Houston returns home to Shell Energy Stadium for the first time in three weeks to host Racing Louisville FC for the fifth match of 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup group play with a scheduled kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT
Saturday’s match will be the third meeting between the two teams, and the second of Challenge Cup group play. Houston opened the 2023 regular season at Shell Energy Stadium against the Louisville-based team, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. The Dash traveled to the Burbon state on June 14 for the first match between the two teams in Challenge Cup play, which saw Houston fall on the road.
The Dash are coming off a loss to Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday, July 22. Rookie defender Madelyn Desiano scored her career first NWSL goal in the loss. Dash forward María Sánchez delivered the assist on Desiano’s goal. Sánchez is the only Houston player with an assist in the competition since the beginning of 2022 and her five assists in that time are the most of any NWSL player. In regular season play Sánchez has three goals and two assists so far this season.
Racing Louisville FC enters Saturday’s match coming off a 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars in Challenge Cup group play. Louisville sits atop Group C with a 4-0-0 record. Against the Red Stars, Louisville had two different players score in the win, including defender Paige Monaghan who has scored a goal in three straight games in all competitions for Racing.
The Dash are set to close out 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup group play against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, August 5 in Bridgeview, Illinois.
