Houston Dash vs. Angel City FC: NWSL Match Preview

The game: Houston Dash (3-6-3) vs. Angel City FC (3-6-2)
When or: 8:30 p.m. Saturday; Shell Energy Stadium
How to watch: ION, Deportes Nation (Spanish audio)

The Houston Dash are hungry for more success at home after tasting it in May. With midfielder Elin Rubensson and forward Ramona Bachmann returning to training this week, the Dash have all the pieces in place to stay warm at home. Angel City, which sits 12th in the NWSL standings with 11 points, one less than the Dash, remains winless in its last three matches with two losses and a draw since falling to the visiting Dash on the 12th. may. a second home victory and their first regular season sweep. Both teams are looking to get back to winning ways as the Dash are coming off a 2-0 loss to Racing Louisville FC and Angel City fell to NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-1. The Dash, who sit three points out of a playoff spot, are tied for the most shutouts in the league with four. Leading the way defensively is goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who leads the league in saves by a wide margin.

Defender Paige Nielsen picked the perfect time to score her first goal for the Dash, as her late stunner in stoppage time helped seal a 1-0 victory against her former team, Angel City. Nielsen could still help offensively on a team that has scored the third-fewest goals in the league with 11 – one more than Angel City. But the veteran defender has played an important role overall as the Dash have collected three clean sheets since her arrival via trade on April 20. Nielsen also leads the league in total assists with 1,080, more than 100 more than Angel City’s Amandine Henry. Claire Emslie leads Angel City with five goals – one more than the Dash’s Diana Ordóñez. Angel City’s Alyssa Thompson had a team-leading four assists.