Kirsten Davis scored a late game-tying goal to help Racing Louisville draw Angel City, 1-1, in front of a club-record 10,214 fans at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday night.
In an intense game with nearly 2,000 more fans on hand than Racing’s previous-best crowd, Davis headed in a cross from Maddie Pokorny in the 79th minute, earning a valuable point for Louisville in the tight NWSL playoff race. Racing has now won six points this year after trailing in a match, the second-best total among NWSL teams.
“The fan base here is huge and getting this record-breaking attendance is everything,” said Pokorny, who came on as a substitute with Davis halfway through the second half. “It’s tough to be out there sometimes, but the adrenaline of the crowd takes you further than ever. The energy the crowd was giving us allowed us to score that goal and try to find another.”
Racing (4-4-8, 20 points) remained in seventh place with the result, now four points behind San Diego Wave and OL Reign in the chase for one of the six spots in the NWSL playoffs. Louisville also maintained its standout record at home, extending its record to 8-1-3 over the past 12 matches at Lynn Family Stadium, a mark that stretches back to last year.
“I’m really happy that our city supported us,” Racing coach Kim Björkegren said, “and I think it helps us, especially in the end of the game when the players needed some energy. The support from the fans really helped us to take a point today.”
Racing came close to breaking through in first-half stoppage time when Paige Monaghan cut in front of an Angel City defender and banged a one-time shot off the post from Lauren Milliet’s cross. Ten minutes into the second half, Louisville again pushed for the go-ahead goal, with Savannah DeMelo’s curling shot requiring a fingertip save from Angel City goalkeeper Didi Haračić.
Angel City (4-6-6, 18 points) nudged ahead in the 67th minute with substitute Katie Johnson’s goal in transition. She was assisted by Savannah McCaskill, who dribbled into the area and laid off a pass to Johnson, who lifted her shot into the top-right corner.
Racing’s substitutes boosted the team as much as the large crowd. Uchenna Kanu played well on the right flank after coming on in the 71st minute, and Pokorny and Davis provided a jolt of energy working down the left.
Captain Jaelin Howell unlocked Pokorny down the left touchline in the sequence that led to the goal, with Pokorny cutting back to deliver a right-footed cross to Davis, who nodded the ball off Haračić and in from eight yards out. It was Pokorny’s first NWSL assist in just her fifth game, a career milestone for the 26-year-old who this past week signed a contract with Racing through the end of the season. Davis now has three goals this season.
Louisville pushed for the game-winner, but a late effort from DeMelo cleared the crossbar.
Racing left Saturday’s match frustrated by what forward Nadia Nadim a lack of connection for the full 90 minutes, but she lauded the team’s effort in rallying back from 1-0 down.
“The positive from this game is that we got a goal back,” said Nadim, who started her first game this season since returning from a knee injury. “There were moments where we looked really good – we need to create more of those moments.”
Game Summary: Racing Louisville FC vs. Angel City FC
Date: August 19, 2023
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: 83 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 10,214
Scoring
Racing Louisville (0, 1, 1)
Angel City (0, 1, 1)
Goals
Racing Louisville FC:
79’ Kirsten Davis (Maddie Pokorny)
Angel City FC:
67’ Katie Johnson (Savannah McCaskill)
Lineups
Racing Louisville FC (4-3-3): 1 – Katie Lund; 2 – Lauren Milliet, 4 – Elli Pikkujämsä, 20 – Abby Erceg, 16 – Carson Pickett (46’ 25 – Rebecca Holloway); 6 – Jaelin Howell (c), 7 – Savannah DeMelo, 8 – Ary Borges; 5 – Paige Monaghan (71’ 29 – Uchenna Kanu), 10 – Nadia Nadim (71’ 22 – Kirsten Davis), 77 – Wang Shuang (66’ 17 – Maddie Pokorny)
Subs not used: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 9 – Kayla Fischer, 13 – Emina Ekic, 15 – Julia Lester, 21 – Parker Goins
Head Coach: Kim Björkegren
Angel City FC (4-3-3): 13 – Didi Haračić; 5 – Ali Riley (c), 11 – Sarah Gorden, 14 – Paige Nielsen, 16 – M.A. Vignola (78’ 44 – Elizabeth Eddy); 9 – Savannah McCaskill (73’ 2 – Sydney LeRoux), 17 – Dani Weatherholt, 99 – Madison Hammond; 21 – Alyssa Thompson (46’ 15 – Scarlett Camberos), 29 – Clarisse Le Bihan (62’ 33 – Katie Johnson), 3 – Jasmyne Spencer (62’ 10 – Claire Emslie)
Subs not used: 19 – Angelina Anderson; 6 – Megan Reid, 26 – Amandine Henry, 28 – Lily Nabet
Head Coach: Becki Tweed
Stats Summary: Racing Louisville / Angel City
Shots: 13 / 20
Shots on Goal: 3 / 6
Expected goals: 1.3 / 1.24
Possession: 50.9% / 49.1%
Fouls: 12 / 17
Offside: 2 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 7
Discipline Summary
Racing Louisville:
49’ Rebecca Holloway (yellow)
58’ Wang Shuang (yellow)
Angel City:
90’+2 Katie Johnson (yellow)
Referee: Danielle Chesky
VAR: Emma Richards
