Match Report: Kansas City Current shuts out Racing Louisville FC

The Kansas City Current earned the team’s first shutout and win of the NWSL regular season with a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC. The Current had several players return from absence after COVID protocol, including midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and head coach Matt Potter, who made his return to the sideline. 

“Our standards are high, our expectations are clear,” said Potter. “We were on the wrong side in two games on the road and then coming home, it was obviously important to get back onto winning ways. So, the strength that the group has shown has been incredible all week.”

Kansas City notched its goal early on, when Louisville defender Rebecca Holloway was whistled for a penalty kick after a foul against Victoria Pickett. LaBonta, making her 100th NWSL regular season appearance, stepped up to the spot and sent a rocket of a shot into the top left corner of the goal in front of 6,484 fans, the team’s largest crowd of the season. 

Racing Louisville launched an onslaught of offense with seven shots, six of which were taken from inside the penalty box. The visitors’ best chance came in the 32nd minute, when forward Jess McDonald raced down the right hand side to find midfielder Savannah DeMelo at the center of the box. DeMelo weaved around a few defenders to fire a shot that was cleanly denied by AD Franch. 

The Current had several other opportunities to double its lead. Just before halftime, forward Kristen Hamilton found herself on the end of a free kick taken by Kristen Edmonds. Her run to the near post forced goalkeeper Katie Lund to punch the ball away.  

Later, LaBonta nearly scored a brace in the 76th minute, as she charged down the right flank to find a long ball from defender Elizabeth Ball. Her loping run around the side of the field forced a bouncing save from goalkeeper Katie Lund, and LaBonta narrowly missed the header on the rebound. 

The Current plays its next game at home against forward Alex Morgan and the San Diego Wave FC on June 4 for Pride Night, with home matches against NJ/NY Gotham (June 11) and the Chicago Red Stars (June 18) to follow. Season Tickets and Flex plans are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information visit kansascitycurrent.com.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs. Racing Louisville FC 
Date: May 30, 2022
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS 
Kickoff: 2:09 p.m. CT/3:09 p.m. ET 
Weather:  81 degrees, windy
Attendance: 6,484

Discipline
None

Scoring
3’ Kansas City – LaBonta (PK)

Scoring Summary

Lineups:
Kansas City: Franch, Loera, Ball (88’ Leach), Winebrenner, Scott, Del Fava, Edmonds, LaBonta (78’ McCain), Pickett (88’ Johnson), Hamilton, Bennett (64’ Rodriguez)
Substitutes Not Used: Schneider, Miller, Mace, Nolf 

Louisville: Lund, Holloway (66’ Chidiac), Lester, Bonner Fox, Olofsson (84’ Gordon), Howell, Milliet, Kizer (77’ Salmon), DeMelo, McDonald (68’ Davis)
Substitutes Not Used: Beall, Simon, Martin, Otto, Goins