You can’t have an off night in the NWSL, coach Christy Holly is fond of saying, or opponents will take advantage. His Racing Louisville FC side received a reminder of that Wednesday.
Days after the ladies in lavender upped their unbeaten streak to four games across all competitions — including a trophy-winning victory over FC Bayern Munich to cap The Women’s Cup — they came out flat to open at Kansas City.
The fellow expansion side scored both its goals in the first half of a 2-1 game at Legends Field, and the opening 45 minutes would have been worse if not for another exemplary performance by goalkeeper Michelle Betos.
Racing coach Christy Holly called it a “tale of two halves” as his side managed to cut the deficit in the second half off a goal from Kansas City native Cece Kizer. But an equalizer eluded the club in what was a tiring fourth game in a span of 15 days.
“We entered the game with a hangover — a bit of a mist or a fog from the busy schedule we’ve had,” Holly added. “You could tell right away we weren’t ready from the very first kick of the game. It was a question of how long we could absorb it.
“We came out the second half, and I’ve got to give full credit. It’s a testament to who they are in how they want to do things. They’re not going to go down without a fight. They got after the game in the second half and created some good opportunities.”
Kizer’s 65th-minute strike was the product of a give-and-go sequence with fellow forward Nadia Nadim. The shot curled just in at the near post and past U.S. international Adrianna Franch, another hometown Kansas City hero recently traded from Portland Thorns FC.
Franch, however, didn’t have much other work to do on an evening her counterpart couldn’t say the same. Betos saved four Kansas City shots in the game’s opening 15 minutes before a deflected Kristen Hamilton cross turned into a Racing own goal off the foot of Erin Simon.
In the 40th minute, the hosts doubled their lead when Hamilton got in behind to finish a counter. Hamilton nearly had another into first half stoppage time, but Betos came off her line to thwart a one-on-one chance.
“We’re far enough along in the season where we know we can’t show up to any place and do that,” Betos said of the slow start. “It’s a tough month. Games are coming hard and fast. We have to have short-term memories and move forward.
“We got stretched, honestly, from the first kick. They were better than us. They were working harder than us. That’s just not something we settle for. That’s not who we are.”
Kizer made the goal her second of the regular season after also scoring twice during the NWSL Challenge Cup. For Nadim, it was a first assist in lavender since she joined the club earlier this summer.
“I had told my family that if I scored tonight it was for them,” Kizer said. “They’re my support system and they’re the ones that have gotten me here. So just to play in front of them and to play in front not only family, but friends – high school teammates, club teammates, all that – tonight and to get that gaol, was just a really rewarding feeling for me.
“That goal was for all of them and for all the years that they put in behind the scenes to get me to where I am.”
Racing will stay on the road, going from Kansas City straight to a visit to Kizer’s former club, the Houston Dash, for a 7:30 p.m. Sunday kickoff. The club sits at 4-7-4, with 16 points five off the postseason cut line.
Game Summary: Kansas City vs. Racing Louisville FC
Venue: Legends Field
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
Weather: 93 degrees, clear
Player of the Match: Cece Kizer
Scoring
Kansas City (2, 0, 2)
Racing Louisville FC (0, 1, 1)
Goals
Kansas City:
17’ Own goal
40’ Kristen Hamilton (Hailie Mace assist)
Racing Louisville FC:
65’ Cece Kizer (Nadia Nadim assist)
Stats Summary: Kansas City / Racing Louisville FC
Shots: 14 / 6
Shots on Goal: 7 /2
Fouls: 13 / 13
Offside: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Saves: 1 / 6
Lineups
Kansas City: 1 — Adrianna Franch, 6 — Katie Bowen, 3 — Kristen Edmonds, 7 — Elizabeth Ball, 23 — Kiara Pickett, 9 — Lo’eau LoBonta, 20 — Mallory Weber (72’ 14 Gaby Vincent), 99 — Victoria Pickett, 4 — Hailie Mace (46’ 13 — Darian Jenkins), 25 — Kristen Hamilton (86’ 77 — Jéssica Silva), 28 — Addie McCain (74’ 66 — Chloe Logarzo)
Subs not used: 0 — Katelyn Rowland, 21 — Mariana Larroquette, 15 — Michele Vasconcelos, 5 — Sydney Miramontez, 29 — Kate Del Fava
Racing Louisville FC: 1 – Michelle Betos, 16 — Kaleigh Riehl, 11 — Emily Fox (71’ 16 — Julia Ashley), 4 — Gemma Bonner, 3 — Erin Simon (46’ 12 — Sinclaire Miramontez), 10 — Nadia Nadim (71’ 33 — Jorian Baucom), 5 — Cece Kizer, 7 — Savannah McCaskill, 8 — Freja Olofsson (46’ 19 — Taylor Otto), 17 — Yuki Nagasato (71’ 2 — Lauren Milliet), 9 — Ebony Salmon
Subs not used: 23 — Katie Lund, 14 — Nealy Martin, 13 — Emina Ekic, 22 — Katie McClure
Discipline Summary
Kansas City: 10’ Elizabeth Ball (yellow)
Racing Louisville: 27’ Nadia Nadim (yellow)
Kansas City: 45’+ Lo’eau LoBonta (yellow)
Kansas City: 50’ Mallory Weber (yellow)
Kansas City: 79’ Gaby Vincent (yellow)
Racing Louisville: 88’ Sinclaire Miramontez (yellow)
Racing Louisville: 90’+ Sinclaire Miramontez (second yellow)
Referee: Michael Radchuk
