Five changes were made to Racing Louisville’s lineup ahead of tonight’s UKG NWSL Challenge Cup matchup at Chicago.
Jordan Baggett, Alex Chidiac, Rebecca Holloway, Uchenna Kanu and Elli Pikkujämsä all move into the starting 11 for the visiting Louisvillians, with coach Kim Björkegren rotating his team for its second of three games in seven days.
This is Racing’s second Challenge Cup match in the group stage, having started the competition with a 3-2 win over Kansas City on May 17. That win has Racing sharing first the Central Division group standings with the chance to claim sole possession of the top spot with a result tonight in Bridgeview.
The starts will be the first for Holloway and Pikkujämsä since the April 1 draw against the Washington Spirit, and they will share a defensive back line with Abby Erceg and Lauren Milliet, regular starters who played all 90 minutes on Saturday against North Carolina. It will be the first time this season Holloway has started at left back and Pikkujämsä has started at center back, their natural positions.
Katie Lund will start in goal. Racing’s No. 1 has started every game this year.
Jaelin Howell will wear the captain’s arm band and anchor the midfield, pairing with Baggett and Brazilian international Ary Borges. This is Baggett’s second start in the Challenge Cup. The Colorado native notched her first assist in a Racing uniform in the Challenge Cup opener against Kansas City, feeding Savannah DeMelo for a goal.
Up front, Kanu leads the line flanked by Chidiac and Paige Monaghan.
Jess McDonald, Nadia Nadim, Emina Ekic and Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet at Chicago Red Stars
1 – Katie Lund
25 – Rebecca Holloway
20 – Abby Erceg
4 – Elli Pikkujämsä
2 – Lauren Milliet
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
8 – Ary Borges
19 – Jordan Baggett
5 – Paige Monaghan
29 – Uchenna Kanu
27 – Alex Chidiac
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 7 – Savannah DeMelo, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 11 – Thembi Kgatlana, 16 – Carson Pickett, 21 – Parker Goins, 44 – Satara Murray, 77 – Wang Shuang
