Emina Ekic scores powerful free kick to lift Racing Lousville to tie with Chicago Red Stars
Emina Ekic scored a powerful free kick to hand Racing Louisville FC a 1-1 draw with the visiting Chicago Red Stars in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Challenge Cup action on Saturday.
Amanda Kowalski scored on the rebound of a long shot by Mallory Pugh to hand Chicago an early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Ekic later tied the game in the 76th minute for Louisville.
Bianca St-Georges, of Saint-Charles-Borromée, Que., served an automatic suspension for receiving two yellow cards in previous games and didn’t feature for the Red Stars.
Louisville (1-3-1), currently sitting third in the Central division standings with six points, will visit the Houston Dash next Sunday. Chicago (2-2-1), second in the same group with eight points, will play Kansas City on the road next Sunday.
.<a href=”https://twitter.com/emina_ekic10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@emina_ekic10</a> was that real life 🤯<br><br>WE ARE TIED UP HERE!<a href=”https://twitter.com/RacingLouFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@RacingLouFC</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/RacingLou?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#RacingLou</a> <a href=”https://t.co/bF03O27sob”>pic.twitter.com/bF03O27sob</a>
—@NWSL
Courage downs Pride
In other Saturday action, North Carolina Courage doubled up hosts Orlando Pride 4-2.
Megan Montefusco scored an own-goal to put North Carolina up 1-0 in the third minute. Defenders Jaelene Daniels and Taylor Smith made it a 3-0 lead before the tenth minute of play.
American forward Darian Jenkins scored twice, once in each half, to get two back for Orlando. But Brazilian striker Debinha added a fourth goal to the visiting side in the 89th for North Carolina’s final blow.
Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod, still recovering from a surgery on her right knee, was ruled out for Orlando.
I mean… her 😍<a href=”https://twitter.com/TheNCCourage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TheNCCourage</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CourageUnitesUs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CourageUnitesUs</a> <a href=”https://t.co/itQwfO3rGk”>pic.twitter.com/itQwfO3rGk</a>
—@NWSL
North Carolina remains atop the East division with 11 points and a 3-2-0 unbeaten campaign. They’ll host the Washington Spirit next on Saturday.
Orlando (0-1-4) is winless after five games, sitting at the bottom of group A with one point. They’ll visit Gotham FC on Saturday.
Created in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NWSL Challenge Cup has remained in the women’s pro soccer calendar for a third consecutive year.
The winners of all three divisions and the runner-up with the best campaign will qualify to the semifinals. The final is scheduled for May 7. The 2022 NWSL regular season kicks off on April 29.
