Match Preview: San Diego Wave FC vs. Racing Louisville FC
Torero Stadium | San Diego, California – Friday, July 15 at 10:00 PM ET
Players to watch:
San Diego forward Katie Johnson collected her second assist of the season on San Diego’s only goal on Saturday, her eighth appearance of the year. Prior to this season, Johnson had two total assists in her last 29 regular and postseason appearances in NWSL play going back to September 2019. Though Saturday ended in a loss, midfielder Kristen McNabb scored her first goal of the season in what was her 12th appearance.
Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo has scored in back-to-back games after scoring against Gotham FC on Friday. Louisville is the only team in NWSL this season to have three different players score in consecutive games (DeMelo, Nadia Nadim and Jessica McDonald). DeMelo has also proven herself dangerous on set-piece situation, scoring one of her goals on a direct free kick.
Match facts: San Diego Wave FC hosts Racing Louisville FC at Torero Stadium on Friday night with both teams looking to bounce back from respective losses in their last times out. The Wave remain unbeaten at home in their five outings there, but have already lost to Friday’s visitors with Racing Louisville defeating San Diego, 1-0, in the middle of May at Lynn Family Stadium.
San Diego’s last match saw them fall 2-1 to Angel City on the road, with Kristen McNabb scoring the side’s lone goal. The Wave conceded two goals last Saturday but are still yet to concede three or more goals in any regular season match. In the previous two games where San Diego conceded two goals, the team drew its following match.
On the other end, Louisville has conceded at least two goals in each of its last five matches. It’s the most consecutive league games allowing two or more goals since Sky Blue FC did it in nine straight from June to August 2018. Dating back to a May 30 loss against Kansas City, too, Louisville has only amassed two points in its last six games.
Of course, Racing Louisville did shut out San Diego in its 1-0 home victory in the only prior meeting in the fixture. Now, Louisville is one of just two clubs to shut out the Wave in a regular season match (OL Reign).
