A new-look Louisville City FC lineup yielded plenty of opportunities, but not points, in a 1-0 defeat on Saturday to rival Saint Louis FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
Coach John Hackworth opted for six changes and saw immediate results as the boys in purple volleyed shot after shot on their Kings’ Cup rival in the opening 45 minutes. Out of the half, however, the momentum slowed before Saint Louis FC knocked in a set piece goal as the 52nd-minute game winner.
It went down as the second straight loss for LouCity since the USL Championship’s restart last weekend. A Lynn Family Stadium crowd of 4,850 was on hand with protocols to wear masks and physically distance, among other safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Obviously, crushing defeat right there,” Hackworth said, “especially the way that we seemed to have put the game on our terms early. I really felt like we made a lot of chances and had a lot of attempts on goal. We missed the final pass an awful lot in that first half, especially toward the end there. You can’t do that. You can’t put a team on the ropes the way we just did and then let off.”
LouCity fell to 1-2-0 on the season, pairing Saturday’s outcome with a March 7 victory at North Carolina FC and last Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in Lynn Family Stadium’s inaugural game.
What made Saturday different is the USL’s new competition structure. Saint Louis FC is one of a trio of clubs LouCity will see four times as part of “Group E” play, with the top two from each pod advancing to the playoffs.
“We truly believe,” said defender Sean Totsch, “that from the first player on the roster to the young academy kids who just signed that whoever goes out there we expect the results, and this is not good enough.”
Saint Louis FC moved ahead on a corner that started with an out-swung pass, was played back into the flat and lobbed in the box to former LouCity midfielder Guy Abend. Abend headed to teammate Tyler Blackwood for a one-touch tap and score.
LouCity had largely controlled proceedings until then with Hackworth having switched out all but Oscar Jimenez from his back line. Chris Hubbard also manned the goal, while Napo Matsoso and Antoine Hoppenot earned starts on the attacking side.
The boys in purple responded by delivering a barrage of chances in the first half. Striker Cameron Lancaster accounted for five of the club’s 10 shots, including a 13th-minute ball off the post and a 22nd-minute bender that bounced off the crossbar.
“It comes down to details,” Hackworth said. “If it’s going to be a one-nothing game, we have to take care of the little details better. Certainly, we didn’t do that.”
LouCity continues Group E action next Saturday by hosting Sporting KC II. With kickoff at 8 p.m., it airs on WBKI/The CW, News Radio 840 WHAS and ESPN+.
Game Summary
Match: Louisville City FC vs. Saint Louis FC
Date: July 18, 2020
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 8 pm
Weather: 91 degrees, mostly sunny
Man of the Match: Pat McMahon
Attendance: 4,850
Scoring
Louisville City FC (0,0,0)
Saint Louis FC (0,1,1)
Goals
Saint Louis FC: 51’ — Tyler Blackwood right-footed tap in from the center of the box created off a corner; assisted by a Guy Abend. header.
Lineups
Louisville City FC: 1- Chris Hubbard, 15- Pat McMahon, 4- Sean Totsch, 6- Wes Charpie, 19- Oscar Jimenez (61’ 11- Niall McCabe), 80- Devon Williams (90’ 22- George Davis III), 27- Napo Matsoso, 13- Corben Bone, 29- Antoine Hoppenot (74’ 14- Abdou Thiam), 10- Brian Ownby, 17- Cameron Lancaster
Subs not used: 39- Ben Lundt, 3- Alexis Souahy, 5- Jimmy Ockford, 8- Akil Watts,
Head Coach: John Hackworth
Saint Louis FC: 1- Kyle Morton, 2- Paris Gee, 21- Tobi Adewole, 3- Phanuel Kavita, 28- Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, 13- Kadeem Dacres ( 93’ 23- Richard Bryan), 7- Todd Wharton, 8- Guy Abend (63’ 5- Wal Fall), 9- Russell Cicerone, 11- Joaquin Rivas (86’ 4- Sam Fink) , 14- Tyler Blackwood (86’ 29- Nikiphoros Vlastos)
Subs not used: 18- John Berner, 31- Kyle Genenbacher, 6- Daniel Fischer
Head Coach: Steve Trittschuh
Discipline
Louisville City FC: 49’ Devon Williams, yellow card. 94’ Brian Ownby, yellow card.
Saint Louis FC: 41’ Paris Gee, yellow card. 73’ Todd Wharton, yellow card.
Stats Summary: Louisville / Saint Louis
Shots: 19 / 7
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 9 / 3
Fouls: 11 / 8
Offside: 2 / 3
