The final match of the 2018 season pits Louisville City FC against Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Cup on Thursday night. With storylines abound, City is seeking to defend it’s 2017 USL Cup by becoming just the second-ever team to win back-to-back championships, while Phoenix Rising FC look to win their team’s first-ever championship when traveling to Louisville.
When & Where
The match is set to take place on Thursday, November 8 at Lynn Stadium with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
The match will be aired on ESPN2 as well as streamed on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the match on 790 WKRD. Fans can also follow #LOUvPHX on Twitter & Instagram.
TV: ESPN2
RADIO: 790 WKRD
STREAM: ESPN+
DOWNLOAD: LouCity app for iOS | LouCity app for Android
Where They Stand
#2 Louisville City FC:
18-6-9, 66 points – 2nd in EC
#3 Phoenix Rising FC:
19-9-6, 63 points – 3rd in WC
Last Time Out
For the third straight year, Louisville City and New York Red Bulls II faced off to see which side would be crowned Eastern Conference champions.
No more than 11 minutes passed before the cold temperatures influenced the match as a premature injury sidelined forward Cameron Lancaster. Luke Spencer entered as his replacement.
The first true scoring opportunity for either side came in the 16th when LouCity’s George Davis IV was called for a foul in the penalty box leading to a Red Bulls II penalty kick.
The visitors’ Chris Lema stepped up to the ball, slipping on Slugger Field’s turf and launching the ball over the crossbar as LouCity escaped with no harm delivered.
The defending champions earned themselves a penalty kick five minutes later when LouCity forward Ilija Ilic’s goal line run ended in a foul by a member of the Red Bulls II backline. Ilic would then open the night’s scoring as he aimed right and NYRBII goalkeeper Evan Louro dove left to convert the spot kick.
After an impressive performance saw him score twice in last week’s win over Bethlehem Steel FC, midfielder Brian Ownby found Spencer in the 6-yard box who then doubled the hosts’ lead with a strike past Louro. Louisville City entered the break with the 2-0 lead.
A service from Red Bulls II’s Ethan Kutler found forward Tom Barlow in the penalty box, eventually leading to a Barlow header and bringing the visitors within a goal.
However, Los Morados had their answer thanks to the first of two Devon “Speedy” Williams strikes on the night.
The first came when Niall McCabe found Williams on the left side of the penalty box before Williams’ bending shot snuck past Louro for his side’s third goal of the night.
The second came two minutes later when Williams’ strike from the top of the box rocketed into the back of the net as Ownby recorded his second assist of the match.
With his side up 4-1, Brian Ownby added to his fantastic two-game stretch when the midfielder’s strike from the top of the box gave his side the 5th and final goal of the night.
Louisville City would go on to win the match by a final score of 5-1 as the club advanced to their second straight USL Cup final.
Injury Report
QUESTIONABLE – Cameron Lancaster (leg)
