Slowed down: Racing Louisville 1, San Diego Wave FC 0

San Diego Wave FC’s successful streak got here to an finish on Wednesday, because the shock chief within the standings fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville at Lynn Household Stadium.

In a recreation the place San Diego opted to rotate the lineup throughout a double-game week, the connections weren’t fairly as crisp in assault and so they struggled to proceed the battering ram strategy that has labored to start out the NWSL common season. On the similar time, the protection held agency, with a really beautiful free kick by Louisville the one factor that separated the groups on the night time.

Head coach Casey Stoney remained in San Diego after testing optimistic for COVID, with assistant coach Wealthy Gunney filling in because the boss for the night time. The lineup was pretty rotated, with Abby Dahlkemper returning to the XI, Belle Briede and Kelsey Turnbow getting again into the beginning lineup, and fellow rookie Marleen Schimmer getting her first profession begin within the NWSL.

Each groups had been full of life to start out the match, with San Diego particularly racking up nook kicks within the earlygoing, at one level drawing 4 in fast succession.

Within the thirteenth minute, Tegan McGrady and Louisville’s Lauren Milliet collided within the open subject. Sadly, McGrady appeared fairly shaken up on the play and needed to exit the sport, with Mia Gyau getting into for San Diego.

Racing took the lead within the twenty seventh minute, as Savannah DeMelo’s free kick from about 30 yards beat Kailen Sheridan. It was the primary time Wave FC had been behind of their regular-season historical past.

For the remainder of the first half, San Diego obtained a couple of takes care of conceding, however Louisville settled right into a rhythm and had been good worth for the lead at halftime, with San Diego left to seek out solutions for the second 45.

Wave FC’s main scorer Alex Morgan, who started the sport on the bench, entered the sport to start the 2nd half, changing Schimmer. She had a shot on the right track inside the primary 20 seconds of being on the sector, testing Racing GK Katie Lund.

But it surely was few and much between from there, and Gunney opted to usher in Katie Johnson and Kristen McNabb for Kelsey Turnbow and Belle Briede within the 67th minute to attempt to take the San Diego assault into the next gear and hunt for an equalizer. 10 minutes later, Makenzy Doniak was the ultimate sub for the guests, changing Sofia Jakobsson.

San Diego began to seek out extra possession and get the ball into the mixer within the closing quarter-hour, and Louisville bent however didn’t break to carry on for the shutout win.

I believe the excellent news about this recreation is that the San Diego protection was sturdy as soon as extra, and DeMelo’s purpose goes to be within the high two or three free kick targets this yr, it was that spectacular. San Diego continues to be working to get their assault in full pomp, and with their reliance on penalty kicks in latest video games, a recreation with out one was sure to be a little bit of a shock. Nonetheless, whereas it’s disappointing to drop three factors, a grinding end result that was simply off the mark isn’t one thing for San Diego to get down within the dumps over.

San Diego proceed their street journey with a swing a bit of additional east, for an early Sunday showdown in opposition to the North Carolina Braveness in NC. The Braveness additionally misplaced on Wednesday, in order that they’ll be on brief relaxation, too, however gained’t need to journey. It seems to be like there’s a door open for San Diego, however they’ll must be absolutely up for it in the event that they wish to get end in Cary this weekend.

What do you assume? Go away a remark under.