Wave Can't Capitalize in Houston, Draw 2-2 in Dominant Performance

HOUSTON (Shell Energy Stadium) - San Diego Wave came to Houston on Wednesday having exorcised nearly every demon from their home-opener loss against the Dash (3-5-2), and for about 70 minutes, looked every bit like the first-place team they were. But a pair of late Houston goals turned a game the Wave (7-3-1) controlled from whistle to whistle into a 2-2 draw, a result that left San Diego with all the chances, not enough of the net.

It was a painful echo of the season opener. Since that night, San Diego has won seven of nine to move to (now) second in the NWSL standings. On Tuesday, history didn't repeat, but it came uncomfortably close.

"I think overall when you look at the performance, we created a lot of opportunities in the game and obviously feel disappointed that we [didn’t] score the second goal earlier which I think would have made a different game,” head coach Jonas Eidevall said. “All in all, we come away from the game disappointed, not getting more from the chances that we had, but still with confidence about being able to create as much as we do in the game."

The Wave wasted little time announcing their intentions. In the 11th minute, Lia Godfrey found Ludmilla in space for an open look that sailed high. No matter, San Diego's grip on the game was firm, and the goal came soon enough.

At the 20-minute mark, Godfrey delivered a well-placed service and Dudinha chipped Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell cleanly, floating the ball over her and into the back right corner. It was a composed, crafted finish, and it felt like the beginning of something comfortable.

What followed in the first half was a clinic. The Wave controlled 57% possession, piled up nine shots (four on target) to Houston's one, and earned four corners. The Dash were barely in it.

A yellow card for Perle Morroni in the 33rd minute broke the rhythm briefly. Houston won a header near goal off the resulting set piece, only for San Diego to clear. In the 39th minute, Godfrey stole a Campbell back-pass and got a shot off that the goalkeeper deflected; Barcenas then struck the loose ball first-time and it seemed destined for the net before Houston's Malia Berkely recovered behind her own goalkeeper to deflect it away.

San Diego went into halftime with a 1-0 lead and total command.

The second half followed a familiar script with Wave possession, Wave pressure, Wave chances, but finishing deserted them at the critical moments.

In the 64th minute, the Wave fashioned two clear looks in quick succession, both stopped by Campbell. Then, in the 70th minute, Houston's Kate Faasse struck a shot from 25 yards out, the Dash's first shot on target all game, and it nestled into the net to make it 1-1.

The equalizer opened the game up. San Diego kept pressing, and Houston kept hanging on.

Then came the moment that briefly threatened to unravel everything. Minutes later, Trinity Byars tripped and fell over Campbell, who left the field with her head bandaged under concussion protocol. The play was initially flagged for a red card, but a VAR review reduced it to yellow, preserving the 11-v-11 format. Head coach Jonas Eidevall acknowledged the bigger picture.

"I really want to send my condolences to their goalkeeper," Eidevall said. "I really hope that she's okay from that collision because anytime two players collide and one player gets forced towards the head, of course it's... it's something you just wish the absolute best outcome as possible for the player."

With a fresh goalkeeper in net and regulation time winding down, the Wave appeared to have the win wrapped up, until they didn’t. In the 89th minute, Houston's Kat Rader tapped in a first-touch finish to go up 2-1, setting off a frantic final stretch.

With five minutes of 13 gone in stoppage time, the Wave found a lifeline. Merroni whipped in a cross, Corley got a shot off that the goalkeeper couldn't hold, and Byars, right in the pocket, poked home the rebound. A goal in her second straight game and the game was tied at 2-2.

The drama wasn't over. Eight minutes into stoppage time, San Diego conceded a foul near the box when Laurina Fazer collected a yellow card. The Dash couldn't convert on the penalty, and the draw held.

In the 13th minute of stoppage, a Corley-to-Byars combination almost won it outright, but the shot by Byars sailed over the bar.

"I think that on the attacking end we weren't, I think, as composed and as clean as we usually are within our style of play,” midfielder Lia Godfrey said. “There are chances that we could have finished, and I think that's something that we're always looking to improve on."

The final numbers told a stark story: 19 shots to Houston's three, seven on target to two, nine corners to two, 59% possession. The Wave outplayed the Dash by nearly every measurable margin. The scoreline reflected none of it.

"I'm ultimately really proud of the group and how we fought,” defender Kennedy Wesley said. “Going down a goal isn't easy, but to come back and get a point on the road is really big for us. So we're happy with a lot of things, but we know that this game showed us there are a lot of things we need to improve on before going into the game against Orlando."

Up Next, Wave play home against Orlando on May 24 @ 4 p.m. PT for Star Wars night. Get at Grogu Bobblehead with a special ticket.
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