the deadlock as the result for Houston keeps them in second place in the table through seven games played, one point off San Diego in the top spot.
Houston first tested Angel City in the 10 ^th minute as a well worked move in the first half led to the ball being played across the right side for defender Sophie Schmidt firing a left-footed shot from outside the box in on goal. However, Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic was positioned in which the effort didn’t trouble her.
Some of the best combination play for the hosts came in the 22 ^nd minute as defender Tyler Lussi played a sly ball into the box for forwards Simone Charley and Christen Press to chase. However, hitting the ball first time, Lussi was unable to properly calibrate the speed of the pass and it fell into the palms of Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
In the 24 ^th minute, Angel City got its third look in three minutes again following a set-piece, this time for the forward Charley. Attacker Jun Endo lined up the corner kick and delivered a ball dead center of the penalty area. Rising above the defense, Charley was able to get a good amount of power on her header, though was just a few inches away from being able to direct it on goal as the ball eventually fell wide of the far post.
Nine minutes later, though, it was again Houston’s Sophie Schmidt who forced Haracic into an incredible diving save as momentum temporarily swung the other way. After an initial cross was headed out of the box by Angel City, the defender Schmidt caught the ball on its way out of the 18-yard box, took a touch and then blasted a strong drive toward the far post. Up for the effort, Haracic was able to get into action at just the right time to dive to her left and make the save.
Separate chances for Angel City defender Vanessa Gilles and Houston forward Nichelle Prince were unable to be converted as the half wore on, and the match went into the halftime interval with neither side finding the back of the net.
It took either side over the hour mark until they would create a quality look on goal, but for Angel City, Simone Charley again provided a spark with a chance in the 66 ^th minute. After a Dash giveaway in their own half, Angel City’s Dani Weatherholt found Charley with a ground pass just inside the 18-yard box. Turning on a dime, Charley fooled the Houston defender and ended up skipping past another on her way toward goal. However, Campbell was able to get out in time to make the stop and the defense would see the ball cleared.
Three minutes later, what was easily Angel City’s best opportunity to score came for attackers Jun Endo and Christen Press inside the penalty area. Midfielder Savannah McCaskill was bolting down the field toward the box when contact with a Houston defender sent her to the ground. However, in losing possession, a teammate picked up the ball and laid it off for Endo at the top of the box. Endo then launched a missile of an effort at Campbell, with the goalkeeper equal to it, only for the rebound to fall directly into the path of forward Christen Press a few yards out from goal. However, as Press attempted to put away the close-range effort, Campbell produced an unbelievable second save within a blink of an eye to preserve the clean sheet.
One of Houston’s better looks of the second half came in the 80 ^th minute through midfielder Shea Groom. Receiving the ball in the center of the field just outside the box, Groom then lined up a vicious effort that sailed past Haracic and nearly found the top corner. Instead, the ball clipped the crossbar on the way over and Houston went back to stopping Angel City attacks in the final 10 minutes.
Ultimately, neither Angel City nor the Houston Dash were able to tally a goal in the stalemate as both sides kept a point and earned a clean sheet at Banc of California Stadium on Tuesday night. The result helps the hosts claim a point for the first time in three games, while the Dash’s unbeaten streak is moved to six on the bounce.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights