Photo Credit: Racing Louisville
Los Angeles, CA | April 26 | Kelly Landaverde – @kel_una
Aiming to bounce back from the club’s first loss against the Spirit. Racing Louisville, took the early lead at home in front of their 3,742 fans. Including Andy Beshear who’s been the governor of Kentucky since 2019. He applauded the club’s willingness to make this game the state’s first pop up COVID-19 vaccine site at a sporting event were more than 50 people received their doses. Those who didn’t have a ticket to the game got in for free, and those that did received a voucher for a future game.
With a great service from Simon, who kept the ball alive. Followed by a header from Cece Kizer right to the near post in the 24th minute bagging the home lead and opening goal from the night. But that happiness didn’t last for long because North Carolina equalized the game in the 33rd minute giving the home team an answer. Kristen Hamilton tied the game for the Courage with a header tucking it in. Pickett assisted her with a short corner. Both were tied when the 1st half ended.
In the second half, McDonald sent a short pass for Debinha to put the Courage up 1-2 in the 56th minute with a right footed shot Golazo. Racing then gave them a response, in a back to back game. Baucom who came in an as a sub in the 74th minute, took a little flick with her right foot, and equalized in the 75th minute, after receiving a great service from Kizer who had a great game. But North Carolina kept pushing, and so an own goal from Julia Ashley in the 84th minute was the game changer, that gave them three valuable points and a 2-3. Debihna’s shot forced Betos to make a diving save, and that rebound, Ashley went after the ball trying to get the ball out before it made it to the goal, but it was impossible, it went in, after all.
While Racing has been mathematically eliminated from making the final. There’s still one more game left for them to prepare for the regular season. The club will visit Gotham FC on Sunday. In post game press conference, head coach Christy Holly emphasized the team’s mentality being tremendous. He added “I am so proud of the girls for their work ethic, the bravery that they put forth in terms of putting themselves in positions to compete and being in every game. “What we need to do is we need to trust ourselves a little bit more. We are so much better than what we have shown in these first few games. I really believe that. We know we are on a learning curve. We know that we are taking things onboard. “It is up to us to make sure that we are sponges here. We talked about it after the game. We’ve got to absorb this, let the scars happen and push on.”