**HOUSTON, Tx.** – The North Carolina Courage took three points away from Houston against the Dash on Friday night, but perhaps not in the way they expected to. A goal in the 34 ^th minute by forward Tyler Lussi stood after VAR review, and with the match delayed in the 52 ^nd minute due to inclement weather, the completion of the first half meant that the eventually abandoned match resulted in a 1-0 win for North Carolina in the end.
The first half brought plenty of drama as the visiting Courage started out the hotter of the two sides, threatening the Dash goal as early as the fourth minute. A ball from the left side was lifted over the entirety of the Houston defense to the back post where forward Tyler Lussi was waiting. As an aerial duel between Lussi and a defender sent the ball skying, Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell came out to make a play but did not make solid enough contact with the ball to fully get it away. That resulted in the ball falling to the feet of Lussi again, but her cross come shot from the right side of the penalty area went wide of goal.
Then, in the 14 ^th minute, Courage forward Kerolin put the ball in the back of the net after forward Rikke Madsen had an initial ball in to Lussi blocked by a defender only for it to fall back her away again. Madsen then picked out Kerolin in the center of the box and the Brazilian did well to bundle it over the line. However, after a second look via VAR, the goal was chalked off and the match remained scoreless.
Despite the early goal being waved off, just over 20 minutes later the Courage’s resiliency paid off as they opened the scoring via forward Tyler Lussi in the 34 ^th minute. Defender Emily Fox turned on her jets on the left side of the field and sprinted toward the byline in possession. Lifting her head, Fox picked out Lussi in a similar position as Kerolin was earlier, but this time Lussi buried the chance and the goal stood following a second VAR review.
Houston did battle back and managed to create a pair of chances as forward Ebony Salmon had an effort in the 39 ^th minute saved by Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy. The closest the home side came, though, was in the 42 ^nd minute when midfielder Sophie Schmidt–who was making her 100 ^th NWSL regular season appearance–hit the post from just outside the box. As the Dash earned a free kick just inside the Courage half on the left side, a ball sent in pinballed around the penalty area before a blocked shot resulted in the ball falling at Schmidt’s feet. Attempting to clip an effort to the far post, Schmidt lifted a shot that beat Murphy but could not beat the post as it agonizingly ricocheted off and eventual clear to prevent Houston from finding their first.
The last bit of action in the half came in the fourth and final minute of added time when North Carolina nearly doubled their advantage from close in. The Courage charged down the right with Kerolin dumping a pass to outside back Ryan Williams in the penalty area. Williams then attempted to play a low pass back across the box, but the ball in–which looked as if it would find the far post with no further contact–was kicked clear by Campbell who came in clutch once again.
At the break, North Carolina held onto their one goal advantage despite further chances for both sides.
Heading into the second half, the teams managed to play approximately six minutes before inclement weather delayed the match for over three hours. With no letup in storms, the match was officially ended and, as per league rules, the abandoned match still stands as official with the first half having been played in its entirely. As a result, the match is recorded in the league standings as a 1-0 win for the Courage.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights