Forward Uchenna Kanu and midfielder Kayla Fischer return to the Racing Louisville starting lineup for tonight’s road match at Orlando Pride, which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET at Exploria Stadium and will be streamed on Paramount+.
This represents Kanu’s third start of the season after the Nigerian international missed two games in April because of injury and got back on the field as a substitute in last weekend’s 2-2 draw vs. OL Reign. It’s Fischer’s second start – the rookie out of Ohio State started at Angel City on April 15 and has appeared two other times as a sub.
Fischer and Kanu are the only changes to Racing Louisville’s lineup from last Saturday, with Fischer replacing the suspended Savannah DeMelo (two yellow cards into a red vs. OL Reign) and Kanu presuming her regular spot at center forward in Kirsten Davis’s place.
The other big lineup news is the return of Thembi Kgatlana, the exciting South African forward who tore her Achilles tendon at last summer’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations just days after signing with Racing Louisville. She is set to potentially make her club debut and her first appearance since then, being named as one of nine substitutes for Racing.
Racing (0-1-4, 4 points) is hoping the toughest strength of schedule to start the season, according to Field of Vision analytics, has prepared the Louisvillians to start producing points in May. Since joining the National Women’s Soccer League in 2021, Racing has eight points against Orlando (2-1-2 overall). That’s the highest point total against any NWSL opponent for Racing.
The setup should look familiar to Racing fans, with Abby Erceg and Julia Lester lining up with Lauren Milliet and Carson Pickett in defense. Fischer will join captain Jaelin Howell and Brazilian standout Ary Borges in the midfield, while Kanu will play alongside Paige Monaghan and Wang Shuang.
Katie Lund will make her 32nd consecutive start as Racing’s No. 1 goalkeeper, a stretch that extends to the 2021 season. The club’s all-time appearances leader, Milliet will make her 37th straight start for Racing.
DeMelo, Jess McDonald, Elli Pikkujämsä, Nadia Nadim, Emina Ekic and Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet at Orlando
1 – Katie Lund
16 – Carson Pickett
20 – Abby Erceg
15 – Julia Lester
2 – Lauren Milliet
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
8 – Ary Borges
9 – Kayla Fischer
77 – Wang Shuang
5 – Paige Monaghan
29 – Uchenna Kanu
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 11 – Thembi Kgatlana, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 22 – Kirsten Davis, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 27 – Alex Chidiac, , 44 – Satara Murray
