**Cary, North Carolina** – The North Carolina Courage routed the visiting Racing Louisville FC, 5-1, with goals from Kerolin, Debinha and Tess Boade all helping the hosts to capitalize in a fine attacking display.
Just three minutes in, North Carolina created a good chance after a turnover in the Louisville defense allowed forward Diana Ordoñez room to work with. A misplaced pass toward the center of the field saw Ordoñez intercept the ball just outside the 18-yard box, but the rookie’s curling effort was saved by Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund and the danger was cleared.
Not to be deterred for much longer though, North Carolina scored the game’s first goal in the 9 ^th minute of the match as forward Kerolin slotted home past Lund to go one up. Midfielder XX played the ball over the top of the defense just to the right of the center of the field for Kerolin to run onto. Then into the box, Kerolin slotted the ball just under Lund to give her side an early advantage at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The hosts weren’t coy in continuing to apply pressure on Louisville’s goal, either. In the 22 ^nd minute, it was Kaleigh Kurtz who could not keep her header down from a corner. A few minutes later, midfielder Debinha had a shot from close in toward the far post saved by the feet of Lund, and just before the half hour a combination of Ordoñez and other Courage attackers could not manage to bundle the ball over the line as Lund did well to hold her goal.
After opening the scoring near the beginning of the half, the Courage then closed the half in similar fashion as it was again Kerolin who found the back of the net after a set piece in the 42 ^nd minute. A ball clipped into the box from long range was not cleared properly by the Louisville defense and spotting the opportunity to strike a bouncing ball just inside the penalty area, Kerolin got her knee over the ball and drove an effort into the ground. Through all the confusion, the ball snuck past the Louisville defense and Lund and the hosts doubled their advantage just a few minutes from halftime.
Into the second half, North Carolina picked up where they left off as midfielder Debinha was able to put the ball away from close range in the 55 ^th minute. Who else but the forward Kerolin was involved again as the Courage built up toward the Louisville goal, and she was able to pick out fellow Brazilian Debinha who was just a few yards out from Lund. Despite the onrushing defense attempting to close down the playmaker’s angle, she was able to push the ball around Lund for her side’s third goal of the night and her sixth of the season as the hosts maintained control over the match. The goal also meant that Kerolin had contributed to all three goals with her brace to open the game and an assist here.
However, the visitors were not completely down and out when forward Nadia Nadim pulled a goal back in the 71 ^st minute after a bad giveaway by the Courage defense allowed Nadim to convert coolly past goalkeeper Casey Murphy. Nadim, who was following the ball around the Courage defense, pounced on an inaccurate pass deep in Courage territory and strove toward goal. With just the goalkeeper to beat, the forward curled a shot around to the right that Murphy could not get to as the clean sheet was broken.
Putting a bow on the match, though, was North Carolina’s penalty conversion in the 84 ^th minute as Debinha’s Panenka attempt left Lund rooted to the spot as she got her brace and North Carolina’s fourth of the evening. A one-two with midfielder Fuka Nagano on the edge of the penalty area saw Debinha receive a return pass where she was judged to have been clipped by Louisville’s Jaelin Howell, resulting in the penalty. Up to the spot, Debinha produced a classy finish from 12 yards out to restore her side’s three goal lead.
Finally, right at the end of regulation, the Courage put a fifth and final goal on the board as the forward Kerolin found substitute Tess Boade at the back post, as Boade put the ball in the back of the net after replacing Debinha a few minutes earlier. In plenty of space down the right side, Kerolin walked her way into the penalty area near the end line and lifted a cross over the defense for Boade to run onto. Getting to the ball ahead of the Louisville defense, Boade saw the ball over the line as the hosts hit for an incredible five goals on Saturday night.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights