Current 3 Racing 3 Post Match Thoughts
Courtesy USA Today Sports Images
The narrative of this match would have been much different if Savannah DeMelo had not scored a very, very late equalizer. Now Racing needs to kick on and make it mean something.
The most encouraging part about last night was how Racing hung in and got a point against a lead-leading team that played a really solid match. Kansas City pressed hard to get all 3 points and Racing just wouldn't let them have them without a fight. This is definitely a point won and earned.
I can't overstate the importance of Savannah DeMelo playing up to her abilities, especially with the roster being so thin. There are absolutely things that drive me nuts sometimes about how she plays, but those are often the things that when she gets them right make her the player she is. She is a self-indentfied dribbler, and sometimes she over dribbles. However, she used this tendency to absolutely grab the game and snatch it away from the Current. This team will go as far as she carries them. That is a heavy burden, and we will see how long she can continue to carry it.
The defensive line is in danger of playing too many minutes. Racing cannot go through another season without rotating just a little bit at left back and right rack. Milliet has had a couple of sub par matches in a row and Pickett doesn't need to play every minute either. It's hard to make a defensive sub when you are trailing, so sometimes I think you just need to have a plan to do so regardless of score.
Sears put in her 2nd 90 minutes in a row and looked none the worse for wear. I think she may have secured her starting spot. Personally, I haven't seen enough from Bahr to think that Wright just doesn't walk straight into the team once fit. Racing played a player short in their squad due to a late scratch of Motlhalo. This is at least the second time this season that Racing fielded a short bench. I believe that they were both on the road, which can happen from time to time. However, with Pikkujämsä out for the season Racing probably do need to sign another player.
After the trip to Chicago, Racing has a run of matches with teams that are currently out of the top six. That should be a prime opportunity to close the gap that still exists between Racing and the playoff positions.
