Louisville City FC went into the halftime locker room Wednesday out-shooting host Sporting KC II 10-3, out-passing its foe 327-166 and controlling 66.5% of possession. But the boys in purple were lacking a finishing touch in a scoreless draw.
Jorge Gonzalez changed their fortunes in a matter of seconds.
The loanee from Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers showed why he wears No. 9, finishing smoothly within a minute of coming on the pitch as a substitute. Gonzalez’s first goal in purple propelled LouCity to a 2-1 victory at Children’s Mercy Park.
Kyle Greig doubled the lead in the 56th minute, and the club extended its lead atop the USL Championship’s Central Division. The boys in purple are now 9-3-3 and, at 30 points, five clear of second-place Birmingham Legion FC.
“I thought the boys put in an absolute shift,” said head coach Danny Cruz. “I was really proud of the group. Obviously, not happy to concede there late, but ultimately it’s been a tough road trip and I couldn’t have been happier with the mentality, work rate, the effort. I thought we had some class goals.”
That first-place standing is thanks to a run of nine games unbeaten over 10 games. Gonzalez also became LouCity’s league-high 13th player on the roster to score a goal this season.
It was a long time coming from a forward who joined the squad on loan at the beginning of April. Gonzalez didn’t appear in a game until June due to a groin injury that required surgery. Another setback further held him out until a July 17 victory over Atlanta United 2.
If Gonzalez’s playing time arrived later than expected, his contributions couldn’t have happened any faster. A nice exchange with winger Brian Ownby found Gonzalez in the box, and he smoothly placed a shot across the SCK II goalkeeper’s body to put the visitors up for good.
“We talked at halftime about they were sitting a little bit deep there,” Cruz said. “We wanted to bring in Jorge so that we could pinch him in a little bit more the wide areas and allow (Jonathan Gomez) more space out wide. It ends up working out. He takes his goal excellent ã¼ great ball from Brian as well. Happy anytime that happens.
“I still thought we created enough opportunities in the first half to come out and win the goal, but sometimes it doesn’t fall, so we spoke about a few things at half and happy with the execution.”
Greig poured in his fifth goal of the campaign on a toe-flicking chance — also via an Ownby cross — to seal a victory in the 56th minute.
A pair of assists ran Ownby’s season total to six, one off the USL Championship lead. They also dulled the disappointment of a first half in which he had a pair of solid chances, sending a 21st-minute chip and 42nd-minute shot well over the bar.
SKC II did manage an answer before the final whistle when Ozzie Cisneros smashed in an 89th-minute goal for his first progressional tally through traffic of a congested LouCity penalty area. But the hosts didn’t attempt another shot.
In the end, LouCity tried 19 shots and passed at a crisp 88.9% clip. Making his second start in goal, Parker Siegfried needed only one save to win it. Siegfried — who spent time on loan with MLS’ Sporting KC earlier in 2021 — also had the assignment last time the club visited Kansas City for a 4-2 victory back on July 2.
“It was humid. It felt like it was 97 degrees. We’re coming from altitude in Colorado,” Cruz said, looking back to last Friday’s late-night draw in Colorado Springs. “I’m very upbeat about the mentality of the group. I’m upbeat about the collective work rate.
“We spoke in there about taking pride in a shutout because it isn’t just the back line that provides that the way that we press. It’s our forwards all the way back to our goalkeeper. That was the reason I was a little frustrated about conceding because I thought we put in the work to come away with the zero.
“At the end of the day, you take three points on the road in a difficult climate coming from Colorado. I’m extremely happy with the performance.”
From here, LouCity will deal with a trip home and quick turnaround to Saturday’s home tilt with OKC Energy FC. Kickoff’s set for 7:30 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.
Game Summary: Sporting KC II vs. Louisville City FC
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Man of the Match: Brian Ownby
Scoring
Sporting Kansas City II (0, 1, 1)
Louisville City FC (0, 2, 2)
Goals
Sporting Kansas City II:
89’ Cisneros
Louisville City FC:
46’ Gonzalez (Asst: Ownby)
56’ Greig (Asst: Ownby)
Stats Summary: Sporting KC II / Louisville City FC
Shots: 5 / 19
Shots on Goal: 2 / 6
Fouls: 12 / 9
Offside: 3 / 0
Corner Kicks: 2 / 10
Saves: 3 / 1
Lineups
Sporting KC II: 1 – John Pulskamp, 16 – Graham Smith, 33 – Daniel Barbir, 88 – Isaiah LeFlore, 24 – Kayden Pierre, 39 – Petar Cuic (64’ 84 – Jahon Rad), 46 – Jacob Davis (72’ – 56 Jayin Van Deventer), 44 – Rojay Smith (64’ 49 – Coby Jones), 32 – Christian Duke (87’ 25 – Osvaldo Cisneros), 37 – Jamil Roberts, 77 – Enoch Mushagalusa
Subs not used: 50 – Alljaz Dzankic, 98 – Matthew Constant, 42 – Remi Prieur
Louisville City FC: 24 – Parker Siegfried, 6 – Wesley Charpie, 4 – Sean Totsch, 15 – Pat McMahon (80’ 8 – Akil Watts), 42 – Jonathan Gomez, 11 – Niall McCabe (32’ 13 Corben Bone), 29 – Antoine Hoppenot (46’ 9 – Jorge Gonzalez), 12 – Tyler Gibson, 36 – Paolo DelPiccolo (70’ 7 – Napo Matsoso), 10 – Brian Ownby (70’ 20 – Jimmy McLaughlin), 21 – Kyle Greig
Subs not used: 1 – Chris Hubbard, 8 – Akil Watts, 66 – Joshua Wynder
Discipline Summary
Louisville City FC: Gibson 6’
Sporting KC II: Duke 53’
Louisville City FC: McMahon 72’
Sporting KC II: Mushagalusa 90+4’
Referee: Kevin Broadley
