**LOUISVILLE, Ky.** – Racing Louisville FC opened up its 2023 UKG Challenge Cup with a nail-biting 3-2 win over the Kansas City Current, which saw Louisville score in the 86 ^th minute to go 3-1 up before a late goal from the Current’s Debinha threatened the result. But in the end, the hosts held on as they outshot their opponents, 20-8 – though only 4-2 in terms of shots on target – as they earned their first three points of the competition.
The Current were first to spook the Racing Louisville defense in the 7 ^th minute as midfielder Alexa Spaanstra won the ball off Louisville defender Satara Murray inside her own penalty area and attempted to create a chance. Having gained possession, Spaanstra edged toward the endline to the right of goal where she fired a shot toward Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund’s net only for it to strike the outside and out for a goal kick.
Then, in the 14 ^th minute, Kansas City’s pursuits continued as forward Michelle Cooper attempted to score a phenomenal goal just inside the penalty area. Cooper had the ball on the right flank when she played it to a teammate further down as the Current attempted to swing a cross into the box. That ball in was deflected, though, and landed at the feet of midfielder Chardonnay Curran still inside the box. Curran then laid it off for Cooper back toward the edge of the area, and the first year forward attempted to lift a driven shot toward the back post and in. However, the ball narrowly sailed over the crossbar and out.
Cooper had heated up all she needed to in order to score though, and Kansas City would find their breakthrough just three minutes later as the Duke University product scored her first professional goal a few yards out from goal. Creating something out of very little, Cooper received a through pass from Spaanstra as she broke toward the left side of the penalty area. Just before she crossed the threshold of the six-yard box, Cooper produced a rocket of an effort with her left foot that Lund had little chance of saving, thus giving the Current the lead on the road.
Louisville certainly did not shy away from the challenge at hand as the side slowly tipped momentum back in its favor throughout the first half. In the 24 ^th minute, Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo attempted to link up with forward Uchenna Kanu, which resulted in Kanu putting the ball in the back of the net. However, after the celebrations cleared, it had been ruled that Kanu was offside and the move was cancelled. On the edge of its disappointment, Louisville remained on its toes as newcomer Jordan Baggett intercepted the ensuing free kick and drove toward goal. Baggett then picked out DeMelo near the top of the 18-yard box and DeMelo curled a beautiful effort with the outside of her right foot and in to put her stamp on the game and draw her team level.
Not done yet, DeMelo needed just five more minutes before she was able to send Racing in front, this time powering home a deflected cross from around eight yards away. DeMelo was a trailing runner into the penalty area when a ball in from the right flank was redirected by a Kansas City defender. However, DeMelo was ready to pounce and would end up ripping a shot to the far side netting and in as Louisville gained its first lead of the evening.
Into the second half, the hosts continued to create chances, with midfielder Alex Chidiac and the forward Kanu coming close on separate occasions. Instead, midfielder Ary Borges, who was subbed on for Baggett in the 84 ^th minute, was able to put Louisville two in front in the 86 ^th minute as she seemingly slammed the door shut on Kansas City’s chances of a comeback. Borges was played in by teammate Thembi Kgatlana on the break, and as she worked her way through the box she was able to slot a low effort past Current goalkeeper A.D. Franch and in.
Kansas City did not accept that as the end as they would end up finding a second goal of the night through substitute midfielder Debinha, who in addition to a few minutes of stoppage time was able to provide a spark for a potential Current comeback. Spaanstra was again involved in the goal as she played a pass to Debinha in the midfield, but it was the Brazilian’s mazy run and calm finish past Lund that deserved the spotlight in a fantastic solo run.
However, the six minutes of added time saw Kansas City fail to produce any quality chances and the result was confirmed. Though the match is Racing’s first of the year in the Challenge Cup, the club sits level on points with Kansas City and Houston in the Central Division standings, with both of those team having played two games already. Next up in the Challenge Cup for Racing is the Chicago Red Stars on May 31, who are the only team in the Central Division to have not won a game, though they’ve only played one game. For Kansas City, it’s close to a month break before they then face Chicago on June 14 in Kansas City.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights