Louisville City FC’s starting lineup will see a pair of changes Saturday stemming from a key moment in the club’s midweek game.
Both defender Amadou Dia and forward Brian Ownby were subbed off in the 54th minute of an eventual 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery. Coach Danny Cruz said Dia’s move was proactive to prevent an injury but hinted that Ownby’s status was in question for the weekend.
Those comments continue to ring true with Dia available off the bench but Ownby absent from the team sheet for Saturday’s 8 p.m. kickoff against Rio Grande Valley FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
In their places, Manny Perez returns at right wing back in a 3-4-3 formation, while Oscar Jimenez figures to shift to the left side. Dylan Mares slots in for Ownby in the front three.
Otherwise, it’s the same personnel group that has LouCity on a three-game unbeaten streak and looking to match the club’s longest such run of the season with a result Saturday.
Oliver Semmle returns in goal behind the same back three of Kyle Adams, Wes Charpie and Sean Totsch from left to right. Tyler Gibson and Rasmus Thellufsen line up in the midfield between Jimenez and Perez. It’ll be Mares, Cameron Lancaster and Elijah Wynder up top.
Of course, LouCity will have available a new member of the roster: Titas Verhey, a young talent from Fort Knox, Kentucky, who signed a one-game contract in partnership with Norton Children’s.
Saturday’s game will air locally on WBKI/The CW and ESPN Louisville’s 680/105.7. USL Championship games also stream via ESPN+.
Team Sheet vs. Rio Grande Valley FC
28 — Oliver Semmle
32 — Kyle Adams
6 — Wes Charpie
4 — Sean Totsch (C)
19 — Oscar Jimenez
15 — Manny Perez
12 — Tyler Gibson
5 — Rasmus Thellufsen
22 — Dylan Mares
23 — Elijah Wynder
17 — Cameron Lancaster
Substitutes: 18 — Danny Faundez, 13 — Amadou Dia, 8 — Carlos Moguel Jr., 11 — Niall McCabe, 7 — Ray Serrano, 90 — Maarten Pouwels, 14 — Wilson Harris
Honorary captain: 8 —Titas Verhey
