**LOUISVILLE, Ky.** – Racing Louisville FC remained in playoff contention after a huge 3-2 win over the Orlando Pride at home. After the Pride went up two goals thanks to a Marta penalty and Kerry Abello blast, Louisville produced three unanswered goals to snatch all three points in the end. The result temporarily leaves Racing Louisville in 8 ^th place with 27 points from 21 games played, while Orlando remain in 7 ^th place with 28 points from 21 games played.
An entertaining match from start to finish, the visiting side showed no signs of coming in timidly as a ball in from defender Delia toward Kerry Abello at the back post was inches too far in front in the 8 ^th minute.
Continuing their pursuit for a goal, the Pride were then awarded a penalty kick after VAR review as it was determined that forward Marta had been illegally challenged by Louisville’s Taylor Aylmer on the edge of the 18-yard box. Up to take the penalty was the Brazilian, and she coolly converted from 12 yards out for her 30 ^th regular season goal.
Not wasting any time to have another go at Louisville, Orlando then took to a two-goal lead just four minutes later when midfielder Kerry Abello beat Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund at the near post and finished off a fluid Pride move. Orlando had made their way forward through Marta, who was a pest for the Louisville defense in the first half, and she picked out Abello inside the box. From her spot, Abello took aim toward the top near side corner and converted to see the away side double their lead.
Just before the break, however, Louisville was awarded a penalty of its own as Orlando forward Messiah Bright mistimed a tackle and brought down Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo with a challenge near the edge of the penalty area. Up to take for the hosts was forward Nadia Nadim, who beat Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to pull one back before the halftime break as she scored in the first minute of first half stoppage time.
Into the second half, Louisville began to mount its comeback when forward Kirsten Davis converted a cross from close in in the 70 ^th minute as fellow forward Thembi Kgatlana threaded a beautiful ball in for the assist. Kgatlana was working down the left side of the field when she curled a perfectly weighted pass into the box for Davis to burst onto. Burst she did, and she bundled the ball over the line to bring Louisville level and increase hopes for more with 20 minutes to play.
As Louisville’s momentum peaked, the hosts forced an own goal in the 74 ^th minute following a corner kick that Moorhouse could not push away as she inadvertently punched the ball into her own net. Davis, defender Abby Erceg and substitute Maddie Pokorny were all close for the home side, but Moorhouse made the last contact on the ball and it soared over the line in the end.
The Pride pushed non-stop for an equalizer in the final 15 minutes in addition to a period of what would be 13 total minutes of added time, but the Racing defense in combination with Lund would do enough to see the match out. The result saw Louisville keep all three points in a vital victory ahead of decision day next week, the final round of fixtures of the regular season.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights