Reign FC and Racing Louisville draw 1-1 in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC 1
Racing Louisville FC 1
June 23, 2024
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

Seattle Reign FC hosted Racing Louisville FC on Sunday afternoon in Seattle as the second half of the NWSL season began. Seattle comes in having only secured eight points in the first thirteen matches and in desperate need of answers as much as points. Louisville has fifteen points and is just in the cluster of teams at the playoff line. Racing Louisvulle FC is coached by long time Reign FC player Bev Yanez.

It did not take long for the match to get interesting. Louisville’s Arin Wright was sent off after VAR review for taking down Reign forward Jordyn Huitema in the box. The ensuing penalty was taken and converted by Bethany Balcer for an early home side one nil lead.

With Louisville playing with ten and Seattle with an early lead, both sides took the time to set the tone as best they could. The Reign would find much of the possession and attack, but as the half moved along they did not find a second goal.

The hosts would press their advantage, pushing hard for the second goal. Louisville was weathering the pressure, but it was keeping them on the heels and minimizing their own opportunities forward. Tziarra King and Ji So-Yun would find opportunities thwarted by the Racing defense and keeper Katie Lund.

Taylor Flint would need to come off before the half after a flying collision with Reign keeper Claudia Dickey, adding to the first half difficulties for the visitors.

The single goal from the early penalty would carry the match into halftime.

Seattle Reign FC vs Racing Louisville FC

Louisville would look to try and level in the early stages of the second half. Coming out of the gate and pressing, getting a few good looks on goal. The single goal margin stayed in place well into the second half as the two sides began to use the bulk of their substitutions. Seattle would create chances, but the one nil scoreline kept the tension on the pitch and the chance of nabbing at least a point within reach for the visitors.

The Reign continued to create chances, but the lack of a second goal into the final stretch of the match would bring more import to each possession and transition.

Louisville handled their early hardships well, staying in the match with patient team defense and picking their spots.

Seattle Reign FC vs Racing Louisville FC

Late in stoppage time Louisville would take chances forward. Keeper Lund would come forward and take a long cross, with teammates getting on the end of it and Reilin Turner poking it home to bring the match level. Nabbing a road point under the circumstances was an amazing finish for Racing and meant the home Reign would not grab the three points they really needed and seemed to have in their grasp.