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Cece Kizer drilled a 69th-minute penalty kick as Racing Louisville FC rallied to draw with NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday in its inaugural season finale.

The ladies in lavender finished their campaign on a high note, coming back from losing positions in their final three games to earn points in a victory Oct. 16 over the Orlando Pride before leveling with Gotham FC both Thursday and Sunday of this week.

Racing finished 5-12-7. Its 22 points are the most accumulated by an NWSL expansion side in its debut year.

“It’s a great way to end the season,” said interim head coach Mario Sanchez. “We got better every game, and I think we were starting to see what the team’s capable of. I’m really, really proud of the team. They’ve continuously showed their character.”

Kizer’s penalty — set up by a Savannah McCaskill cross and ensuing Allie Long handball in the box — was hammered into the upper-right corner to equalize. It marked the fifth goal of Kizer’s season and the first penalty converted for Racing in an NWSL game.

The strike also dulled the celebration that occurred 15 minutes earlier at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Retiring U.S. legend Carli Lloyd headed in an Elizabeth Eddy cross from the left side to go out as a goal scorer in her final regular season game.

“I like taking penalties,” Kizer said. “I like that pressure and told some of the girls in the locker room I kind of smiled before I took it. I was confident going up there. The girls on the field were confident in me. They said to go up and take my shot, and I buried it.

“…We’re motivated to get another one after we see Carli Lloyd get that goal. It was a classic Carli Lloyd goal. But I think we just took it to them in the second half. We were knocking at the door — had a couple opportunities — and I thought we could get one if we kept the pressure on.”

While Racing will now look toward 2022, Gotham FC qualified for the six-team NWSL playoffs, giving the club a shot to advance to the league final set for Nov. 20 at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium.

“It’s almost a bit frustrating,” said defender Gemma Bonner of the season’s end. “Obviously it’s not ideal for us and what we’ve planned on doing — going down early in games — but I think it shows the character of the team. We’re showing in glimpses what we’re capable of. It’s just unfortunate it’s too late that we’re starting to pick up the points.

“It’s definitely something to build on — the first year together — and I definitely think there’s lots of positives to take from the latter part of the season. We’ll look to come back stronger next year.”

Racing’s attack offered little before the penalty, with forward Ebony Salmon managing three shots in her time on the pitch, the best of them a curler that called for a save early in the second half.

Defensively, however, Racing bent but didn’t break despite a notable early substitution. In her return appearance from the U.S. Women’s National Team, star outside back Emily Fox left in the 16th minute under concussion protocol.

Racing was out-shot 14-5 but allowed only two of those attempts to land on target. In the end, it was a familiar result for these two teams, who played to draws in each of their four meetings this year.

Game Summary: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville FC

Date: Oct. 31, 2021

Venue: Red Bull Arena

Kickoff: 3 p.m.

Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy

Player of the Match: Cece Kizer

Scoring

Gotham FC (0, 1, 1)

Racing Louisville FC (0, 1, 1)

Goals

Gotham FC:

53’ Carli Lloyd (Elizabeth Eddy)

Racing Louisville FC:

68’ Cece Kizer

Lineups

Gotham FC: 1-Kailen Sheridan, 22-Mandy Freeman, 19-Elizabeth Eddy, 12-Gina Lewandowski (58’ 8-Erika Skroski), 3-Caprice Dydasco, 9-Nahomi Kawasumi, 16-Allie Long (79’ 11 Lee So-Dam), 7-McCall Zerboni (58’ 6-Jennifer Cudjoe), 25-Ifeoma Onumonu (58’ 4-Paige Monoghan), 10-Carli Lloyd (71’ 20-Evelyne Viens), 23-Margaret Purce (64’ 27-Gaetane Thiney)

Subs not used: 13-DiDi Haracic, 17-Domi Richardson, 14-Kenie Wright

Head Coach: Scott Parkinson

Racing Louisville FC: 23-Katie Lund, 11-Emily Fox (16’ 14-Nealy Martin, 63’ 3-Erin Simon), 16-Julia Ashley, 18-Kaleigh Riehl, 4-Gemma Bonner, 2-Lauren Milliet (63’ 19-Taylor Otto), 7-Savannah McCaskill, 8-Freja Olofsson, 17-Yuki Nagasato (85’ 13-Emina Ekic), 5-Cece Kizer, 9-Ebony Salmon (62’ 22-Katie McClure)

Subs not used: 21-Shelby Money, 33-Jorian Baucom, 12-Sinclaire Miramontez, 20-Cheyna Matthews

Head Coach: Mario Sanchez

Stats Summary: Gotham FC / Racing

Shots: 14 / 5

Shots on Goal: 3 / 2

Possession: 63.3% / 36.7%

Corner Kicks: 7 / 2

Fouls: 10 / 11

Offside: 5 / 1

Discipline

Gotham FC: 45’+ Margaret Purce (yellow)

Racing: 54’ Ebony Salmon (yellow)

Gotham FC: 72’ Mandy Freeman (yellow)

Racing: 81’ Yuki Nagasato (yellow)

Referee: Karen Abt

Racing Louisville FC enters its inaugural season finale with a shot at some NWSL history.

By earning 21 points so far, it has already eclipsed the prior record of 19 for a league expansion team set by the Orlando Pride in 2016. With a victory Sunday over NJ/NY Gotham FC, the club could also surpass Orlando’s high mark for points per game of 0.95.

Racing’s points per game average would land on exactly 1 in the event of a win; at 0.91 with a draw; and 0.87 with a loss.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and Racing-Gotham FC will air on CBS Sports Network given some playoff implications in the matchup.

Pending other results around the league, Gotham FC could have to continue its battle to clinch a playoff spot, entering the weekend needing at least a point from this game to officially qualify.

It’s a quick turnaround for both sides, which battled to a 1-1 draw on Thursday at Lynn Family Stadium. That game — originally scheduled for Oct. 1 — was postponed to set up a home-and-home series of sorts to end the 2021 campaign.

Here’s more of what to watch for Sunday…

Interim Coach Mario Sanchez says…

“I thought it was a great way to end the season — well, end of our home fixtures. (I’m) extremely proud of the team. I think what people are starting to see is the character. Week in and week out I’ve continued to talk about the character of this team, and you know the last two games I think have exemplified what they’re about as human beings.

“To play teams that are fighting for the playoffs — to go a goal down and come back, it speaks volumes about them as people, about our players, about our culture that is being developed. Extremely proud of them and looking forward to Sunday to go at it again.”

Follow along

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.

Watch the match on CBS Sports Network with play by play from JP Dellacamera and color commentary by Lori Lindsey. Internationally, fans can also stream the match on Twitch. 

Notes to know

Playoff race: Although Racing has been eliminated from the postseason, it’s of interest with the Nov. 20 NWSL Championship game being played in Louisville. Portland Thorns FC, OL Reign and the Washington Spirit have locked up three of six spots. The Chicago Red Stars, Gotham FC and Houston Dash occupied the other three playoff positions going into the weekend.

Playing spoiler: Racing officially knocked Orlando out of postseason contention with a 3-1 victory two games back on Oct. 16. The Gotham FC draw on Thursday at least delayed Sunday’s foe from celebrating its own clinching moment. If Racing defeats Gotham FC, wins this weekend by Houston and the North Carolina Courage could leave Gotham on the outside.

Comeback club: Racing conceded in the third minute of the Orlando game earlier this month before allowing a goal in the seventh minute Thursday to Gotham FC. In both instances, the ladies in lavender rallied from a losing position to earn a result — a first for Racing in consecutive games.

Draws aplenty: Score lines suggest Racing and Gotham have been evenly matched this season. All three of their meetings — a scoreless draw in the Challenge Cup, 1-1 tie and New Jersey on Aug. 15 and Thursday’s result — ended with points shared. Back in August, it was Gotham FC doing the equalizing in the second half before Louisville took on that role in the most recent meeting.

Scoring touch: Working the counter attack Thursday, Cece Kizer slotted in her fourth regular season goal and sixth goal across all NWSL competitions. The sixth tally was a significant one, as it tied her with fellow forward Ebony Salmon for most (so far) by a single player in lavender.

In the zone: A game after scoring her first professional goal in the Orlando victory, forward Katie McClure registered her first Racing assist Thursday. McClure settled a long pass forward by Lauren Milliet and pushed to the center of the field before laying off a pass to Kizer, leading to Racing’s equalizing goal versus Gotham FC.

Between the posts: Katie Lund will finish the season as Racing’s starting goalkeeper with team captain Michelle Betos continuing to heal from a recent hand injury. Lund, her of Racing’s win in The Women’s Cup final back in August, numbered a career-high six saves in the Gotham FC draw, including a key stop early before the visitors were able to score on the rebound.

Red, white and blue: Defender Emily Fox figures to be back in the rotation Sunday after going a full 90 minutes for the U.S. Women’s National Team in its 6-0 Tuesday victory over Korea Republic. Fox, the No. 1 NWSL draft pick earlier this year, earned her sixth cap with the appearance and made it her fourth career start for the U.S.

Injury report

• Addisyn Merrick – Out / SEI
• Nadia Nadim – Out /SEI
• Michelle Betos – Out 

Milestone watch

Savannah McCaskill is one appearance from her 65th NWSL regular season appearance. 

Yuki Nagasato is one start from her 60th NWSL regular season start.

Racing Louisville FC has since been eliminated from contention to make the NWSL playoffs, but the ladies in lavender have turned into a bit of a postseason spoiler.

A game after eliminating the Orlando Pride with a win, Racing played NJ/NY Gotham FC to a 1-1 draw Thursday night in its home finale, delaying Gotham’s push to clinch a playoff spot.

Louisville’s Cece Kizer scored her sixth goal across all competitions to equalize after a magic moment from the retiring U.S. legend Carli Lloyd spotted the visitors an early lead.

The result moved Racing to 5-12-6 with one game to go —a quick turnaround to a rematch Sunday with Gotham at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

“I thought it was a great way to end the season — well, end of our home fixtures,” said interim coach Mario Sanchez. “(I’m) extremely proud of the team. I think what people are starting to see is the character. Week in and week out I’ve continued to talk about the character of this team, and you know the last two games I think have exemplified what they’re about as human beings.

“To play teams that are fighting for the playoffs — to go a goal down and come back, it speaks volumes about them as people, about our players, about our culture that is being developed. Extremely proud of them and looking forward to Sunday to go at it again.”

Racing made this a third draw against Gotham in as many meetings this year after the clubs played a scoreless game in the preseason Challenge Cup and to a 1-1 result on Aug. 15 in New Jersey.

Despite an evenly played contest, Gotham maximized on some individual brilliance from Lloyd to move ahead in just the seventh minute.

A dribbling Lloyd — two days removed from her U.S. Women’s National Team sendoff — made a pair of defenders miss before laying off to Ifeoma Onumonu at the face of goal. Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund saved an attempt before Onumonu finished a rebounding try.

“I’m honestly honored to be sharing the field with Carli,” said Racing forward Katie McClure. “She’s an amazing player. Just watching the game, the last U.S. national team game, I kind of got a little teary eyed because I was sad for her, but she’s had a great, great career.

“Honestly proud that I stepped on the field with her, competed with her, and I think our team is too. It’s a great tie and I think that we go on Sunday and try to look for the win.”

Racing matched on a 52nd-minute counter attack, with Katie McClure feeding Kizer to register her first professional assist a game after scoring her first pro goal in the Orlando win.

