KC NWSL and Racing Louisville share the points in opening match draw

The first regular season match for two NWSL teams coming from different paths but sharing a new beginning, Racing Louisville a true expansion team and Kansas City NWSL the result of two teams being shut down and the players moved to a new team.

Louisville and Kansas City both entered the first match of the 2021 NWSL season looking for their first win. Kansas City went 0-3-1 and Louisville 0-2-2 in the Challenge Cup.

Kanas City started the game creating some chances and the but most of the first half saw both teams trading opportunities with the home side seeing the better of the chances. Kansas City’s midfield took a literal hit when veteran Lo’eau LaBonta had to leave the match in the 33rd minute as the result of a head-on-head collision. LaBonta was down for an extended period of time and was bleeding as she left the field.

Perhaps fitting for two teams in their first league match and coached by two friends, the end result was sharing of points as neither side could find the back of the net.

** Update: