Playoff hopes Dash-ed? Last-place Houston defeats Wave 2-0 at Snapdragon Stadium – San Diego Union-Tribune

The San Diego Wave's season of missed opportunities reached a new low on Sunday night as the club fell 2-0 to the last-place Houston Dash at Snapdragon Stadium.

The Wave not only lost a game, but also any reasonable hope of reaching the NWSL playoffs. With two regular season games remaining, San Diego sits six points behind Bay FC for the eighth and final playoff spot. Teams receive three points for a win and one for a draw; To clinch the final spot, San Diego Racing would have to overtake Louisville, expansion Utah Royals FC and Angel City FC.

Houston's Bárbara Olivieri scored a penalty in the 30th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. The Dash were awarded the free kick after a video review showed Wave star Naomi Girma had fouled Houston's Yuki Nagasato in the penalty area.

The Dash's lead grew to 2-0 in the 72nd minute after Ramona Bachmann picked up an Olivieri pass and scored.

The win was Houston's first against the Wave in six chances. The Dash had only scored one goal against San Diego before Sunday.

Before Sunday, the bottom-placed Dash had scored 15 goals in 23 games. Sunday's win was the club's first away win since May 12 in Los Angeles.

San Diego beat Houston 15-5. The Dash had four shots on goal; The wave had three.

Remarkable

Wave midfielder Savannah McCaskill (Leg) made her first start since August 1st.

• Wave forward Kyra Carusa (hamstring injury) played for the first time since June 22nd.

• San Diego played without Kennedy Wesley (lower leg injury) and midfielders Kimmi Ascancio and Melanie Barcenas (international competition).

Originally published: October 13, 2024 at 8:05 p.m