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NWSL Racing Louisville FC

What to Watch for When Racing Hosts Chicago in the Challenge Cup on Friday

July 20, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release


Racing Louisville FC forward Parker Goins celebrates a goal
Racing Louisville FC forward Parker Goins celebrates a goal
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images)

Racing Louisville is back in action after a week off, reopening UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play on Friday with a 7 p.m. tilt against the Chicago Red Stars at Lynn Family Stadium.

The game will be streamed on Paramount+, and fans who attend the match can stick around after the final whistle to watch Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo and the U.S. Women's National Team start the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup against Vietnam on the Lynn Family Stadium video board and in the Fifth Third Club.

Racing (3-0-0, 9 points) is the only team in the Challenge Cup with 100% points from its games so far, topping the four-team Central Division as it enters the second half of the tournament's group stage. The Louisvillians lead the competition with eight goals. They'll have three Challenge Cup matches between Friday and August 5, completing the group stage.

Friday's meeting is the return game of the home-and-home Cup series with Chicago. Racing topped the Red Stars, 2-0, on May 31, with Parker Goins and Uchenna Kanu scoring for the visitors. That win sits in the middle of Racing's long run of good form, a 7-2-3 record across all competitions since the May 12 regular-season win over the Red Stars.

Chicago (0-3-0, 0 points) needs to win out and get some help from the other Central Division teams (Houston, KC) to stay alive in the Challenge Cup. The Red Stars have not yet scored in the competition.

With the World Cup kicking off on Thursday, both teams will be without key players. Racing will be missing six of them - DeMelo (USA), Kanu (Nigeria), Ary Borges (Brazil), Alex Chidiac (Australia), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) and Wang Shuang (China). Chicago won't have goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the starter for the U.S. Women's National Team, or forward Cheyna Matthews (Jamaica).

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.

- The game will streamed live on Paramount+, and international viewers may watch for free on NWSLSoccer.com.

Story lines ...

The World Cup is here: This is a big year for women's soccer, with the 2023 FIFA World Cup set to start Thursday in Australia and New Zealand and run through the August 20 final. Racing will be well-represented at the planet's biggest competition, with six players suiting up their national teams, the largest number of countries represented by a single NWSL team. Midfielders Savannah DeMelo (USA), Ary Borges (Brazil) and Alex Chidiac (Australia) and forwards Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) and Wang Shuang (China) received World Cup call-ups.

Chasing a trophy: Racing is the only team in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup with 100% points from its games, making a strong case for hosting a semifinal at Lynn Family Stadium on Sept. 6. Louisville isn't quite to the point where it can clinch first place in the Central Division with a good result Friday, but a win vs. Chicago would put Racing on the brink of qualification for the semifinals. The $1 million pot for the Challenge Cup will be shared among all participants, with incentives for the semifinalists, runner-up and winner.

Challenge Cup runneth over: Amid the success in the leaguewide tournament, Racing is scoring in bunches and defending well. The Louisvillians are tied for first in goals scored, with eight, while they've only conceded twice, the third-best figure in the competition. Midfielder Savannah DeMelo is tied with Kansas City attacker Debinha in the Challenge Cup Golden Boot race, but with both players competing in the World Cup, they are likely to be passed by others over the next three Cup games. Racing's Parker Goins is tied for second in the scoring race, with two goals in the tournament.

Paige's best chapter: Winger Paige Monaghan is having a banner year in her first season with Racing Louisville, with a career-high two assists across all competitions while matching her career-best with three goals. The New Jersey native has scored in the past two games, including a highlight-reel game-winner in the 2-1 win over Kansas City in regular-season action on July 7. The 26-year-old is one of four players in the NWSL to score multiple goals in each of the past five calendar years, joining Canadian legend Christine Sinclair, Brazilian star Debinha and OL Reign standout Bethany Balcer.

Milliet's moment: One of the original players from Racing's 2021 roster, Lauren Milliet has played just about everywhere on the field for Louisville. But in her first full season as Racing's fulltime right back, the 26-year-old is thriving, with the numbers showing just how valuable she is as a two-way player. Milliet ranks first in the NWSL in recoveries - a stat that tracks ending an opponent's possession and restarting one for Racing - as well as second in fouls won, 15th in crosses and interceptions and top 40 in passes into the box and scoring chances created.

Best XI duo: Racing landed two players on the NWSL's Best XI team of the month for June, with midfielder Savannah DeMelo and defender Abby Erceg picking up the honors. DeMelo left Louisville for the World Cup while having a breakout season, with 12 goal contributions across all competitions, including three in June. A veteran center back, Erceg has been immense for Racing this season, ranking first in the NWSL in blocked shots per 90 minutes, fourth in headed clearances and seventh in interceptions. She has played every minute for Racing across all competitions.

Global Racing: Racing Louisville is the first club in NWSL history to feature players from six different continents on its roster. The Louisvillians already had an international flavor last year, with four continents represented. But the additions of Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges as well as Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu and South African forward Thembi Kgatlana nudged Racing to six continents. Abby Erceg, who made 146 appearances for New Zealand's national team, reinforced Australian midfielder Alex Chidiac as a second representative from Oceania.

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Images from this story

Racing Louisville FC forward Parker Goins celebrates a goal
Racing Louisville FC forward Parker Goins celebrates a goal
(USA TODAY Sports Images)		   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from July 20, 2023


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