Brian Ownby had a hand in three goals and Jonathan Gomez stayed hot by contributing to the other as Louisville City FC sped past Sporting KC II on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
The final score — a 4-2 victory for the boys in purple — made it 15 goals total over LouCity’s current five-game unbeaten streak. This run has the club No. 1 in the USL Championship’s Central Division with a 6-2-2 record overall, one point clear of Birmingham Legion FC.
“I said to that group as early as today, we have the quality in the locker room to be at the top of the table throughout the season,” said LouCity’s head coach, Danny Cruz. “The expectation from me and from them is that we are.”
Ownby, who numbered a pair of assists in last week’s draw, tallied both a goal and assist this go around. He also turned over SKC II in its own half, then got a counter started that saw LouCity open scoring in the fifth minute. From there, the boys in purple never trailed.
Ownby’s early interception led to a Corben Bone run down the right wing, cross into the box and one-touch goal by Kyle Greig. Eight minutes later, SKC II equalized on a Rojay Smith header.
The two sides were tied until LouCity’s offense kicked in out of the locker room, producing three goals in 11 minutes — much thanks to Ownby.
“We spoke all week about starting the game right and having the mentality once we go up a goal,” Cruz said. “I think that’s happened here a couple times over the last few games. Wasn’t happy with the response. Certainly at halftime, got into the group a little bit. Really proud of the way they came out in the second half — really proud of the group.”
The second half spurt started in the 57th when Ownby used nifty footwork to settle a hard-rolling pass just outside the box and curl it past the keeper. Two minutes later, Ownby notched his assist with a speedy run up the right side and dish to Alexis Souahy, who registered his first goal since October of 2019.
A 67th-minute connection between Jonathan Gomez, straddling the end line before dishing, and Greg for his second of the night rounded out scoring. That made it 60 USL Championship goals for Greig, one of the league’s top scorers of all time, and Gomez’s fourth goal contribution in as many games.
“I’m trying to take advantage of all the opportunities I get on the field,” said Greig, who started with star striker Cameron Lancaster sidelined due to a concussion. “Whether it’s starting, or coming off the bench when Cam is healthy or whatever it may be, but having that healthy competition when he is healthy is really good for both us because it raises both of our games to another level, helps the team, makes the coach’s decision really difficult.
“Cam and I have a really good relationship and really try to learn from one another and pick each other’s brain. We’re at that point where we’re still absorbing and learning as much as we can to be successful on the field.”
SKC II’s answer — substitute Coby Jones’ smooth strike of a ball bounding through the box off a free kick — wasn’t enough to offset a big evening from the visitors’ attack.
LouCity proved efficient in its attach, converting five shots on target into four goals. The boys in purple also owned an edge in possession, controlling 56% of the ball on a night when SKC II — expected to be active on offense — actually out-shot the winners 11-10.
It could have been a more lopsided outcome, as in the 44th minute Ownby saw the opposing goalkeeper off his line and attempted a chip that soared over the cross bar. Amid the scoring flurry in the second half, Gomez had a 58th-minute shot turned away by a desperate, one-handed save.
“When you feel the confidence, you feel more comfortable on the ball,” Ownby said. “So I carried that over, I thought, tonight. Obviously, it was not a strong first half. But we came out fine after a talk with Danny at halftime. That really changed our performance, mentality and attitude going into the second half.
“Obviously I’m happy to get a goal. I thought we set the tone there and kept pushing away.”
At the other end of the pitch, Parker Siegfried earned his first appearance in goal for LouCity, making four saves in lieu of regular starter Chris Hubbard, who rested to give Siegfried experience between the posts.
LouCity and SKC II will meet three more times this season as Central Division rivals. LouCity, however, next travels to play FC Tulsa on Saturday, July 10, in a game that will air on WBKI/The CW and ESPN Louisville’s AM 680/FM 105.7.
Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Sporting Kansas City II
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park
Kickoff: 8:06 p.m.
Man of the Match: Brian Ownby
Scoring
Sporting Kansas City II (1, 1, 2)
Louisville City FC (1, 3, 4)
Goals
Sporting Kansas City II:
13’ R. Smith
80’ C. Jones
Louisville City FC:
5’ K. Greig
57’ B. Ownby
59’ A. Souahy
67’ K. Greig
Stats Summary: Sporting Kansas City II / Louisville City FC
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Fouls: 11 / 11
Offside: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 6
Saves: 2 / 4
Lineups
Sporting Kansas City II: 1 – John Pulskamp, 50 – Alljaz Dzankic (68’ – Coby Jones), 33 – Daniel Barbir, 24 – Kayden Pierre, 16 – Graham Smith, 32 – Christian Duke, 46 – Jacob Davis, 39 – Petar Cuic (88’ 34 – Dominik Resetar), 23 – Tyler Freeman (69’ 88 – Isaiah LeFlore), 77 – Enoch Mushagalusa, 44 – Rojay Smith
Subs not used: 55 – Gavin Krenecki, 71 – Michael Lensi, 98 – Matthew Constant
Louisville City FC: 24 – Parker Siegfried, 4 – Sean Totsch, 3 – Alexis Souahy, 6 – Wes Charpie, 36 – Paolo Del Piccolo, 13 – Corben Bone (72’ 7 – Napo Matsoso), 10 – Brian Ownby (81’ 20 – Jimmy McLaughlin), 42 – Jonathan Gomez, 12 – Tyler Gibson, 29 – Antoine Hoppenot (63’ 11 – Niall McCabe), 21 – Kyle Greig
Subs not used: 1 – Chris Hubbard, 8 – Akil Watts, 15 – Pat McMahon
Discipline Summary
Sporting Kansas City II: C. Duke (yellow) 21’, E. Mushagalusa (yellow) 42’
Louisville City FC: G. Davis IV (yellow) 81’
Referee: Kevin Fikar
