July 16, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville FC in action
(Racing Louisville FC)
Racing Louisville FC pushed the NWSL-leading San Diego Wave for most of the second half late Friday night, but the teams shared a 0-0 draw at the Wave’s Torero Stadium.
The score doesn’t reflect the match’s entertainment value. Racing (2-5-5, 11 points) had a penalty saved and a goal controversially ruled out amid a litany of scoring chances, while San Diego (6-3-4) had its two best opportunities dramatically saved and then cleared off the goal line.
Still, Racing entered the week-long summer break disappointed it didn’t come away with a second win against San Diego this season.
“In the second half, I thought we were absolutely the better team,” said Racing coach Kim Björkegren. “We played with discipline. We created chances. … We had penalties. I feel for the girls because I think they deserve more than one point.”
The result ultimately hinged on a close call in San Diego’s box in the 58th minute, when Racing thought it had finally broken through. Midfielder Jaelin Howell was whistled for a foul on Wave goalkeeper Carly Telford after Howell appeared to nudge in Savannah DeMelo’s corner.
Racing persisted after that, with Howell, Gemma Bonner, Alex Chidiac and Jess McDonald all coming close. But it was DeMelo’s saved penalty in the 73rd minute that stood out as the second big chance of the second half. Telford made a diving parry to her right on DeMelo’s shot from the spot.
The two teams combined for 39 shots in total, though San Diego’s nine shots on target edged Racing’s six. Racing finished with the higher expected goals total, at 2.33 to San Diego’s 1.95.
The Wave’s best chances came seconds apart in the 50th minute, when goalkeeper Katie Lund batted away a dangerous cross and then stopped San Diego midfielder Emily Van Egmond’s shot. The rebound trickled to Wave forward Makenzy Doniak, whose follow-up shot Bonner blocked off the goal line.
Lund made several other standout stops in a Player of the Match performance.
“The willingness to fight for one another, to get the second balls, to make them take difficult shots – I can be proud of that,” Lund said. “This is the first-place team in the league, and with what we had out there, I’m really proud. I wish we could’ve gotten the win, but that was a team effort.”
It was the final Racing match to be played in the middle of a busy international schedule, which…