Thorns 2 Racing 2 Post Match Thoughts
Courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Racing fail to hold a lead (again) and only pick up a point (again) in what is already starting to become a too familiar pattern. The current style seems set up well to score quickly from transition, but it’s hard to see any other great advantages yet.
If Racing is going to continue to jump out to early leads, then it going to have to learn how to find a way to possess the ball. In its history, Racing has never been a great “in possession” team but seems to have taken a step back this season. What is evident is that they are a dangerous attacking team when the moves are in transition, or the opportunities are taken quickly. After going up by 2 goals, Racing basically spent the rest of the match defending. There were a few longer passages of possession late in the second half after it looked like the Thorns might have expended all of their energy trying to make a comeback. However, from basically the 7th minute to the 80th minute it was one-way traffic for the Thorns. When Racing did win possession, most of the time it was unfortunately deep in their half where a long ball was the only way out. On the rare occasion that Racing was able to string a few passes together, the positive movement was really only made with the intent of adding a 3rd goal. Maybe I am alone in thinking this way, but there is value in just keeping the ball in your opponent’s half without immediately making a move toward goal. Sometimes, and especially with a lead, there is value in taking the speed out of the match and attempting to pass the ball around just to keep yourself from running back constantly on defense. Racing’s game management with the lead has never been great and hasn’t really shown any sign of improvement under Yanez (yet).
Uchenna Kanu has shown such improvement that the greatest tragedy of the season so far is that she hasn’t had a match-winning performance. She has done everything in her power to try to will the team to a win, but things haven’t worked out. Her commitment on defense has been great too.
Elli Pikkujämsä went down with a worrying injury. She will be further evaluated in Louisville today.
Racing gets to go back to the drawing board during this week without a match. The team is still missing key players, but I am starting to wonder if the players missing are the problem. I will be watching the possession numbers in the next match to see if the coaches can figure out a way to try to possess the ball more in the next few matches.
