This feels like deja vue… Racing Lou gets another draw and they match the score from the last time these two teams met back in late April. 

Racing Louisville FC and OL Reign played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Lumen Field in Seattle, extending their run of regular-season draws to five matches. It was a frustrating result for Racing Louisville, as they once again conceded a late equalizer against OL Reign after leading 2-0.

The match started positively for Racing Louisville, with Wang Shuang converting a penalty in the 24th minute after OL Reign’s Jess Fishlock handled the ball in the box. The goal marked Wang Shuang’s second penalty conversion of the season. In the second half, Paige Monaghan extended Racing’s lead in the 76th minute with a powerful shot from 16 yards out that beat OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. It was Monaghan’s second goal of the season, both scored against OL Reign.

However, OL Reign staged a comeback in the final minutes of the match. Veronica Latsko pulled one back for the home team with a header in the 82nd minute, assisted by Elyse Bennett. Bennett then scored the equalizer in the 87th minute, heading in a deflected shot to secure a point for OL Reign.

Racing Louisville’s players expressed their disappointment with the result but also recognized the positive aspects of their performance. Paige Monaghan acknowledged that Racing did well in the first half, but OL Reign punished them for a couple of chances they conceded. The team remains focused on pushing forward and learning from these experiences.

Racing Louisville currently leads the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in draws, with seven in the season so far. Three of those draws have come after taking a two-goal lead. The team has shown resilience in scoring first but needs to find ways to hold on to their lead and secure victories.

Despite the frustration, midfielder Jordan Baggett, who made her first regular-season start for Racing, highlighted the effort and the learning opportunity that the draw presents for the team. They will analyze the match through video analysis and use it as a chance to grow.

Racing Louisville’s defensive strength was on display once again, as they kept OL Reign at bay for most of the game, limiting them to just one shot on target in the first half. The team has kept opponents scoreless in 10 out of 14 first halves this season, the most among all NWSL clubs.

Looking ahead, Racing Louisville has one more regular-season game before the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. They will face the Kansas City Current at home on July 7, aiming to end the pre-tournament phase on a positive note.

Wang Shuang was named the Player of the Match for her performance, including the penalty goal that gave Racing Louisville the lead in the first half. Her contributions were crucial in the team’s strong display.

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Photo by: Nikita Taparia