**LOUISVILLE, Ky.** – Racing Louisville FC completed a comeback against the Kansas City Current, responding with two goals after going down early in the match to earn a 2-1 win at Lynn Family Stadium. After Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper’s penalty in the 7 ^th minute, Louisville responded with goals in the 21 ^st minute from defender Elli Pikkujämsä and in the 46 ^th minute from midfielder Paige Monaghan to earn another home win.
Kansas City had the first look on goal after just four minutes when midfielder Morgan Gautrat tested the Louisville defense with a drive from deep. A partially cleared cross had found its way to the middle of the field just outside the box where Gautrat was waiting. Getting fully behind the ball, Gautrat was able to launch a shot but it sailed over the crossbar in the end.
The tide then turned a couple of minutes later when a clearance from Louisville defender Abby Erceg struck the arm of teammate Jaelin Howell inside their own penalty area, resulting in the head official pointing to the penalty spot. Stepping up to take, forward Michelle Cooper produced a classy penalty as she sent Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund the wrong way and picked out the bottom left corner with a sharp spot kick.
Six minutes later, Louisville were on the attack again through defender Carson Pickett, and Pickett whipped a deflected cross into the box from the right side of the field. Looping over a party in the middle, the ball landed toward the defender Erceg at the back post. The ball ended up in the back of the night, but after VAR confirmation, the ruling on the field remained that the ball had gone in off Erceg’s arm meaning it would be ruled out in the end.
A brief chance for forward Kirsten Davis in the 20 ^th minute is what immediately preceded the hosts’ first goal, though, as defender Elli Pikkujämsä got her laces over the ball inside the penalty area following a corner kick to bring her team level in the 21 ^st minute. A recycled ball out wide allowed for a cross into the penalty area, and as the Kansas City defense failed to get it away, it fell to Pikkujämsä on the right side. From there, the defender made no mistake as she lashed a shot into the far side netting and in.
The remaining chances in the first half all went Louisville’s way, with the most significant of them coming as Kansas City goalkeeper AD Franch’s 400 ^th career save on Wang Shuang’s effort from just outside the box. Forward Kirsten Davis had chances in the 35 ^th and first minute of stoppage time, Wang Shuang had her effort saved in the 45 ^th minute, and midfielder Kayla Fischer forced another save out of Franch in the seventh minute of added time. Ultimately, though, Kansas City and Louisville went into the break level at one each.
Just a few seconds into the second half, though, midfielder Paige Monaghan produced a world class strike as she cut inside from the top left side of the penalty area and lasered a shot on goal that Franch stood no chance with in the end. Monaghan pushed her powerful drive to the far post from 19 yards out, and her third goal of the year allowed for the hosts to earn their first lead of the night.
Chances for Fischer in the 56 ^th and 67 ^th minutes again pulled Franch into action, but Kansas City was able to remain within reach of a positive result as they kept the ball out of the back of the net with a good degree of effort.
A late chance fell for Louisville forward Nadia Nadim, who returned in much anticipated fashion after an extensive injury break, in the 88 ^th minute, but ultimately she could not convert to give her side a two goal advantage.
Kansas City nearly snuck in an equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time as a sliced ball back across goal caused confusion in the Louisville penalty area, leading to attacker Chardonnay Curran getting a shot off toward goal. However, amid the scramble, defender Abby Erceg was able to make a vital clearance near the goalmouth to end the move.
In the end, though, it was a big win for Racing Louisville as the club climbs to 7 ^th place with 19 points from 15 games. Meanwhile, the Current remain in 10 ^th place with 15 points from 15 games played.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights