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NWSL Racing Louisville FC

Ekic's Brilliant Goal Helps Racing Draw Chicago

April 16, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release


Emina Ekic of Racing Louisville FC
Emina Ekic of Racing Louisville FC
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: Connor Cunningham)

Two professional goals for Emina Ekic, two highlight-reel moments for the Louisville native playing for her hometown team.

Ekic's screamer of a free kick from distance in the 76th minute helped Racing Louisville FC edge out a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium, marking the second time the teams have tied in this year's NWSL Challenge Cup.

"I practice that shot 100 times," Ekic said. "Once I set the ball down, (team captain Gemma Bonner) was like, 'What are you going to do? Where are you going to go?' I said I was going to go left."

Left she went, drilling her shot into the top corner well past the outstretched arms of U.S. national team goalkeeper and Chicago star Alyssa Naeher.

Racing Louisville improved 1-1-3 in the Challenge Cup, the league-wide NWSL tournament that will conclude group play next weekend.

While first place in the Central Division is out of reach, a point kept Racing Louisville's hopes alive for advancing to the Challenge Cup semifinals potentially as the best-finishing second-place team in the competition.

"First half was OK, but not amazing - in the second half, much better," said Racing coach Kim Björkegren. "When we changed, bringing on three players (in the 66th minute), that gave the team a lot of energy. The end of the game, we controlled. We had the momentum. We were close to winning the game, so I'm proud about the team's fight and spirit to keep working for 90 minutes.

"You always want to win a home game, but we did our best, especially in the second half."

To midfielder Freja Olofsson, that Racing is in this position shows the progress of the second-year club.

Chicago zapped the energy of the crowd with a seventh-minute goal from defender Amanda Kowalski, who tapped in a rebound after Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund batted away Mallory Pugh's dangerous cross into the box.

But Racing rallied, with midfielder Lauren Milliet almost scoring with a flick-on from Jaelin Howell's whipped-in cross. Racing outshot Chicago, 13-9, and poured on the pressure in the second half. Ekic nearly scored the game-winner in the 89th minute on a free kick from an almost identical location as her first goal.

"We talk a lot about mentality," Olofsson said. "As a group, we've come together a lot. Last year was our first year in the league, and now we might feel some pressure that we need more results, we need better results, we want more results."

Tap-ins

Racing has seven goals in five Challenge Cup matches, with seven different scorers. Ekic joined Bonner, Milliet, Kirsten Davis, Cece Kizer and Jess McDonald in scoring during the tournament, with the seventh goal coming via a Kansas City own goal.

Bonner played the full 90 minutes for her fifth consecutive, wearing the captain's arm band in as many matches.

Katie Lund's five saves against Chicago pushed her competition tally to 20.

Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Chicago Red Stars

Date: April 16, 2022

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Weather: 63 degrees, partly cloudy

Player of the Match: Emina Ekic

Attendance: 4,409

Scoring

Racing Louisville (0, 1, 1)

Chicago Red Stars (1, 0, 1)

Goals

Racing Louisville FC:

76' Emina Ekic

Chicago Red Stars:

7' Amanda Kowalski

Lineups

Racing Louisville FC: 1 - Katie Lund; 26 - Addisyn Merrick (66' 9 - Ebony Salmon), 4 - Gemma Bonner (c), 15 - Julia Lester, 11 - Emily Fox; 6 - Jaelin Howell (66' 7 - Savannah DeMelo), 8 - Freja Olofsson, 5 - Cece Kizer; 22 - Kirsten Davis (66' 13 - Emina Ekic), 14 - Jessica McDonald, 2 - Lauren Milliet

Subs not used: 24 - Jordyn Bloomer; 3 - Erin Simon, 17 - Nealy Martin; 19 - Taylor Otto; 21 - Parker Goins, 23 - Sh'Nia Gordon

Head Coach: Kim Björkegren

Chicago Red Stars: 1 - Alyssa Naeher; 3 - Arin Wright, 31 - Amanda Kowalsi (71' 4 - Alyssa Mautz), 20 - Zoe Morse, 28 - Kayla Sharples, 23 - Tatum Milazzo; 24 - Danielle Colaprico, 10 - Vanessa DiBernardo; 9 - Mallory Pugh (68' 15 - Sarah Griffith), 7 - Yuki Nagasato, 25 - Ava Cook (85' 14 - Jill Aguilera)

Subs not used: 21 - Emily Boyd; 26 - Mikenna McManus; 18 - Sam Fisher; 19 - Channing Foster, 15 - Sarah Griffith

Head Coach: Chris Petrucelli

Stats Summary: Racing Louisville FC / Chicago Red Stars

Shots: 13 / 9

Shots on Goal: 4 / 6

Possession: 49.1% / 50.9%

Fouls: 10 / 15

Offside: 3 / 2

Corner Kicks: 7 / 3

Discipline Summary

Racing Louisville:

27' Freja Olofsson (yellow)

Chicago Red Stars:

51' Danielle Colaprico (yellow)

84' Ava Cook (yellow)

Referee: Laura Rodriguez

Check out the Racing Louisville FC Statistics




Images from this story

Emina Ekic of Racing Louisville FC
Emina Ekic of Racing Louisville FC
(Connor Cunningham)		   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 16, 2022


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