**KANSAS CITY, Ks.** – Racing Louisville FC earned its third straight win in all competitions and second consecutive in the league as the club relied on two first half goals from midfielder Savannah DeMelo and forward Kirsten Davis to propel them against the Kansas City Current on the road. The win is Racing’s second over Kansas City in the last four days, having also beaten them, 3-2, in Louisville on Wednesday night in the Challenge Cup.
Despite DeMelo’s early goal, it was the hosts Kansas City who were close to breaking the deadlock with back-to-back opportunities in the 10 ^th and 11 ^th minutes. First, there was a dinked ball through from Kate Del Fava that reached forward Mimmi Larsson inside the penalty area, but though Larsson was able to turn and shoot toward goal, her effort would end up rolling narrowly wide of goal. One minute later, Larsson had another chance from the left side of the box this time after a pass from Kizer, but her shot toward the near post came off the outside of the post and landed out of play for a goal kick.
Going the other way, Louisville was applying high pressure through the play of DeMelo, and as the ball was played back to goalkeeper AD Franch, Kansas City ran into their first bout of trouble. A casual back pass did not match the pace and energy of DeMelo, and though the ball reached Franch, the goalkeeper was unable to clear her lines as her attempt ricocheted right back off DeMelo and into the back of the net as the visitors leapt out to a lead.
Then, just 15 minutes later, Louisville doubled its lead as DeMelo turned from scorer to provider on a quick break the other direction. As the ball moved ahead through DeMelo down the left, she was able to blitz into the penalty area and spot teammate Kirsten Davis across the face of goal. Playing her pass to Davis, the attacker was able to roll an effort to the far post and in, thus doubling the hosts’ troubles before the half-hour mark.
Kansas City had one good look in stoppage time of the first half as Hailie Mace raced around the Louisville defense before cutting a pass back for Debinha in the box. However, Debinha’s effort was blocked and eventually cleared as the halftime whistle saw Louisville go in two-up.
In the 52 ^nd minute, Louisville produced one of its only quality chances on goal as midfielder Ary Borges had a swing with her right foot that could not sneak in the far post on its way through goal as the chance went missing.
Then, chances for Debinha and forward Michelle Cooper in the 56 ^th and 71 ^st minutes kept Kansas City knocking at the door, though they would still struggle to find a way through. First, Debinha eventually got the ball back inside the box but was met by a sea of purple defenders, leaving her no option but to turn back toward goal and attempt to lift a shot from an unbalanced position that would sail over the bar. Then, in the 71 ^st minute, Cooper had a pass come in her way that saw her produce a spectacular backheeled shot, though the effort did not carry the power necessary to cross the goal line.
Right as the match came to its close in stoppage time of the second half, Kansas City came close to at least pulling one back as Vanessa DiBernardo had a shot from near point blank range repelled by Lund. Forward Kristen Hamilton was barreling ahead on the ball when she slid a general pass toward the cutting run of DiBernardo near the penalty spot. DiBernardo somehow latched onto the end of that pass and pushed a shot to Lund’s right from close in, but Lund was equal to the effort, and she earned her clean sheet with the sound of the final whistle.
The result pushes Louisville to 6 ^th place after the club’s second win of the season through eight games, while Kansas City remains in 11 ^th place after three straight losses in the league and four consecutive across all competitions.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights