**LOUISVILLE, Ky.** – Racing Louisville FC found its first win of the season as the hosts defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 3-0, thanks to two first half goals–one own goal and one via Wang Shuang–and an 89 ^th minute closer from forward Parker Goins at Lynn Family Stadium that delivered all three points. The win is also Racing’s second shutout of the year as the result lifts them to 7 ^th place. The loss for Chicago keeps them bottom of the league through seven games though, as Friday’s visitors are now winless in five straight matches in all competitions.
Racing came out the more aggressive of the two sides in attack with their first look of the night coming through forward Uchenna Kanu in the 16 ^th minute. Kanu was sent down the left side of the field with a through pass, where she latched onto the ball and drove near the top of the 18-yard box. Zigging in and zagging out, Kanu then opened up space for left-footed short toward the top left corner, but she missed high.
Continuing to apply pressure on the Chicago goal, Louisville then won a penalty in the 34 ^th minute as midfielder Paige Monaghan attempted to get on the other end of a pass near the six-yard box where it was judged that she was brought down illegally by Chicago defender Tierna Davidson, resulting in the decision. From there, teammate Savannah DeMelo stepped up to take from 12 yards out, and she was able to find the back of the net as her effort toward the bottom left corner ripped off the inside of the left post and off the back of Naeher before crossing the line. This resulted in an own goal credited to Naeher, but Louisville’s lead stood, nonetheless.
Louisville did not relent in peppering Naeher’s goal with chances, and in first half stoppage time the side won a second penalty of the first half. This time, midfielder Ary Borges was on the ball out in the left side of the 18-yard box where she produced a set of stepovers that baited Chicago’s Cari Roccaro into a challenge. After VAR review, it was decided that Roccaro’s attempted tackle had caused enough contact for the penalty, and this time attacker Wang Shuang took responsibility. Up to take, Wang Shuang did not send Naeher the wrong way but still managed to slide her penalty into the bottom right corner to give her team a two-goal advantage with just seconds to play in the first half.
Into the second half, Louisville nearly added their third of the night in the 55 ^th minute when midfielder Paige Monaghan had a headed attempt from very close in somehow kept out by Naeher on the goal line. Then, three minutes later, Wang Shuang was at it again as she received a pass just inside the penalty area where she spun toward goal and attempted a curling left-footed shot that dipped over the goalkeeper but ultimately onto the top of the crossbar and out of play.
Chicago was not entirely devoid of chances and nearly found their first goal in the 77 ^th minute through forward Penelope Hocking. A cross from a wide position on the right side found Hocking in the center of the penalty area, and the forward did so well to get her foot over the ball and send an effort toward goal. However, the shot smashed the crossbar on its way back into play and Louisville’s defense eventually got the ball clear.
A flurry of chances for the Red Stars in the game’s final 10 minutes were all repelled by the Louisville defense and goalkeeper Katie Lund, though the visitors’ aims of creating a comeback were not without effort. Instead, an unfortunate third goal against Chicago’s favor came as Louisville substitute forward Parker Goins put the icing on the cake for the home side in the 89 ^th minute. Chasing a through ball down the middle, Goins did well to evade a challenge as she entered the penalty area and work her way toward the six-yard box line. From there, Goins fired with her left foot toward the far bottom corner and connected well enough to score her first NWSL goal and all but seal the three points for her team.
Louisville had already amassed a league record for most points through six games without a win, meaning the club’s first win of the season helped them up to 7 ^th place in the standings with matches still to play around the league this weekend. For the Red Stars, though, it’s a disappointing result that compounds the side’s frustrations as of late as it remains bottom of the league.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights