Coming off back-to-back draws, Racing Louisville FC aims to get back in the win column when it hosts NY/NJ Gotham FC at 8 p.m. Friday at Lynn Family Stadium.
Racing (2-4-4, 10 points) is currently in eighth place, two spots out of the playoff cut line, hoping to replicate its 1-0 win over Gotham back in May. Like Louisville, Gotham will play Friday’s match without several key players who are with their respective national teams for continental tournaments. Gotham (3-5-0, nine points) is in 10th place but has played two fewer matches than sixth-place Angel City FC.
Lauren Milliet’s 13th-minute goal stood as the difference in the first meeting between Racing and Gotham. That match was Racing’s last win before the current five-game winless stretch, though Louisville has tied the last two games, including a 2-2 draw against the Orlando Pride at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday. Emina Ekic and Savannah DeMelo scored for Racing in the tie.
Back-to-back two-goal performances have helped Racing comfortably surpass its scoring output from this point last season, when Louisville just had seven goals in 10 league games.
Racing will be without five players, including star forward Nadia Nadim and fullback Emily Fox who are currently with the Danish and American national teams, respectively. Defenders Rebecca Holloway (Northern Ireland) and Satara Murray (Jamaica) as well as new signing Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) are also on international duty.
Gotham will be without four key players: standout forwards Ifeoma Onumonu (Nigeria) and Midge Purce (USA); midfielder Kristie Mewis (USA); and defender Estelle Johnson (Cameroon). Mewis, Onumonu and Purce have all played a role as the scorer or assister in each of Gotham’s 10 goals across all competitions.
Gotham comes to Louisville in need of a result, too, after three straight losses in which it was shut out. The NY/NJ squad only has five goals in nine league games.
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 stream live on Paramount+ in the United States and on Twitch internationally.
Player availability report
- Emily Fox (out, international duty)
- Rebecca Holloway (out, international duty)
- Satara Murray (out, international duty)
- Nadia Nadim (out, international duty)
Story lines...
DeMelo delivers: Star midfielder Savannah DeMelo scored another splendid free-kick goal this past weekend against Orlando, curling in a 19-yard set piece from the goalkeeper’s right side. The Rookie of the Year candidate is the only NWSL player to score from a direct free kick during the regular season – and she has done it twice.
Ekic scores her first of the season: Louisville native Emina Ekic scored her first NWSL regular season goal off a deflected cross in Daytona, corralling Nealy Martin’s whipped-in pass and slotting it home. It was Ekic’s second goal across all competitions this season after the University of Louisville grad rocketed in a free kick from 25 yards out in the preseason NWSL Challenge Cup.
Malham debuts: Rookie Taylor Malham made her first appearance in a league game, coming as a substitute in the 74th minute of Sunday’s draw against Orlando. The two-time All-SEC selection at Arkansas signed with Racing after a successful preseason trial, joining childhood friend and former travel team and school teammate Parker Goins in Louisville. Goins also appeared in Sunday’s game, her second showing this regular season.
Goals-a-plenty: Racing has scored multiple goals in each of its past three games, totaling 12 goals through its first 10 league games – five more than it had through the same amount of league games last season.
Last Meeting: Friday will mark the second time Racing and Gotham face off this season. The two squads faced off on May 22, with Racing edging a 1-0 win in New Jersey thanks to Lauren Millet’s early goal. Racing is an unbeaten 1-0-3 all-time versus Gotham across NWSL competitions.
On international duty: Racing will be without several key players for much of July. Forward Nadia Nadim (Denmark) and defender Rebecca Holloway (Northern Ireland) will represent their countries in the European Championship, and defenders Emily Fox (USA) and Satara Murray (Jamaica will play in the Concacaf W Championship. Midfielders Jaelin Howell and Freja Olofsson were also on international duty but have returned and will be available for selection.
Racing signs Kgatlana: Racing Louisville on Wednesday announced the signing of Thembi Kgatlana, a South African national team star and recent African Women’s Footballer of the Year. The club acquired the 26-year-old forward from Spanish power Atlético Madrid. Kgatlana has 22 goals in 63 appearances for South Africa, including her country’s first-ever World Cup goal, which she scored against Spain in 2019. She will join Racing after this month’s Africa Women Cup of Nations.
National Team Replacements: Racing Louisville FC completed the signing of national team replacement players Hannah Adler and Isabella Beletic, the club announced Thursday. Both will be available for selection in Racing’s match against NY/NJ Gotham FC. Beletic joins from Racing’s W League team where she made 11 appearances scoring once and adding one assist. Adler joins from Danish club Aalborg where she made four appearances
