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5/13/2024 photo courtesy ACFC
The match at BMO Stadium got off to a chippy start with Houston compiling six fouls and two yellow cards within the first 20 minutes of play. In the 13th minute, ACFC earned the first opportunity to score when Claire Emslie played a free kick into the box for a diving header from Sydney Leroux that just missed outside of the right corner of the goal.
The Dash created a chance in the 25th minute when midfielder Avery Patterson sent a cross to the left side of the box to forward Ramona Bachmann who almost nailed a shot from point blank range that went vertical over the top of the goal. Forward Alyssa Thompson created another opportunity for ACFC in the 32nd minute after dribbling past defenders in the box for a shot that was blocked, resulting in a corner kick. The first half would end tied 0-0, with ACFC possessing the ball for 58.8% of the first 45 minutes, earning a 82.8% passing accuracy rate, and outshooting Houston seven shots to their two.
In the beginning of the second half, Houston was able to produce two shots inside the box that were defended well by ACFC’s backline. The first one came in the 50th minute as Puntigam got an opportunity but shot it wide of the right side of the goal, while forward Diana Ordóñez got the second chance in the 56th minute that was blocked by several ACFC defenders.
ACFC Head Coach Becki On the overall performance:
“Honestly, the moments at the end matter, but I think the 96 minutes leading up to that are the more relevant part…ultimately, the 96 minutes that we had, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. That last minute, it hurts, and sometimes football is cruel, but that 96 minutes before it, are a space that we have to get better in.”