OL Reign Hold Houston Dash to Draw in Challenge Cup Opener
OL Reign secured a draw against the Houston Dash on Friday night in the club’s first match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup presented by Secret Deodorant. OL Reign was the last of the NWSL’s ten teams to play its first match in the competition. The match ended with the teams deadlocked at 0-0 despite OL Reign outshooting the Dash 11-8. The draw leaves OL Reign in third place in the five-team Western Division, behind the Dash (0-0-2, 2 points) and Portland Thorns FC (2-0-0, 6 points).
Friday’s match marked the first OL Reign game with fans in attendance at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington since September 29, 2019—a span of 566 days. 1,263 attended the match, with attendance in the stadium limited to just 25% of capacity due to Washington State COVID-19 protocols.
The warm, sunny evening was interrupted with a bit of pre-match adversity when Allie Long was pulled from the starting lineup after sustaining an injury during pre-match warmups. Long was replaced in the starting XI by Brazilian international Angelina, who made her NWSL debut after signing for the club on January 5.
OL Reign started the match energized, pressing the Houston defense. Reign forward Leah Pruitt picked up a foul in the first minute, setting the stage for an aggressive match. OL Reign earned back-to-back shots in the 14th and 16th minute, but Brazilian midfielder Angelina was unable to direct either shot on target.
In the 22nd minute, OL Reign midfielder Dani Weatherholt was booked for a strong challenge in the middle of the field. Just minutes later, Houston midfielder Shea Groom collided with OL Reign midfielder Shirley Cruz, picking up a yellow card of her own.
English international Karen Bardsley was called on to clear the danger for OL Reign in the 34th minute when she snagged a ball from Houston out of the air and started the Reign’s counterattack. Pruitt beat the Houston defense to get a shot on goal, but the Houston’s goalkeeper, Lindsey Harris, was able to make a comfortable save.
In the final few minutes of the first half, OL Reign pressed Houston into their own half with a cohesive build-up but were unable to find a shot at the end of sequence, ending the half 0-0.
OL Reign dominated possession in the second half, delivering several crosses in the first 15 minutes, but no one was able to get on the end of them.
On the other end of the field, Houston earned a free kick in a dangerous area, near the corner flag, but OL Reign’s defense did well to clear the initial ball. With Houston still on the attack, Bardsley punched a cross out of danger.
Hungry for a goal, OL Reign pressed forward. Sofia Huerta had the best opportunity of the evening after a perfectly placed ball from Celia, but Harris easily managed the save. Just two minutes later, Shirley Cruz put a solid cross into the box, but none of her teammates could get on the end of it.
Houston had two final chances to score in the closing moments of the match, but one shot found the side netting and Bardsley was able to get a hand to the second shot, preserving her clean sheet.
OL Reign will travel to Providence Park in Portland, Oregon to take on the Portland Thorns in their next match of the Challenge Cup group stage on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. PT in a match broadcast on the CBS Sports Network in the U.S. and internationally on Twitch. Following the game in Portland the Reign will return to Tacoma for a Tuesday, April 27 match against the Chicago Red Stars. Tickets for the Chicago game are available by calling (866)99-REIGN or by visiting Ticketmaster.