Racing Shows Character with 3-1 Comeback Win at Angel City
September 25, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
Louisville FC vs. Angel City FC
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images)
Kirsten Davis, Alex Chidiac and Emina Ekic each scored to give Racing Louisville FC a much-needed 3-1 win at Angel City FC on Sunday night at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
It was Racing’s second win in three matches and its first road victory since May 22, and the three points lifted Louisville into 10th place in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“For the group to all come together in an away game with a full stadium and an amazing crowd against a good team, it was huge,” said Racing midfielder Jaelin Howell, “and it says a lot about the character of this team.”
Racing (4-9-8, 20 points) started strong, getting forward in waves and saving an early Angel City chance with a Julia Lester goal-line clearance. Just 14 minutes in, Angel City scored a deflected goal via Savannah McCaskill against the run of play.
The three-goal response after that produced Racing’s first comeback win of the season.
“In the locker room before we walked out there, it was, ‘Guys, we have nothing to lose,'” Ekic said. “‘Let’s play for each other, play free and not have any fear and have fun.’ That showed tonight.”
Davis’s goal in the 38th minute came from the rookie Howell’s patience. Howell corralled a loose ball some 40 yards from goal and took on two defenders, occupying their attention just enough to create a channel to her left for the onrushing Davis, who ran onto the ball at the edge of the area and smashed in her second goal of the season to the near post.
Five minutes later, Lauren Milliet took a touch with her right foot and put her body between the ball and Angel City defender Paige Nielsen, who fouled Milliet in the box for a penalty.
Chidiac tucked in her left-footed penalty shot to the left side of the net for her second goal of the year.
“She had the ball in her hands and she wanted to (take the penalty),” Howell said of the Australian Chidiac. “When you have someone who’s confident and has the ball in their hands, that’s a good sign. In that environment, with the noise and away from home, that’s tough. She buried it.”
In need of a result to move into playoff position, Angel City (8-8-5, 29 points) pushed hard down a goal out of halftime, with a trio of Claire Emslie chances coming closest to a breakthrough. Her 82nd-minute bending free kick from goalkeeper Katie Lund’s left just missed the far post.
But Racing hung in, defended well in front of Lund and put the game away in the 90th minute, with Ekic ripping a right-footed half-volley past Angel City goalie DiDi Haracic for her second goal of the regular season.
For her part, Lund finished with six saves, moving her within one stop of the league’s single-season saves record with one match to play.
“I’m really proud of the girls that they kept going,” said Racing coach Kim Björkegren. “They felt they had a good day and played good football. We scored two goals before halftime. In the second half, the start was OK, then (Angel City) made a lot of changes and went all in to score the equalizer. They had some pressure, but we did a good job, had good positions and Emina scored a really good goal.”
Game Summary: Racing Louisville FC at Angel City FC
Date: Sept. 25, 2022
Venue: Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 8:07 p.m. ET
Weather: 82 degrees, sunny
Scoring
Racing Louisville (2, 1, 3)
Angel City (1, 0, 1)
Goals
Racing Louisville:
38′ Kirsten Davis (Jaelin Howell)
43′ Alex Chidiac (penalty)
90′ Emina Ekic (Emily Fox)
Angel City:
14′ Savannah McCaskill (Jun Endo)
Lineups
Racing Louisville FC (4-2-3-1): 1 – Katie Lund; 11 – Emily Fox, 44 – Satara Murray, 4 – Gemma Bonner (c), 15 – Julia Lester; 2 – Lauren Milliet 6 – Jaelin Howell; 27 – Alex Chidiac (61′ 13 – Emina Ekic), 7 – Savannah DeMelo, 14 – Jess McDonald; 22 – Kirsten Davis (71′ 21 – Parker Goins)
Subs not used: 18 – Hillary Beall, 24 – Jordyn Bloomer, 31 – Kelsey Daugherty; 12 – Taylor Malham, 17 – Nealy Martin; 25 – Rebecca Holloway
Head Coach: Kim Björkegren
Angel City (4-3-3): 13 – DiDi Haracic; 3 – Jasmyne Spencer (60′ 7 – Simone Charley), 6 – Megan Reid, 14 – Paige Nielsen, 5 – Ali Riley (c); 17 – Dani Weatherholt (75′ 25 – Alison Swaby), 8 – Cari Roccaro (75′ 20 – Tyler Lussi), 9 – Savannah McCaskill; 18 – Jun Endo, 10 – Claire Emslie, 29 – Clarisse Le Bihan
Subs not used: 39 – Almuth Schult; 99 – Madison Hammond, 28 – Lily Nabet, 26 – Hope Breslin, 35 – Miri Taylor, 16 – M.A. Vignola
Head Coach: Freya Coombe
Stats Summary: Racing Louisville / Angel City
Shots: 10 / 19
Shots on Goal: 6 / 7
Possession: 45.5% / 54.5%
Fouls: 15 / 8
Offside: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 4 / 6
Discipline Summary
Racing Louisville:
41′ Julia Lester (yellow)
75′ Jess McDonald (yellow)
82′ Satara Murray (yellow)
Angel City:
51′ Dani Weatherholt (yellow)
Referee: Adorae Monroy
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