August 9, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville battles SE Palmeiras
(Racing Louisville FC)
Racing Louisville played Brazilian club Palmeiras to a 0-0 draw at Lynn Family Stadium in Friday’s semifinals of The Women’s Cup, falling 4-2 in the ensuing penalty shootout and missing out on a TWC final for the first time in the club’s four appearances in the tournament.
Italian side Juventus topped Chilean team Colo-Colo, 4-1, in the tournament’s first semifinal.
Racing will play Colo-Colo in TWC’s third-place game at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Lynn Family Stadium. Palmeiras will play Juventus in the final at 8 p.m.
“Our group showcased that they could create fantastic opportunities,” Racing coach Bev Yanez said. “When you look at the chances that we’re created today, you would classify them as quality, so you’re talking about those shapes that we’re getting into, to support, the relationships that are being built, and how we’re progressing into the final third and what the actions look like in the final third. We’re doing our best to try and capitalize on (chances), but we have to capitalize on them.”
Friday’s affair was a frustrating one for Racing, which played in TWC finals in 2021, 2022 and earlier this year in Colombia. Louisville topped Bayern Munich in 2021 in the inaugural TWC at Lynn Family Stadium but fell to Seattle a year later and to NJ/NY Gotham in March.
Louisville had the three best chances of the semifinal but could not convert them. That two of Louisville’s penalties were saved in the shootout only compounded the frustration.
A cagey match, Racing twice broke loose in behind Palmeiras’s back line, with Kayla Fischer going one-on-one with Palmeiras goalkeeper Natascha on two occasions.
The first time, in the 36th minute, Natascha made a sprawling save on Fischer’s attempt to flip a right-footed shot past the keeper from about 10 yards out.
The second time, midway through the second half, Fischer ran onto a lofted ball over the top and tried an earlier shot from the edge of the area, fizzing it over the crossbar.
In the waning minutes of regulation, midfielder Linda Motlhalo sent an open header on the back post wide as she tried to redirect the ball back across the frame of the goal.
Diany Xavier converted the shootout-winning penalty for Palmeiras, which is taking a break from its season to compete in The Women’s Cup.
Game Summary: Racing Louisville vs. Palmeiras
Date: Aug. 9, 2024
Venue: Lynn Family…
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