Wednesday’s Third Round U.S. Open Cup game at Cincinnati FC will begin a string of as many as six games in three weeks for Louisville City FC, the club’s busiest stretch of 2017.
On the heels of a weekend off, depth will be tested.
“We’ve got to use our whole roster,” said defender Sean Totsch. “With all those games, three in a week at times there, you have to use everybody.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Nippert Stadium in a rematch of a 1-1 draw April 22 in United Soccer League play. The winner between LouCity and FC Cincinnati also earns the right to host Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew on June 14.
The potential Fourth Round Open Cup game would follow a slew of USL games for the boys in purple: June 3 at Charleston, June 7 versus Charlotte and June 11 at New York Red Bulls II. LouCity also hosts Pittsburgh on June 17.
“We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” said coach James O’Connor. “I think Cincinnati will be a very tough game. Obviously, we are certainly looking forward to that game, so our focus is completely on Cincinnati.”
O’Connor has the luxury of two experienced goalkeepers in Tim Dobrowolski, who has started most of this season following an injury to Greg Ranjitsingh in the opener. But Ranjitsingh was recently cleared to return to full training.
A high volume of games could also work former starting defender Sean Reynolds back into the lineup, while in the midfield there’s depth on the attack. George Davis IV, Niall McCabe and Brian Ownby have each played multiple spots in LouCity’s 4-2-3-1 shape.
“I don’t like one person playing one role,” O’Connor said, “and also in attacking positions, I like people to interlink and play multiple positions across those three front positions.”
Through eight USL games, LouCity has scored exactly eight goals, off the pace the club set in its first two seasons. Certainly, attacking was an emphasis in the week off following a 1-0 win May 20 over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
O’Connor said he wants players to have composure, but yet desire to score. He called it “fire in the belly — ice in the mind.”
“The biggest thing for us is winning,” the coach added. “…When I look at the opportunities we’ve created, we probably should have more goals. It’s up to our players to take those chances.”
LouCity should expect to see a different FC Cincinnati team in Open Cup competition.
While striker Djiby Fall was issued a suspension following the first meeting, he’s eligible to compete outside of USL play. Midfielder Kadeem Dacres can play as well after sitting out April 22 due to a red card suspension. Cincinnati has also since added forward Danni Konig, a former OKC Energy FC star who scored three goals in his last two games.
As for how LouCity may line up?
“For us, (we) look at the opposition and see what will cause them problems,” O’Connor said. “How are the lads’ fitness? How are they feeling, and how are they training?”
Added Totsch: We have a really good, really deep roster and we can use that to our advantage.”
