A comeback win Saturday night by Louisville City FC ensured that as the club hits the pitch for its next two games, coach James O’Connor’s side will reach a bit of milestone.
It has been since July 30, 2016 — almost a year — since LouCity dropped back-to-back contests. And while it’s rare to see the club lose at all, each of its three United Soccer League defeats this year have been followed by a victory in league play.
“Obviously we have seriously high standards,” said defender Paco Craig. “We always strive to be the best we can be, and in a long season, that doesn’t always happen. What we try and do is use that motivation and drive in the coming game to make sure we’re on point and play to our standards.
“We’ve really tried our best to use each setback, if you will, as a learning opportunity.”
The latest chance for that came last week, off a 3-2 loss to rival FC Cincinnati. LouCity players and O’Connor considered it a major disappointment in front of 11,632 fans at Slugger Field, a single-game club record.
So in 100-degree heat — and with a smattering of traveling supporters at Toyota Stadium in Fenton, Mo. — LouCity made up for it Saturday, scoring all four of its goals in the second half of a rout of the club’s other rival, Saint Louis.
“I think it says we play each game separately,” said forward Ilija Ilic. “We can forget what happened last week and focus on the next game. Just like today, we tried to play like we usually play.”
LouCity returned from a May 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies to defeat the Pittsburgh Riverhounds next time out. In June, a loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders preceded a victory over Ottawa Fury FC. And then came the Saint Louis follow up to a loss to FC Cincinnati.
Outside of league play, LouCity suffered a 1-0 defeat May 31 to FC Cincinnati in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Three days later, the club delivered one of its most memorable performances, rallying from two goals down to draw with the first-place Charleston Battery.
“We have a process we stick to, and we’re diligent in how we go about things,” O’Connor said. “I think it’s a case of making sure you keep things in perspective and continue analyzing performances, then preparing for games. We try to be consistent in our approach, make sure the teaching continues, and then we try not to get too high or too low.”
