ORLANDO, Fla. – When the Orlando Pride and the Houston Dash last met on June 27, it seemed like Orlando was on its way to winning its then-second series of the 2018 season. The Dash had other ideas, stunning the Pride in a surreal, 2-1 decision, as forward Kealia Ohai helped Houston score two goals in four minutes.

Now, bragging rights and, more importantly, points are up for grabs in the two teams’ series finale on Wednesday.

Overall, the Pride have gotten the better of Houston, owning a 5-3-0 all-time record over the Dash. In the inaugural, 2016 season, Orlando won three of the four meetings by a combined score of 7-5. Last season, both teams split their two meetings just as they have done so in 2018, so far.

Here’s what to expect from the Dash when they host the Pride for the two teams’ final meeting of this regular season Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NWSLsoccer.com.

Pride Started Hot, Crumbled in Recent Loss to Houston

Orlando was on the front foot for most of their second match with Houston. The numbers showed that, as the Pride tallied a team record 15 shots in the first half. That eventually resulted in a 21st-minute goal by forward Alex Morgan, her first home goal of 2018.

In the second half, Orlando tallied just six shots, as the Dash produced dangerous threats that ultimately culminated in goals in the 79th and 83rd minutes.

Ohai was the driving force behind both goals, scoring the first with a cross-turned-shot from outside the left part of the box. Minutes later, she found space down the left flank, penetrated the box and sent in a cross that hit off a defender’s hand for a penalty that midfielder Sofia Huerta buried.

For third-year Pride boss Tom Sermanni, the approach to Houston doesn’t really need to change; after all, it was a match that Sermanni believes should have been put away early on.

“Well i don’t think [the approach is] gonna be that different, to be honest,” Sermanni said after training on July 9. “I think our approach has gotta be the same. The tactics will basically be the same ’cause we feel that’s the best way to break them down. I mean, that game, for me, was just an anomaly that could’ve been finished after 25, 30 minutes.”

As for first-year Pride left back Carson Pickett, avoiding back-to-back losses to Houston is simply a matter of not taking any team in the National Women’s Soccer League lightly.

“Yeah, I just think, you know, not taking anyone lightly in this league is the biggest thing just because the second you take someone lightly, you can go down, you know, like we did last time,” Pickett said after training on July 9. “I think it’s just a bounce-back game — not from the [2-1 win over the Washington Spirit] but the last Houston game that was home.

“That was obviously a downer. So just go in there more focused and ready.”

Dash Figuring Themselves into Tight Playoff Race

The series finale between Orlando and Houston could have significant implications on this season’s playoff race. With eight and nine games remaining for the Pride and the Dash, respectively, both teams will be looking for three points Wednesday, as Orlando looks to further solidify its spot in the top four, and Houston tries to involve itself.

Orlando is currently tied in points with the Chicago Red Stars (25) but sits in third place with a one-win advantage over the Illinois side. A win would propel Orlando over 26-point Seattle Reign FC, which has played one less game than Orlando, so far, this season and create separation between fifth-place Portland Thorns FC (23 points) and sixth-place Utah Royals FC (21 points).

Houston, on the other hand, is simply trying to make its presence known in the final third of the season. Sitting in seventh place with 17 points, the Dash trail Utah by four. A mid-week win over Orlando would stall the the third-place team and place Houston five points behind the Pride.

The Dash are coming off a 3-1 loss to Seattle from July 7.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously, you look at the standings all the time. It’s inevitable,” Pickett said. “But I think that, you know, we just have to play how we know to play and stop playing down or [up] to other teams, and I think that the standings are extremely important, right now.

“So…you can’ drop any points at this time in the season.”

Houston with Some Mystery

The Dash have produced intriguing results over their last four games: 3-1 losses to Portland on June 22 and Seattle, a 2-1 win over Orlando and a 1-1 draw with the definitive No. 1 team in the NWSL, the North Carolina Courage, on June 3.

Houston managed results against the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the league but fell dramatically to the No. 2 and No. 5 teams in the NWSL.

“There is [some mystery to Houston], but I think that sums up this league,” Sermanni said.” You know, I think you can’t pick results in this league, from time to time. Just when you think it’s gonna get settled, you know, something happens… You never know quite what to expect in the league.

“And Houston are a team that’s, you know, had a fair amount of change at the start of the year, particularly in the coaching side, and they play a specific style of soccer. And, at times, that works for them, and, at times, it doesn’t.”

For more on the Pride, as they look to win their third season series of 2018, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_Victor Tan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com, or you can tweet at him.