**LOUISVILLE, Ky.** – The Houston Dash took a massive step in remaining in the NWSL Playoffs conversation with a 1-0 road win over Racing Louisville FC, with forward Diana Ordóñez scoring in the 54 ^th minute to separate the two sides. The goal was Ordóñez’s first in league play since a 2-0 away win against Kansas City at the end of May. The win keeps Houston in 9 ^th place, three points off the playoff line with two contenders in front of them yet to play this weekend.
An overall relatively even battle, the two sides began to press the other early on beginning with a chance for Houston. Defender Caprice Dydasco was on the ball on the right flank when she pulled a move to create space as she marshalled her way toward the endline. Dydasco then drove a cross to just below the penalty spot and picked out teammate Andressa with the delivery, but the midfielder’s header was high on goal as the chance went missing.
In the 14 ^th minute, the hosts Louisville had their first chance to break ahead and it came through a heads up play by forward Kirsten Davis. Davis put on her jets and got first to a bouncing ball in the midfield area, then getting past a Houston defender as she broke in on goal. Davis then attempted to place a shot toward the bottom far corner with her left foot as she approached the penalty area, but Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell produced a fantastic save to keep the effort out.
After a brief couple of extra looks for Houston, the next best opportunity to score came Louisville’s way in the 42 ^nd minute when Maddie Pokorny nearly picked Campbell off her line with a chipped effort toward the back post. Pokorny was still a considerable distance from goal on the ball when she looked up and aimed to find the top far corner with a looping effort. However, Campbell was again present to make a good save and keep the score even heading into halftime.
The second half started the as the two teams attempted to figure the other out in the early goings, but Houston’s advantage came not too many minutes later when Ordóñez found the back of the net in the 54 ^th minute. Attacker María Sánchez chased down a ball on the left side of the field before lifting a high cross toward the back post for someone to latch onto. Rising above her marker to meet the ball, Ordóñez did well to redirect her header back across goal and into the bottom far corner for the Dash’s lead.
The hosts Louisville would still come close twice more in their search for an equalizer, starting with defender Carson Pickett’s chance at the back post in the 78 ^th minute of action. Fellow defender Abby Erceg had possession just inside Louisville’s attacker half when she decided to clip a long ball over the top toward the far post where Pickett was making her run. Pickett then managed to get on the end of Erceg’s pass, but unfortunately, she skied the shot that followed and the flashed chance was ended.
Then, in the dying embers of the match, one final look on goal came for Louisville through forward Emina Ekic, but her headed shot landed high and wide of the frame. Racing was moving forward through Pickett after she received a long switch pass into space on the right side of the field. The defender then delivered a tasty ball right toward the near post where Ekic was poised to meet it, but Ekic’s header somehow flashed just over the bar and out of play as Louisville’s fate as was all but sealed.
The Dash would end up earning a big three points that, while by no means guaranteeing them a place in the playoffs, goes a long way in seeing them not definitively out of the race. For Louisville, however, though the loss keeps it in 7 ^th place on 24 points, even a draw for Angel City on Sunday would see them climb into that spot with just three games left to play.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights