Ebony Salmon did everything except hit the back of the net Wednesday night, and Racing Louisville FC played to a scoreless draw with the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill.
Racing’s leading scorer last year with 6 goals in just more than half a season, Salmon opened her barrage with a point-blank, second-minute try on a Racing corner and hardly relented through a standout first start in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup group stage.
Of the performance, coach Kim Björkegren said, “The only thing she missed was a goal.”
“There’s a few times where I came close, and I think I’ll go back, watch the game and look back on those chances to see what I can do differently,” Salmon added, “…and turn those chances into goals.”
The 21-year-old England international finished by taking 4 shots — all from inside the box — and put 3 of them on target, including a 46th-minute counter that resulted in a one-on-one save by Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Salmon also did plenty of creating for others. Just before the half, her cross to Emina Ekic at the back post nearly resulted in a goal, and Kirsten Davis hit side netting on the second chance. Earlier, in the 20th minute Salmon fought free from a defender’s grasp along the right side before played a rolling cross through the box that just missed a pair of diving teammates.
The visitors did get one try across the line late, but Emina Ekic’s 88th-minute header on service from Savannah DeMelo was disallowed for offside. However, Racing managed to hold the host Red Stars without a goal of their own for its first shutout since June of 2021.
“Right on,” defender Julia Lester said of that clean sheet stat. The University of Florida product signed just last week after captaining Björkegren’s Apollon Ladies FC side in Cyprus and earned Player of the Match honors in her first Racing start. “I love center back. I love outside back. I really just love defending.
“…Wherever I’m needed, I’ll go there. It’s just as easy as that.”
Lester thwarted a 39th-minute opportunity for the Red Stars when going to ground for a sliding challenge in the box. The successful tackle came on a rainy evening in Chicago where the home side volleyed 13 shots but only 2 landed on target. Some 3 others put a scare into Racing by bounding off woodwork, namely Mallory Pugh’s 12th-minute try from distance that clanged off the far post.
A draw improved Racing to 0-1-2 halfway through the Challenge Cup’s group stage. Clubs are chasing a first-place spot in their geographic divisions, or to be the highest-finishing runner-up to make the semifinal round.
“I’m proud of them — that they keep working hard together,” Björkegren said. “One point here is not that bad, so much better fighting spirit. That was the most important today.”
Racing continues a run of three games in nine days on Saturday, kicking off at 3 p.m. at the KC Current. Following the Challenge Cup, the club’s regular season begins back in Chicago on April 30.
Game Summary: Chicago Red Stars vs. Racing Louisville FC
Date: March 30, 2022
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Weather: 60 degrees, light rain
Player of the Match: Julia Lester
Scoring
Chicago Red Stars (0, 0, 0)
Racing Louisville (0, 0, 0)
Lineups
Chicago Red Stars: 1 – Alyssa Naeher, 20 – Zoe Morse, 28 – Kayla Sharples, 23 – Tatum Milazzo, 26 – Milena McManus (46’ 3 – Arin Wright), 7 – Yuki Nagasato, 10 – Vanessa DiBernardo (46’ 24 – Dani Colaprico), 4 – Alyssa Mautz (46’ 22 – Bianca St. Georges), 15 – Sarah Griffith (77’ 8 – Ella Stevens), 9 – Mallory Pugh (70’ 13 – Morgan Gautrat), 25 – Ava Cook
Subs not used: 21 – Emily Boyd, 18 – Samantha Fisher, 19 – Channing Foster, 31 – Amanda Kowalski
Head Coach: Chris Petrucelli
Racing Louisville FC: 1 – Katie Lund, 11 – Emily Fox, 4 – Gemma Bonner, 15 – Julia Lester, 26 – Addisyn Merrick, 19 – Taylor Otto (76’ 8 – Freja Olofsson), 6 – Jaelin Howell (76’ 7 – Savannah DeMelo), 2 – Lauren Milliet, 13 – Emina Ekic (90’ 12 – Taylor Malham), 22 – Kirsten Davis (65’ 23 – Sh’Nia Gordon), 9 – Ebony Salmon
Subs not used: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer, 17 – Nealy Martin, 3 – Erin Simon, 5 – Cece Kizer, 14 – Jess McDonald
Head Coach: Kim Björkegren
Stats Summary: Chicago Red Stars / Racing Louisville FC
Shots: 13 / 10
Shots on Goal: 2 / 5
Possession: 51.7% / 48.3%
Fouls: 9 / 7
Offside: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Discipline Summary
Chicago Red Stars: 21’ Yuki Nagasato (yellow)
Referee: Calin Radosav
