Remember the Houston game? KC NWSL does, and revenge could be ripe in Sunday’s rematch

The last time Kansas City NWSL played the Houston Dash, approximately 6,500 fans packed into Children’s Mercy Park for the first home game in franchise history.

Home-crowd advantage, right? It should’ve been, but KC coach Huw Williams said his squad struggled in that game more than any other so far.

The host team wasn’t handed any favors that day. Rookie phenom Victoria Pickett exited with an illness and the Dash’s second goal followed a soft penalty call as Kansas City lost 3-1.

So it makes sense that KC is eager for Sunday’s 6 p.m. rematch at BBVA Stadium in Houston.

“It’s good to play somebody that you’re familiar with. We thought we did a pretty good job in preparing for them,” Williams said Friday. “We do feel that we have a grasp on what they want to do, and hopefully we’ll be able to handle it a lot better this time.”

Much of the battle to neutralize Houston will be waged in the space between KC’s defense and midfield. More precisely, where KC’s defensive midfielder operates.

“They do a good job of dropping into the pockets in between the attacking midfield players and our defensive midfield players,” Williams said. “Our sixes will be responsible to match up with their movements.”

Desiree Scott or Gaby Vincent will shoulder the responsibility of controlling the space in front of the KC defense. Scott has typically been regarded as the starting six by Williams, but with Kansas City set to play three games in eight days this week, rotation will be necessary.

The Dash prefer to play with the ball on the ground more often than not.

Vincent is one of Kansas City’s best headers and does an excellent job commanding the air in open play and set pieces. But Scott is more comfortable playing with the ball on the ground, winning tough ground duels and playing short, precise passes with midfielders ahead of her and wingbacks out wide.

Then there’s the fact that Houston possesses a ton of talent both in the midfield and up top. Midfielders Shea Groom and Kristie Mewis will look to occupy the spaces between defense and the midfield, while forward Rachel Daly also drops into those spaces looking for quick paces.

“They have so many really good attacking players who are really, really great in certain positions,” Vincent said. “I think just being in good positions when we’re on the offense and attacking and just being aware that on that counter, they’re ready to go and they don’t need many opportunities to get a goal.”

Williams will be paying special attention to Mewis, who scored two goals against KC the first time the two teams met. Forcing Mewis to shoot on her right foot is key — the U.S. Women’s National Team mainstay is very much a left-footed player.

And it was a tight shot from Mewis’ left foot that opened the scoring for Houston in late April.

“We do have a player matchup in mind for her (Mewis),” Williams said. “And our goal has to be to force her to defend more than letting her run free in the midfield so she can dictate the attack from there.”

This story was originally published May 21, 2021 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Remember the Houston game? KC NWSL does, and revenge could be ripe in Sunday’s rematch."