Ludmila, Ally Schlegel lift Red Stars past last-place Dash

The Chicago Red Stars scored twice in the first half and maintained their hold on a playoff spot with a 2-0 win against the host Houston Dash on Friday.

Ludmila and Ally Schlegel found the back of the net for Chicago (10-11-2, 32 points), which has won three of four after a three-match losing streak and remained sixth in the NWSL standings.

The loss eliminated the last-place Dash (4-14-5, 17 points) from playoff contention.

The Red Stars took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute off a free kick. Mallory Swanson's delivery from the left side deflected off a Houston player in the box before bouncing off Ludmila's head past goalkeeper Jane Campbell.

The Brazilian has scored in three straight matches.

Houston started to find opportunities as the half progressed but was snuffed by the Red Stars. After two big blocks by Chicago three minutes apart, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher got a piece of Barbara Olivieri's attempt in the 43rd minute to deflect it wide.

Schlegel converted a penalty to double the Red Stars' lead in the ninth minute of first-half stoppage time, tucking a shot into the bottom-left corner past a diving Campbell.

The Dash continued to press in the second half but couldn't capitalize. In the 54th minute, Olivieri delivered a left-foot kick from the top of the box that grazed past the left post. Sophie Schmidt came within inches in the 80th minute, with a shot from in close that squeaked past the post.

--Field Level Media