May 30, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo vs. the Kansas City Current
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA Today Sports Images)
An early penalty converted by KC Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta was the difference Monday in Racing Louisville FC’s 1-0 loss at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
The road defeat snapped a four-game unbeaten streak that Racing (2-2-2) had carried from May 8. That it came after Racing dominated possession, 60%-40%, and threatened to equalize on a number of occasions made it a more frustrating loss.
“We had high possession, but I don’t think we created chances enough to be proud of our performance,” Racing coach Kim Björkegren said. “The most important thing is they won more tackles today. They really wanted to win this game. I’m really disappointed about that part.”
LaBonta’s goal in the third minute ended Racing’s 196-minute stretch without conceding a goal, snapping a two-match run of shutouts. Racing hadn’t lost since the April 30 NWSL regular-season opener at Chicago.
“We’re disappointed we conceded another early goal,” said captain Gemma Bonner, one of Racing’s center backs. “We played well in patches today, but we didn’t have enough through the 90 minutes in terms of controlling the ball and having possession like we know we can.”
Racing twice came close to tying the match within the next 30 minutes of LaBonta’s penalty. In the 18th minute, wide forward Lauren Milliet’s right-footed shot from the edge of the area took a deflection and just fizzed past the post, rippling the side netting. Fourteen minutes later, midfielder Savannah DeMelo nearly scored after her hustle steal inside Kansas City’s area allowed her to get a shot away from inside the 6-yard box, but KC goalkeeper AD Franch parried the attempt.
In all, Racing outshot KC, 7-4, and completed 156 more passes than the Current. Racing also had two “big chances” to KC’s zero, per…