Racing 3 Pride 1 Post Match Thoughts
I am really looking forward to Arielle Dror's Race Plot and Pass Network for this match. I took a quick look at the stats last night, expecting a dominant Racing performance, but that’s not what the raw numbers said. Racing won the shot and shot on target battle, while losing with respect to the passing and possession numbers. Regardless of what the analysis ends up telling me, I will believe that for the last two thirds of the match Racing was in complete control. Going back through a quick review of the highlights reminded me that Alex Morgan missed a really good chance, but besides that I don’t remember any particularly threatening attack from Orlando, especially after going behind 2 goals.
There were quite a few tidbits from last night that probably work best in bullet point form.
The Katies got to start together for the first time and their mothers were in attendance. I talked for a few minutes after the match to Mrs. Lund and she could definitely provide insight as keen as anything I write on here. Sometimes we forget that athletes are human. Seeing their parents at matches reminds us that the desire to ask “Mom, did you see it?” never truly goes away.
Racing achieved a few goals that at least I had for the team. They gained a point from losing position for the first time. The won a match in which they trailed. They won their 20th point of the season which is a record for an expansion franchise. There is one more achievement that 3 points from the last 2 matches will secure and that is the highest point percentage of any expansion team. Orlando won 31.6% of their total points (19 out of 60) in their first year. To beat it Racing will have to make it to 23 out of 72 (31.9%).
Ebony Salmon needed to score for her confidence, in my opinion. She did and then went on to put on the performance of the season. Once that ball found the back of the net, she celebrated like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her 2 second half assists said more to me than the goal, because they were the result of playing instinctual football and not over thinking. She will have this night to carry her confidence forward into the off season regardless of what happens in the next two matches.
With both Betos and McCaskill not playing meant the captain's armband went deservedly to Yuki Nagasato. Yuki's value to the team was often missed by me early in the season. She often settles down play which in certain situations seems negative, but in last night's match was just what the team needed. You can see that she chooses her opportunities for making a forward run wisely. She made a perfect decision last night and was rewarded with her 2nd league goal of the season.
My friend Susan wanted me to advocate for more warm beverage opportunities in the stadium for colder nights. I heard that maybe the Shelbygrille Road concessions by sections 204 and 224 had hot chocolate. If anyone knows for sure, please @ me on Twitter. The next match and the NWSL final are likely to be on the cold side.
Mario Sanchez got to claim his first victory. Like I said before, I am almost positive that when the season is over that he will return to his previous role as Academy Head. Being able to do so with a victory on his resume will make that transition a bit easier because he will have concrete evidence of his contribution to the team, although he doesn't really need it. The players have said that he has been great.
There may be an addendum to this post once I take a look at the Pass Network from last night. I tweeted before the match last night “Different look tonight.” It was and the play seemed a bit different too. I will see if it plays out visually on the Pass Network chart.
