Rounding out the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup group stage, Racing Louisville FC travels to the Lone Star State to take on the Houston Dash at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.
Racing is coming off a draw against the Chicago Red Stars in which Emina Ekic scored a highlight-reel equalizer in the 76th minute to earn the club its sixth point from five matches in the competition.
Houston returns to action after a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current, conceding the matchwinner in the 80th minute. This marked the third-straight and fourth overall loss for Houston in this year’s Challenge Cup.
The last time Racing and Houston met, Racing led 2-0 at halftime, the first time the club had ever led by two goals after 45 minutes. But by the 65th minute, Houston had taken the lead, scoring three goals in nine minutes to hand Racing its first and only loss on the year.
Since that match, Racing tightened up defensively, only allowing one goal and just 10 shots on frame out of 39 attempts over the last 270 minutes of play. Racing also found success offensively, scoring four goals in three games, each coming from a different player.
Entering Sunday’s game, both Louisville and Houston are eliminated from contention to make the Challenge Cup semifinals. Even with a win, it is unlikely the Dash (-7) will catch Racing (+2) for the third-place spot based on current goal differential.
Sunday’s match will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network as well as Twitch for fans living outside the United States. This is the first of two Racing matches currently scheduled to be on CBSSN this year.
Follow along…
• For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.
• The game will broadcast live on CBS Sports Network in the United States and on Twitch internationally.
Player availability report
• Jess McDonald (out, excused absence)
• Nadia Nadim (out, right leg)
• Freja Olofsson (out, yellow card accumulation)
Story lines…
Lineup rotation: In its first five Challenge Cup matches, Racing has had 16 different players start for the team, running out a different lineup in each game. Only defenders Gemma Bonner and Emily Fox have started all five matches, with defender Addisyn Merrick, midfielders Lauren Milliet and Freja Olofsson and forwards Kirsten Davis and Emina Ekic appearing in each game either as a starter or substitute.
Making the goal difference: Racing has had a plus-2 goal differential for two straight games. This is a first: Racing finished 2021 with a positive goal differential after a game once, its 2-0 May win over eventual NWSL champion Washington.
Hometown Heroics: Ten minutes after subbing into this past Saturday’s game, forward Emina Ekic changed it. She ripped a free kick into the top left corner of the frame, beating U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. The goal marks her first since Racing’s franchise-first win last May against the Washington Spirit, when Ekic cut in from the right wing and delivered a similarly well-struck left-footed shot into the top left corner.
Keeper Katie: Goalkeeper Katie Lund continues to impact Racing’s defense through the first five games of the year. She is one of three keepers to have multiple clean sheets in this year’s Challenge Cup, with Alyssa Naeher (Chicago) and Katelyn Rowland (North Carolina) also tallying two shutouts. Additionally, Lund currently holds an 80% save percentage, which is tied for the best in the league along with OL Reign’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce for keepers who have played at least three games.
Free Freja: After receiving her second yellow card of the tournament, midfielder Freja Olofsson will miss Sunday’s match against the Dash. So far this year, the Sweden youth national team regular has appeared in all five matches, making four starts. Olofsson has logged 364 total minutes of action, the fourth-most of any field player for Racing, after starting 20 matches last season.
Shooters shoot: Saturday marked the first time this year that Racing outshot its opponent. It was also the first time Racing outshot the Chicago Red Stars over four meetings between the teams.
