The victory improves the hopes of playoffs of the seventh place races (9-9-5), which opened a four-point gap on the courage of the ninth place (7-9-7) with three remaining games in the season. Louisville has not reached the playoffs since he joined the NWSL in 2021.
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In the only other NWSL game on Saturday night, the Portland Thorns also increased their playoff credentials with a 2-1 victory at home over Bay FC.
After a first half without goals in North Carolina, the four goals in the Carreras game met a period of 30 minutes in the second half.
Sears opened the score to run with a low blow in the corner of the finish line in minute 49.
The courage responded quickly, with Riley Jackson throwing a knaking pass to Manaka Matsukubo to finish from short distance in the 56th minute to put the 1-1.
Racing resumed the leadership in 60. Kayla Fischer scored from 16 yards after Katie O’Kane intercepted a pass from the coat carrier Marisa Jordan.
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Sears won his second of the night in 79, hitting a header knocked down in the volley from inside the box.
Sears has now scored 10 goals in 2025. The second year end of Ohio’s state is also the first racing player to reach double figures for goals in a single NWSL season.
Moultrie Dazzles Comeback Victoria for Espinas
Olivia Mourtie scored twice and Portland’s thorns came from behind to defeat Bay FC.
Observing in the stands in Providence Park was the former Thorns and Canada Christine Sinclair player, who was included in the team honor.
The victory increases the Thorns playoff credentials (9-7-7), which move to the room in the classification and are now leveling into points with the third place Gotham FC.
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Bay (4-12-7) was eliminated from the containment of playoffs.
Bay took an advantage in the first half through Taylor Huff’s goal from the edge of the box in the 36th minute. The extended glove of the Spine goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold prevented Alyssa Malanson from being 2-0 from 11 yards in 39.
Mourtie got the level of thorns in 51 with a low shot beyond the goalkeeper of the Jordan Sakawitz bay.
Thorns midfielder of 20 years was skillfully scored a direct free kick around the bay wall and just inside the post to put the 2-1 in 69. It was his first game of two career goals.
Moultrie has now scored six goals in 2025, with two from direct free throws.
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Ma Vignola made his debut for Thorns, playing 72 minutes after winning the beginning on the left side. Vignola was changed to Portland from Angel City last Tuesday in exchange for Hina Sugita and $ 600,000.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
(Tagstotranslate) Portland Thorns (T) North Carolina Courage (T) Sears (T) NWSL (T) Racing Louisville (T) North Carolina (T) First race