Dash Fall 2-0 to Portland in Season Finale as Sophia Wilson Scores Both Goals
Sophia Wilson scored in the 34th minute and again from the penalty spot in the 70th as Portland beat the Houston Dash 2-0 at Shell Energy Stadium on Decision Day, closing Houston's season with a home loss in a game that could not change either team's playoff fate.
HOUSTON - The Houston Dash closed their season with a 2-0 loss to the Portland Thorns at Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, beaten by two goals from Sophia Wilson in the NWSL's Decision Day finale, according to the match's official play-by-play file.
Wilson opened the scoring in the 34th minute, finishing from the centre of the box off a Reilyn Turner assist - the same combination that had put Portland ahead at halftime in this station's live file. She doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 70th minute and finished the day with both Portland goals. Portland defender Jayden Perry took the game's only yellow card, in the 41st minute.
Houston coach Jaime Frias used all five substitutions chasing the game - Linda Ullmark at halftime, Kalyssa Vanzanten and Kate Faasse in the 71st minute, Sarah Puntigam in the 79th and Khyah Harper in the 88th - and the Dash were still pushing at the end, forcing a save in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Jane Campbell started in goal behind a front line of Kat Rader, Clarissa Larisey and Miljana Ivanovic.
The stakes were settled before kickoff: Portland had already qualified for the playoffs and was playing for seeding, while Houston had been eliminated, according to USA TODAY's Decision Day playoff picture. The loss ends the Dash's season at home, in front of the Shell Energy Stadium crowd, with the club's offseason now beginning a week earlier than the playoff field's.
