Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, California – Sunday, October 15 at 5:00 PM ET
Players to watch:
San Diego forward Kyra Carusa has scored twice in the club’s last four games, the only player to do so, for her first two NWSL goals after signing on in August. However, the club is led in total scoring by forward Alex Morgan, who has six goals (two penalties), and is led in open play goals by forward Jaedyn Shaw, whose five goals all came in open play.
Racing Louisville forward Nadia Nadim converted a penalty to start Louisville’s impressive two-goal comeback against Orlando on Friday, the 11th penalty goal of her career in league play. The only players with as many or more regular season penalty goals in NWSL history are Megan Rapinoe (14) and Kim Little (12).
Match facts: It has all come down to this… one final regular season weekend left, and four playoff positions up for grabs with all six NWSL matches kicking off at 5 PM ET on Paramount+ and other outlets. For most details on the league’s broadcast plan, check out where to view expanded coverage here.
A tenacious San Diego Wave FC side made things interesting when a scoreless draw in North Carolina yielded 1st place to Portland, who earned all three points in their 1-0 win against Gotham to go ahead on 35 points. San Diego now sits in 2nd place with 34 points and could still yet finish top the league, but would need to both beat Racing and rely on a Portland draw or loss against Angel City to help the side get there.
San Diego has scored at least once in all 10 home games this regular season, the longest streak of consecutive home games with a goal in NWSL this year. The last time a team scored in its first 10 home games of a season was Portland in 2018, scoring in lal 12 of its home games that year.
San Diego has also recorded 10 wins in each of its first two NWSL seasons, becoming the fourth team in league history, but the first expansion team to do so. Portland and FC Kansas City each won at least 10 games in the league’s first two seasons (2013-14) while the Courage did so in their first three years in North Carolina (2017-19).
Meanwhile, Racing Louisville FC is down but not out, sitting in 9th place with 27 points from 21 games played. A draw would not be enough to keep them in contention, though, as only a win would allow the side to fight for the final spot. With a win, though, Racing would also need multiple results elsewhere around the league to somehow sneak above the line.
Racing Louisville has won just won of its nine road games since June in all competitions (D3 L5), winning the Challenge Cup semifinal, 1-0, over OL Reign. Racing has the fewest road wins in the NWSL this regular season, recording its only league win on the road this year in May against Kansas City. However, the side produced a vital 3-2 win against Orlando last week to remain in contention for a playoff spot, coming back from 2-0 down to secure the win at home.
San Diego has drawn twice with Racing Louisville and lost once, failing to score in any of the three games in the history of the matchup so far. In fact, the only goal scored by either side was by Racing Louisville in the first-ever regular season game between the two which also handed San Diego its first loss in league play as an NWSL club.
