Cameron Lancaster netted a penalty in the first half, set up another goal in the second, and Louisville City FC cruised to a Wednesday night victory over USL Championship Central Division leader Birmingham Legion FC.
It was, for all intents, a ho-hum 2-0 win for the boys in purple as they made it back-to-back victories at Lynn Family Stadium, prevailing in front of 9,576 fans amid the busiest stretch of their young season.
But it’s that schedule congestion that also led head coach Danny Cruz to make six lineup changes from a win over Memphis 901 FC on a sweltering Saturday. LouCity next travels to finish the week against FC Tulsa, where it could match Legion FC on top of the Central Division table with games in hand.
“That is the definition of a team: when you can make those changes, still perform well and still win a game,” Cruz said of his personnel shuffling. “Ultimately, that is what we must continue to do.
“…I am really happy. Six points out of two games is really important. I talked to the players about the importance of getting their legs right. We are pushing toward Tulsa.”
The star striker Lancaster looked offensive-minded from the opening whistle Wednesday, trying a shot from distance just seconds into the game that led to a deflected save and corner. By the 25th minute he was headed to the penalty spot after dragged down on the corner of the box.
By converting with a rocketed shot, the Englishman made it his third goal this season, all via penalties.
“It’s going to give us a lot of confidence going into next game, and it’s nice to get some kind of revenge,” Lancaster said. “We take confidence from it and go into next game trying to get three points.”
LouCity and Birmingham — teams that played to a 1-1 draw in their other meeting back on May 8 — appeared statistically equal at the half. Yet right out of the locker room, the boys in purple doubled the lead.
In the 48th minute Lancaster flicked a ball back into the box and to a dashing Jonathan Gomez, who drove straight to the end line. His cross found a diving Napo Matsoso for a goal.
“Everyone on the team knows that when JoGo has the ball and he’s driving forward, no one is going to catch him,” Matsoso said. “So, (I was) just making as hard of a run that I can in the box and getting my man. Luckily JoGo had his head up and found me in the box and I was able to finish it.”
LouCity’s offense didn’t muster much once Lancaster left in the 66th minute, but the boys in purple were staunch enough defensively that they didn’t need to, holding Legion FC to a single shot on target in either half.
Goalkeeper Chris Hubbard came up with his pair of saves when needed, and the home side got an especially fortuitous bounce in the 37th minute when an unmarked J.J. Williams’ header bounced off the post.
Just prior, Lancaster saw what would have been his second goal of the night not counted for offside in a game where LouCity — known to create many chances — chose quality over quantity. The boys in purple tried eight total shots, with six on goal.
“Ultimately, winning is contagious, and that locker room is used to it,” Cruz said. “When you get two losses in a row, no one was more unhappy than them. They’ve taken these two games really well. I told them that I want nine points from the week, and I know that is their expectation as well. We will look to evaluate players’ health and how their bodies are feeling and then move toward Tulsa.”
Kickoff Saturday is at 8 p.m. ET. WBKI/The CW will air it on TV, ESPN Louisville has the radio call and ESPN+ live streaming is available for another Central Division matchup.
Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Birmingham Legion FC
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Weather: 85 degrees, mostly sunny
Man of the Match: Jonathan Gomez
Attendance: 9,576
Scoring
Louisville City FC (1, 1, 2)
Birmingham Legion FC (0, 0, 0)
Goals
Louisville City FC:
25’ Lancaster (PK)
48’ Matsoso (assisted by Gomez)
Stats Summary: Louisville City FC / Birmingham Legion FC
Shots: 8 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Fouls: 11 / 13
Offside: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Saves: 2 / 4
Lineups
Louisville City FC: 1 – Chris Hubbard, 8 – Akil Watts, 4 – Sean Totsch, 3 – Alexis Souahy, 7 – Napo Matsoso, 12 – Tyler Gibson, 36 – Paolo Del Piccolo (81’ 29 – Antoine Hoppenot), 11 – Niall McCabe (56’ 13 – Corben Bone), 42 – Jonathan Gomez, 17 – Cameron Lancaster (66’ 21 – Kyle Greig), 20 – Jimmy McLaughlin (56’ 10 – Brian Ownby)
Subs not used: 24 – Parker Siegfried, 6 – Wesley Charpie, 9 – Jorge Gonzalez
Birmingham Legion FC: 1 – Matt VanOekel, 3 – Phanuel Kavita, 21 – Alex Crognale, 24 – Jonathan Dean, 5 – Mikey Lopez (45’ 7 – Ryan James), 6 – Anderson Asiedu (83’ 13 – Jake Rufe), 16 – Diago Kobayashi (69’ 12 – Eli Crognale), 20 – Zach Herivaux, 77 – Junior Flemmings (69’ 17 – Jaden Servania), 11 – Neco Brett (69’ 8 – Bruno Lapa), 23 – JJ Williams
Subs not used: 18 – Trevor Spangenberg, 22 – Ben Ofeimu
Discipline Summary
Louisville City FC: McCabe (yellow) 24’
Birmingham Legion FC: A. Crognale (yellow) 90’
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistant Referees: Matthew Seem & Chris Schurfranz
Fourth Official: Michael Samour
