Midweek action in the NWSL featured a revenge win for Kansas City and action from Portland, Oregon.
Kansas City 2, Racing Louisville 1
The Skinny: Kansas City extracted revenge on Racing Louisville with a 2-1 victory at home in front of fans at Legends Field. The two sides met up just a couple weeks ago on Aug. 8, in Kentucky, and the result was in the favor of Racing Louisville. However, the two sides look a bit different now too. Kristen Hamilton and Hailie Mace have settled in the Kansas City system under Huw Williams, and Adrianna Franch was recently traded to Kansas City — her hometown club — from the Portland Thorns FC.
The victory gave Kansas City three points, but it isn’t enough to get them out of last place. Racing, coming off their Women’s Cup victory and trophy-lift after beating the Chicago Red Stars in the semifinals and Bayern Munich in the final, looked tired and flat. They currently sit in ninth place with 16 points.
Cece Kizer did score a consolation goal in the loss for Racing Louisville.
Own goal for @RacingLouFC and it's a combination play from Kristen Hamilton and Victoria Pickett. The home side takes the lead! #KCvLOU | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/2Yc4FFpyoM
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 26, 2021
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 26, 2021
One Key Moment: The entire sequence that led to Kristen Hamilton’s goal — in her 100th NWSL appearance — was flawless. Kiki Pickett maneuvered her way on the defensive end to take the ball away from Erin Simon — who had a rough evening, as she scored the first goal, but for Kansas City on an own goal. Pickett sent the ball up to Mace who flicked it over to Hamilton. The veteran striker has found her groove in Kansas City — and could warrant another U.S. women’s national team call up — and cooly slotted home the goal.
Another for @KCWoSo! Kristen Hamilton makes the most of her 100th #NWSL appearance, as she scores the second for KC! #KCvLOU | 2-0 pic.twitter.com/gqC3LjS8r7
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 26, 2021
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 26, 2021
Inside the Game: Will Kansas City make the playoffs? It’s unlikely, sitting at the bottom of the table with 10 points. However, Huw Williams was patient and when a trade opened up to get key players like Franch, Hamilton and Mace, he swooped in. All of those players have helped to improve the quality of play in Kansas City. The building blocks are in place for a better 2022 season. However, Kansas City is focusing on how they finish this season — not how they started.
The Goals
- Kansas City — Erin Simon, 17′
- Kansas City — Kristen Hamilton (Hailie Mace), 40′
- Racing Louisville FC — Cece Kizer (Nadia Nadim), 65′
— Rachael Kriger
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