With three regular-season rounds left to play in the NWSL, the playoffs race is starting to heat up as supporters grow anxious over their teams chances of making the top six.
However, for fans of North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville, the league took a firm backseat at the weekend, focusing instead on the NWSL Challenge Cup final and the opportunity of securing the first silverware available this season. They had different motivations going into the match, with North Carolina seeking to defend their title whilst Louisville were chasing a first-ever trophy for the club (they have only been in existence for three years), and many expected a cagey and unforgiving affair for that reason.
After 90 minutes, though, North Carolina emerged victorious, with them lifting the trophy at their home ground, Carys WakeMed Soccer Park, and there will not be many who feel that it was an undeserved win. They looked more innovative and vastly superior in all areas of the game. This tactical analysis will examine why that was the case and why Louisville had no answer to them at times and could not settle into their usual rhythm.
Lineups
North Carolina Courage made just one change from the team that edged out Kansas City Current at Childrens Mercy Park in midweek, with forward Tyler Lussi dropping to the bench and being replaced by Haley Hopkins, who had replaced the former Portland Thorns and Angel City forward late on in that match. That meant that Brianna Pinto, who had scored the goal that had sealed North Carolinas place in the final, was once again forced to make do with a place among the substitutes, whilst exciting on-loan MyNavi Sendai Ladies midfielder Manaka Matsukubo was again given a start behind Tess Boade as her stock continues to grow.
For Racing Louisville, it was the same starting XI that saw off OL Reign at Lumen Field on the same day that took to the field in the final, with head coach Kim Björkegren opting for continuity rather than disruption. That meant that Finland defender Elli Pikkujämsä was once again deployed in front of the backline in the absence of injured captain Jaelin Howell, whilst former Birmingham City Women left-back Rebecca Holloway continued to deputise for Carson Pickett, who had also missed the semi-final win after picking up her own injury problem.
