Arin Wright scored in the first half and Taylor Flint came through on a penalty shot in the second as Racing Louisville cooled off the visiting Orlando Pride with Friday night’s 2-0 victory.
Jordyn Bloomer was credited with seven saves for Louisville (6-5-2, 20 points), which has won three of the last four at home. Racing is also 4-0-1 versus Orlando (8-4-1, 25 points) at home all-time.
The Pride had won three in a row entering the match and dominated possession in the second half, but were never able to break through. Their passing was less than crisp, and the scoring chances never truly threatened.
Louisville held nearly 70 percent of the early possession; however, Orlando got the first true scoring opportunity through star Barbra Banda’s sixth-minute drive that was corralled by Bloomer.
The hosts continued to maintain a presence in the Pride’s final third, but had nothing serious to show for it until it broke through at the half-hour mark. Off a brilliant Courtney Petersen corner, Wright got behind the crowd in the box to bounce her header home for the match’s opening score.
Louisville added on in the 68th minute from the spot. Racing was awarded the penalty shot after Orlando’s Emily Sams pulled down Sarah Weber at the far side of the box. Flint then stepped up and rather easily converted a low strike.
–Field Level Media