“I think it is a testament to our resilience,” Kizer said. “I think that is something that a lot of us have talked about in the locker room, and that we want to have that identity of being a resilient team and you come into Louisville here and it’s a tough place to play. It’s not ideal to concede early, but I think for all of us it’s: They get one and we can put one right back.

“We know that we can counter quickly and get balls in the back of the net, and so I think that we need to continue that mindset into the Sunday game and into the next season.”

Gotham had the majority of chances after Racing knotted the score, though Louisville arguably had the better look for a late game winner. Into second half stoppage time, forward Cheyna Matthews shrugged off a defender in the box and had her ensuing shot saved.

Gotham tried 19 shots to Racing’s nine, and 16 of those attempts came from inside the box. Lund saved six shots, with Louisville’s defense stepping up to block seven others.

Gotham will play for its postseason Sunday, but there’s still something at stake for Racing. The club has already tallied more points this season — 21 — than prior NWSL expansion teams. The ladies in lavender can also make it more points per game in their inaugural campaign than the 2016 Orlando Pride (0.95) and 2014 Houston Dash (0.75) with a victory Sunday.

Game Summary: Racing Louisville FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Date: Oct. 28, 2021

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Weather: 52 degrees, rain

Player of the Match: Cece Kizer

Attendance: 6,508

Scoring

Racing Louisville FC (0, 1, 1)

Gotham FC (1, 0, 1)

Goals

Racing Louisville FC:

52’ Cece Kizer (Katie McClure)

Gotham FC:

7’ Ifeoma Onumonu

Lineups

Racing Louisville FC: 23-Katie Lund, 16-Julia Ashley, 18-Kaleigh Riehl, 4-Gemma Bonner, 14-Nealy Martin (85’ 12-Sinclaire Miramontez), 19-Taylor Otto (59’ 8-Freja Olofsson), 17-Yuki Nagasato, 2-Lauren Milliet, 22-Katie McClure (72’ 20-Cheyna Matthews), 5-Cece Kizer, 9-Ebony Salmon (59’ 7-Savannah McCaskill)

Subs not used: 21-Shelby Money, 3-Erin Simon, 11-Emily Fox, 33-Jorian Baucom, 13-Emina Ekic

Head Coach: Mario Sanchez

Gotham FC: 1-Kailen Sheridan, 3-Caprice Dydasco, 19-Liz Eddy, 22-Mandy Freeman, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 16-Allie Long, 7-McCall Zerboni, 9-Nahomi Kawasumi (68’ 4-Paige Monoghan), 10-Carli Lloyd, 23-Margaret Purce, 25-Ifeoma Onumonu (82’ 20-Evelyn Viens)

Subs not used: 13-Did Haracic, 6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 8-Erika Skroski, 11-Sodam Lee, 17-Domi Richardson, 24-Estelle Johnson, 27-Gaetane Thiney

Head Coach: Scott Parkinson

Stats Summary: Racing / Gotham FC

Shots: 9 / 19

Shots on Goal: 3 / 7

Possession: 45% / 55%

Corner Kicks: 3 / 11

Fouls: 10 / 11

Offside: 1 / 3

Discipline

Racing Louisville: 16’ Julia Ashley (yellow)

Gotham FC: 90’ Carli Lloyd (yellow)

Referee: Samantha Martinez

Racing Louisville FC is set for a home-and-home series of sorts against NJ/NY Gotham FC to conclude its inaugural regular season as the teams meet Thursday in Louisville and Sunday in Harrison, N.J.

The scheduling quirk is the result of an original Oct. 1 meeting between the two at Lynn Family being postponed. As a result, Gotham FC’s first visit to Louisville was pushed back to this week, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.

Additionally, Thursday night’s game will represent the first and only time U.S. Soccer legend Carli Lloyd plays at Lynn Family Stadium. The Gotham FC striker announced her impending retirement earlier this year.

Racing and Gotham have met twice before, playing to a scoreless draw during the preseason Challenge Cup before a 1-1 tie Aug. 15 — both in New Jersey.

