OL Reign x Racing Louisville
After trailing by two goals after 78 minutes, the OL Reign rallied to secure a 2-2 draw at home against the Racing Louisville with goals from Bethany Balcer and Elyse Bennett in the last 12 minutes of stoppage time. With 24 points from 14 games, the Reign have moved up to second place, while Racing Louisville dropped to eighth and will likely remain there barring a spectacular result for either Angel City FC or the Orlando Pride.
To the guests In the 24th minute, Louisville went on the board first when they were given a handball after a shot from forward Wang Shuang was ruled to have unlawfully hit the arm of Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock, who was also cautioned for the violation. From the penalty spot, Wang Shuang made no mistake, sending Reign goalie Phallon Tullis-Joyce the wrong way for a 1-0 lead.
Midfielder Paige Monaghan extended Louisville's lead midway through the second half when the referee waved off a suspected infraction just beyond the area. When a Louisville player received a ball outside the box and was challenged by a Reign player, the referee decided to let advantage play instead of immediately blowing for a free kick. Tullis-Joyce had both hands on the ball, but she was unable to keep it out of the net as it squeezed to Monaghan on the right side of the box, where she launched a shot at the near post.
In the 82nd minute, however, the Reign started their comeback when a cross from striker Elyse Bennett was deflected into the head of teammate Bethany Balcer. Balcer, one of the Reign's top scorers, did well to sneak in front of her defender and slam an attempt past Lund, giving her team a late chance to tie the game.
In the 87th minute, with the home crowd trying its best to rally behind their side, the Reign were able to provide the game-tying goal when Bennett switched roles and scored. With Lauren Barnes, a defender for the Reign, taking the corner kick, the ball was sent high into the penalty area, where Reign midfielder Nikki Stanton was waiting to head it home. From there, Stanton headed the ball toward the goal, and with just a few moments left, Bennett flicked on the ball from only a few yards away to beat Lund and give her team a chance to gain at least a point making it 2-2.
Racing Louisville will feel slighted for throwing away a two-goal lead, but in the end, they were unable to break the stalemate. The Reign, however, will be pleased with their point after coming back from a two-goal hole in such a short amount of time.
[Photography by Jackie Shisntrom]
