Racing Louisville FC pushed the NWSL-leading San Diego Wave for most of the second half late Friday night, but the teams played to 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 forced Louisville to compete three times without star forward Nadia Nadim and standout fullback Emily Fox, along with defenders Rebecca Holloway and Satara Murray. All four are abroad representing their countries at international tournaments.
While Racing extended its winless stretch to seven games, it went into the league-mandated week off with a shutout and at least a point in a tough environment.
“For us, we’re definitely showing how good we can be,” Bonner said. “It’s for sure a huge progression tonight, and we go into the break at least a clean sheet.”
Game Summary: Racing Louisville FC vs. San Diego Wave
Date: July 15, 2022
Venue: Torero Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy
Player of the Match: Katie Lund
Attendance: 4,747
Scoring
Racing Louisville (0, 0, 0)
San Diego Wave (0, 0, 0)
Lineups
Racing Louisville FC (4-2-3-1): 1 – Katie Lund; 30 – Zaneta Wyne, 15 – Julia Lester, 4 – Gemma Bonner (c), 2 – Lauren Milliet; 6 – Jaelin Howell, 8 – Freja Olofsson; 7 – Savannah DeMelo, 27 – Alex Chidiac (89’ 13 – Emina Ekic), 14 – Jess McDonald; 22 – Kirsten Davis (83’ 21 – Parker Goins)
Subs not used: 18 – Hillary Beall, 24 – Jordyn Bloomer; 12 – Taylor Malham, 17 – Nealy Martin, 28 – Hannah Adler, 29 – Allison Whitfield, 33 – Isabella Beletic
Head Coach: Kim Björkegren
San Diego Wave (4-2-3-1): 21 – Carly Telford; 20 – Christen Westphal, 2 – Abby Dahlkemper, 18 – Kaleigh Riehl, 19 – Tegan McGrady; 14 – Kristen McNabb, 5 – Emily van Egmond; 6 – Kelsey Turnbow (57’ 7 – Amirah Ali), 33 – Katie Johnson, 27 – Marleen Schimmer (73’ 23 – Belle Briede); 15 – Makenzy Doniak
Subs not used: 31 – Melissa Lowder; 17 – Sydney Pulver, 24 – Sarah Sodoma, 25 – Kayla Bruster, 29 – Taylor Hansen, 35 – Jackie Altschuld, 37 – Sydney Cummings
Head Coach: Casey Stoney
Stats Summary: Racing Louisville / San Diego Wave
Shots: 20 / 19
Shots on Goal: 6 / 9
Possession: 53.3% / 46.7%
Fouls: 8 / 13
Offside: 2 / 0
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Discipline Summary
Racing Louisville:
40’ Zaneta Wyne (yellow)
47’ Jaelin Howell (yellow)
San Diego Wave:
80’ Kaleigh Riehl (yellow)
Referee: Karen Callado
