Match Recap: OL Reign Claim 2022 Women’s Cup Title with 2-1 Win over Louisville

OL Reign are the 2022 Women’s Cup champions after fighting for a 2-1 comeback win against Racing Louisville FC. Using the depth of the squad throughout the tournament and earning two consecutive comeback wins, OL Reign’s character was on full display through both matches.

OL Reign dominated the attack from the first whistle, creating several attacking opportunities and applying high pressure to force Louisville to turn over the ball on multiple occasions. The Reign also did well to win 50/50 balls, taking further control of the match. Louisville did not see an attacking chance until almost a quarter of an hour into the match.

Quality chances piled on for OL Reign beginning in the 26th minute, when midfielder Jess Fishlock was through behind Louisville’s backline, but her shot went high. Just one minute later, forward Bethany Balcer got on the end of a ball in the box, but the shot went high once again.

In the 30th minute, forward Megan Rapinoe worked hard to slip a ball into the box and across the face of goal, nearly forcing a Louisville own goal. Against the momentum of the match, Louisville found the opening goal in the 34th minute. Forward Kirsten Davis settled the ball after some chaos in OL Reign’s box and hit it to the far post to give the hosts the lead going into halftime.

After halftime, OL Reign made four subs, bringing in fresh legs to kickoff the second half. In the 53rd minute, OL Reign nearly found the equalizer, when forward Jordyn Huitema crashed the far post, but the ball was kept out of the net. With energy building, OL Reign continued to press Louisville.

The hard work paid off for OL Reign in the 59th minute of the match. Substitute Tziarra King stepped up to take a corner kick for the Reign and perfectly placed the ball to the back post, where midfielder Olivia Athens was there to head the ball into the back of the net, finding the equalizer OL Reign needed.

After OL Reign’s goal, Louisville began to get back into the game and OL Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey showed her quality, shutting down the attack when called upon. On the other end of the field, OL Reign continued to push on offensively. Defender Jimena Lopez played a great through ball to Huitema, who beat two defenders before finding the back of the net to open her account with OL Reign and put the Reign ahead 2-1.

Now in the lead after going down one goal in the first half, OL Reign did well to maintain their defensive shape and pressure, seeing the game through to end to claim the 2022 Women’s Cup title. Forward Tziarra King was named MVP of the tournament.

UP NEXT: OL Reign will travel to Orlando to take on the Pride in a league match on Friday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. PT

MATCH SUMMARY

2022 Women’s Cup

OL Reign 2-1 Racing Louisville

Goals

Racing Louisville FC:

34' Kirsten Davis

OL Reign:

59' Olivia Athens (Tziarra King)

66' Jordyn Huitema (Jimena López)

Stats: Racing Louisville FC / OL Reign

Shots: 8 / 12

Shots on Goal: 3 / 4

Corner Kicks: 1 / 5

Fouls: 6 / 15

Yellow Cards: 0 / 2

Red Cards: 0 / 0

Offside: 4 / 3