North Carolina Courage 2-0 Racing Louisville FC (Sep 9, 2023) Game Analysis

Kerolin and Manaka Matsukubo every scored and the North Carolina Courage beat Racing Louisville 2-0 on Saturday to win the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup for the second consecutive 12 months.

After a two-hour lightning delay, Kerolin scored within the twenty eighth minute, getting a ball excessive from Narumi Miura and beating goalkeeper Katie Lund on the close to submit from a good angle.

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The 19-year-old Matsukubo doubled the lead within the 54th minute, operating onto and volleying a chipped go into the field from Tess Boade to turn out to be the youngest participant to begin and rating in a Challenge Cup remaining.

Louisville had some probabilities. Nadia Nadim flicked Savannah DeMelo’s cross off the submit. Ary Borges related with a nook kick to power goalkeeper Casey Murphy into a tricky save within the 77th minute. Another Louisville nook bounced simply in entrance of the aim minutes later.

Kerolin had an opportunity within the sixth minute when she acquired a via ball and was alone towards Lund, who reacted shortly to dam the shot together with her proper leg. Lund completed with 9 saves.

It was the most effective likelihood earlier than the sport went right into a lightning delay within the eleventh minute.

The Courage stored up the stress when play resumed. Matsukubo acquired a go from Kerolin and fired a shot from shut vary that Lund pushed off the submit within the 18th minute.