The ladies in lavender enter this latest matchup with some momentum. Before the NWSL’s international break, they defeated the Orlando Pride by a 3-1 score in front of a club-record 8,488 fans.

Gotham FC, meanwhile, continues to play in hopes of guaranteeing a berth in the NWSL playoffs.

Here’s more of what to watch for Thursday…

Interim Coach Mario Sanchez says…

“I have been talking about how fun they are to coach and how hardworking they are. For them to get to the reward for their performance, I am so happy for them,” Sanchez said of the Orlando win. “Everyone knows how much they have been through, the league has been through. Most importantly, the work that they put in. Not only was it a win, but the performance was spectacular. I thought how we bounced back after giving up the goal was fantastic. I am proud of them.”

“I think Katie Lund’s resiliency has been great,” Sanchez added, with Lund tabbed to start again in goal Thursday. “She has continued to learn and develop. Michelle Betos has been fantastic in helping her develop. I think they are different goalkeepers. We are super lucky to have both. I think one thing that Katie continues to bring is a different type of presence. I think as a club we are very fortunate to have two fantastic goalkeepers. “

Follow along

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.

Watch the match on Twitch with play by play from Josh Tolle and color commentary by Kaylyn Kyle. 

Notes to know

New side’s success: With a 5-12-5 record, Racing has already set a new mark for points earned by an NWSL expansion side at 20. Next, the club could hit another record. With a win in either remaining game, Louisville could eke ahead of the Orlando Pride’s 0.95 points-per-game record from its expansion season.

A curse broken: After Racing lifted The Women’s Cup trophy back in August, it was until the Oct. 16 win over Orlando that the club won again, going seven games without a victory. Over that span, Louisville transitioned to interim coach Mario Sanchez, who did manage a point earned in his first game at the helm Sept. 4 versus OL Reign.

International duty: Five players on Racing’s roster return Thursday from recently representing their countries. They include defender Emily Fox (United States) and midfielder Freja Olofsson (Sweden U-23) along with forwards Vanessa Kara (Dominican Republic), Cheyna Matthews (Jamaica) and Ebony Salmon (England U-23).

Comeback kids: The Orlando win marked a first for Racing, which conceded a goal in just the third minute but rallied to win a game for the first time. The club always moved ahead first in prior league victories, with four games won by a combined score of 9-1.

Attendance climbs: With 8,488 on hand for the Orlando win, Racing boosted its season average for attendance to 6,594, which ranks second-best in the 10-team NWSL. Another 8,000-plus crowd is possible Thursday.

 Unstoppable Salmon: Racing’s leading scorer, Salmon was instrumental in the club’s victory over the Pride. During first half stoppage time, she fired in a long-range shot to equalize before the break — her sixth of the season. Then, in the second half, Salmon provided two assists to boost her season total to three.

McClure converts: Forward Katie McClure, who during The Women’s Cup drilled a game-winning penalty kick, scored her first professional goal during the run of play against Orlando, finishing a back heel pass from Salmon by slotting a shot in near the far post. As with the penalty, it went down as the game winner.

Captain Nagasato: With captain Michelle Betos on the bench and vice-captain Savannah McCaskill out on yellow card accumulation, Yuki Nagasato was given the armband against Orlando. The veteran forward scored the last of three Racing goals and tallied her second assist on the season. 

Lund’s first win: Making her second NWSL start, goalkeeper Katie Lund earned her first professional win against the Pride. En route to this victory, the goalkeeper tallied two saves and a claim on the night. Lund, who as with McClure was selected from the Washington Spirit in the 2020 expansion draft, made her pro debut in The Women’s Cup final.

Injury report

• Addisyn Merrick – Out / SEI
• Nadia Nadim – Out /SEI
• Michelle Betos – Out 

Milestone watch

Lauren Milliet is one appearance away from her 25th NWSL regular season appearance. 

Yuki Nagasato is one appearance away from her 70th NWSL regular season appearance.