OL Reign 2
Racing Louisville 0
July 31, 2021 – Tacoma, WA – Cheney Stadium
NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign hosted expansion Racing Louisville in Tacoma Saturday night in regular season NWSL action. It was the first ever meeting of the two clubs, with a return match scheduled in Louisville in September.
The first half began with the hosts pressing for an early goal, but having no real success. Then, about ten minutes in Madison Hammond went off injured and Louisville pushed the pressure with the defensive change.
Louisville attackers found some space during the transition, with Nadia Nadim and Ebony Salmon causing the Reign defense troubles.
The recent Reign internationals seem to have settled in with several matches under their belts. Dzsenifer Marozan began to assert her presence and partnership with Jessica Fishlock, leading to a number of chances. Eugenie Le Sommer broke through in the 27th minute, sending a far post shot past Louisville keeper Michelle Betos. For Le Sommer, it was her first in the blue jersey of OL Reign, after a long career with Lyon.
The flow of play continued to be end to end throughout what was a pretty physical first forty five, with Le Sommer netting a brace near the end of the half. The Reign high press attack was creating opportunities for The many options up front, with Tziarra King and Sofia Huerta creating chances from the wings.
After the interval, Louisville pressed hard to cut into the lead, creating a number of dangerous chances in front of Reign Keeper Sarah Bouhaddi, but the two goal lead remained in place. There is no such thing as an easy out in the NWSL, and the attacking mentality and approach in the second half had the Reign on their heels a number of times.
The Reign seem to have righted the ship a bit these days, grabbing three points back to back and three of four matches with clean sheets. They are now within reasonable distance of the 4th spot.
BOX SCORE
RGN: Le Sommer – 27’, 43’
LOU: None
Discipline
RGN: Huerta (Caution – 86’)
LOU: None
RGN: GK Bouhaddi, D Hammond (Celia 14’), D Cook, D Hiatt, D Barnes ©, M Marozsán (Pruitt 84’), M Weatherholt, M Fishlock (McNabb 84’), F King (Balcer 68’), F Le Sommer, F Huerta
Unused substitutes: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Brooks, D López, M Cruz, M Hedge
Total Shots: 10 (Le Sommer – 4)
Shots on Goal: 6 (Le Sommer – 3)
Fouls: 10 (Three tied with – 2)
Offsides: 4 (Four tied with – 1)
Corner Kicks: 6
Saves: 2 (Bouhaddi – 2)
LOU: GK Betos ©, D Riehl, D Olofsson (Milliet 70’), D Bonner, M Simon (Ashley 55’), M McCaskill, M Nadim, M Nagasato, M Fox, F Salmon (Matthews 84’), F Kizer
Unused substitutes: GK Lund, D Martin, F Ekic, M Otto, F McClure, D Miramontez
Total Shots: 17 (Salmon – 6)
Shots on Goal: 2 (Salmon, Bonner – 1)
Fouls: 6 (Olofsson – 3)
Offsides: 5 (Salmon – 2)
Corner Kicks: 5
Saves: 4 (Betos – 4)
