Racing Louisville FC showcased a dominant performance in a 2-1 victory over Kansas City, securing their third consecutive home win and moving within reach of a playoff spot in the highly competitive NWSL standings. Elli Pikkujämsä and Paige Monaghan found the back of the net for Racing, who unleashed a barrage of 26 shots and controlled the game throughout. The icing on the cake was the long-awaited return of star forward Nadia Nadim from a 10-month knee injury rehabilitation process.

Coach Kim Björkegren expressed his pride in the team’s crucial win, emphasizing the significance of the match in their pursuit of a top-six position. Racing Louisville’s dominance over Kansas City continued, extending their winning streak against them to four games. This victory also marked the club’s first regular-season sweep of another NWSL team and highlighted their impressive home form, with a record of 5-1-3 at Lynn Family Stadium this season.

Despite conceding an early penalty, Racing quickly regrouped and seized control of the game, creating numerous scoring opportunities. Pikkujämsä equalized in the 20th minute with a powerful right-footed shot, celebrating her first NWSL goal in exhilaration. The team continued to pressurize Kansas City, with Kirsten Davis, Wang Shuang, and Kayla Fischer all testing the opposing goalkeeper. Racing displayed their attacking prowess, surpassing their average shots on target per game in the first half alone.

After the halftime break, Monaghan added to Racing’s lead with a stunning curling effort from outside the box, showcasing her exceptional skill and securing her second consecutive goal. The goal also marked a milestone for rookie midfielder Kayla Fischer, who registered her first professional assist.

The excitement continued for Racing as Nadim, who recently returned to full training following her ACL injury, made her long-awaited comeback as a substitute in the 82nd minute. The 35-year-old striker received a warm ovation from the home crowd, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to play again after dedicating countless hours to her rehabilitation.

Racing Louisville FC now enters the NWSL’s summer break on a high note, with a week off before returning to training. Their next challenge will be the NWSL Challenge Cup game against the Chicago Red Stars on July 21 at Lynn Family Stadium. The team’s strong performance and the return of Nadia Nadim provide a promising outlook for the remainder of the season as they strive to secure a playoff spot in the tightly contested league.

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Photo By: Chris Humphrey