LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Racing Louisville FC’s hopes for an NWSL playoff berth, and for all practical purposes, its season, were all but over.
The home team trailed 2-0 after just 22 minutes in Friday’s regular-season home finale against Orlando in Lynn Family Stadium.
“It felt like everything was going the wrong direction for us,” Louisville coach Kim Björkegren said.
Nadia Nadim started Racing on the road back with a penalty kick in the first minute of stoppage time just before the half. Kirsten Davis scored the equalizer in the 70th minute. And four minutes, later, a Carson Pickett corner caromed off the fist of Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse into goal for the game-winner.
The 3-2 victory marks the first time in franchise history it has erased a 2-0 deficit. Björkegren said the goal just before half was critical.
“The only thing I was talking about at halftime was that we are the better team, and we have to go for the win,” he said. “We are not happy with one point – we needed all three, and we took them.”
Hopes for a playoff berth remain slim, with only a game at first-place San Diego remaining. Racing has 27 points, just two behind OL Reign and North Carolina, who currently hold the final two spots.
But if Racing proved anything Friday night, it’s that a slim hope is still a hope.
““We had to come here and leave everything, at least to thank the fans for all the support that they’ve given us throughout the season,” said Kgatlana, whose low cross after a run down the left side provided the assist for the tying score. “I think it was fair enough for us to take every chance that we got. Some of the decisions were against us, especially in the first half, but we ended the first half really well. We used the same momentum (in the second half). We knew that to get three points, we had to suffer, to defend, to run forward, to use our chances, and I think the attitude was very good from the girls.”
Racing (6-6-9) will finish the season at San Diego at 5 p.m. next Sunday.
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