RECAP: FC Kansas City falls to Houston Dash

KANSAS CITY (May 7, 2024) — A two-minute stretch in the second half sealed FC Kansas City’s fate and left the defending champions still searching for their first victory of the season.

FC Kansas City put together a late rally, but fell 2-1 to the Houston Dash on Saturday night at Swope Soccer Village. The Blues are now 0-3-1 with back-to-back losses.

“Out of 90 minutes, I felt like we played 80 good minutes,” Blues coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “In the first half, we created so many opportunities that we didn’t put away. In the second half, there was a period where, I don’t know if we lost focus, but we made two mistakes and gave up two goals. Houston has the fire power up front to score goals on mistakes.”

Houston started the game with a shot in the first minute from Rachel Daly. It sailed over the crossbar, but set the tone for a frenzied first half that included 13 shots and six on goal between the two teams. FC Kansas City and Houston’s goalkeepers were in fine form, recording four and two saves respectively.

The Blues’ first shot came moments later when Mandy Laddish connected with Shea Groom in the ninth minute. However, that shot also went high.

The defensive highlight of the game came when Blues’ keeper Nicole Barnhart charged out of the box to block a shot. The Dash collected the rebound and fired back. Barnhart blocked the second shot with her face to keep the scored tied 0-0.

The Dash found a rhythm midway through the second with two rapid-fire goals from Denise O’Sullivan and Chioma Ubogagu. The first came in the 69th minute off an assist from Ubogagu and the second was off an assist from Daly in the 71st. It was the first time this season the Blues gave up more than one goal in a game.

FC Kansas City’s Yael Averbuch converted a penalty kick in the 87th minute to cut the lead to one goal, but the rally was too late. It was the Blues’ first penalty kick goal of the season after two misses.

FC Kansas City will host the Chicago Red Stars at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, which will be midfielder Jen Buczkowski’s final game. She has played every regular season game in National Women’s Soccer League play.

SCORING SUMMARY

                1           2             F

HOU      0           2              2

FCKC    0            1              1

STARTERS

HOU: Williams; Poliana, Brush (Roccaro 83’), Moros, Chapman, Andresssa, Brooks, Brian (O’Sullivan 46’), Ubogagu, Beckie (Ohai 67’), Daly.

FCKC: Barnhart; Sauerbrunn, Averbuch, Frisbie, Taylor, Scott, Buczkowski (Arlitt 81’), Tymrak (Newfield 77’), O’Reilly (Silva 83’), Laddish, Groom.