By Quin Welch, LouCity Insider
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville City FC opened its 2016 home schedule on Saturday at Louisville Slugger Field in front of 7,522 fans. The match — played under a high-wind advisory — saw the visiting New York Red Bulls II escape with a 2-0 victory via Junior Flemmings (29th minute) and Brandon Allen (79) strikes.
“We’ve got the best fans in the league,” O’Connor said. “To have 7,500 was a testament to them. They kept cheering away and kept trying to encourage us. We thank them for that and we will be better.
“We have to swallow this result and just make sure that we get a good week’s training and crack on against Orlando (City B).”
Despite controlling possession throughout the majority of the match, LouCity was unable to find the back of the net. The extremely windy conditions at Slugger played a huge role in Louisville’s inability to find the back of the net. Coach James O’Connor said he would have like to have seen his team handle the conditions a bit better.
“When you approach a game in a situation like that and you’re quite naive in how you handle a strong wind, it made it very difficult for us in the second half to get out,” O’Connor said.
LouCity was able to put quite a bit of pressure on New York and had many corner kicks throughout the match, consistent with O’Connor’s attacking style. O’Connor said the game simply frustrating overall.
“It’s just one of those really irritating and really frustrating games. The whole thing is just very very frustrating.”
O’Connor said he certainly saw some things his team could work on in training this week. He said it’s important his team keep their heads held high, despite the defeat.
“We have to swallow it, just make sure that we get a good week’s training and crack on against Orlando (City B),” O’Connor said.
Goalkeeper Scott Goodwin echoed O’Connor in his applause for the LouCity supporters on Saturday.
“Our fans throughout all of last season came out no matter what,” Goodwin said. “They came out today in huge numbers. That support goes a long way and they’re going to be behind us no matter what.”
Entering 2016, Louisville City FC has returned 13 players from the 2015 roster — including reigning USL Goal of the Season winner Aodhan Quinn and former English Premier League striker Lancaster. New additions include MLS Cup-winning forward Chandler Hoffman, University of Louisville alumnus Paolo DelPiccolo and University of Kentucky alumnus Davis.
LouCity will return to Louisville Slugger Field on April 9 to host Orlando City B with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Fans can stay up to date with all of Louisville City’s breaking news, roster updates and ticketing information by following the Club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Season tickets are available for Louisville City’s historic second season via the Club’s official website.
Louisville City FC Match Report
Match: Louisville City FC vs. New York Red Bulls II
Date: April 2, 2016
Competition: United Soccer League
Venue: Louisville Slugger Field
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. EST
Attendance: 7,522
Weather: 56 degrees; windy and sunny
Additional Notes:
Today’s game is the first home match of the season for LouCity. The second-year club opened up its season in dramatic fashion against the Charlotte Independence, taking home all three points after a last-second free kick goal from former Tottenham Hotspur striker Cameron Lancaster.
Lancaster’s goal against Charlotte was his first for LouCity, after sitting out the 2015 season with a knee injury.
New York opened up its season with a 2-2 draw against Toronto FC II at home. TFC led 2-0 at halftime, but two second half Red Bull goals rescue a point from the affair.
Today marks the second time the teams have played at Louisville Slugger Field. New York took home all three points in the first matchup between the two sides in 2015 by a score of 0-2. The loss was LouCity’s first-ever defeat at Slugger.
Goal Scoring Rundown
28th Minute Junior Flemmings: New York striker Junior Flemmings was able to score from the right side of the goal, squeezing the ball into a tight area.
79th Minute Brandon Allen: Allen, who scored two goals last week against Toronto FC II, continued his hot streak and calmly put the ball into the net after a cross from the right side.
Key Defensive Stops and Saves
LOU: Sean Reynolds, 57th minute: The University of West Florida alumnus made a great play by halting a Red Bull dribbling dangerously in the box.
LOU: Scott Goodwin, 85th minute: Goodwin did very well to keep a deflected Red Bulls shot out of the back of the net.
Lineups
LOU: 1-Scott Goodwin; 24-Kyle Smith, 15-Sean Reynolds, 5-Conor Shanosky, 19-Jonghyun Son; 8-Guy Abend, 4-Aodhan Quinn (c), 12-Mark-Anthony Kaye (79’ 11-Niall McCabe), 77-Andrew Lubahn (61’ 9-Cameron Lancaster), 22-George Davis IV (46’ 36-Paolo DelPiccolo); 17-Chandler Hoffman
Subs not used: 13-Greg Ranjitsingh, 6-Tarek Morad, 20-Enrique Montano, 2-Ben Newnam
NYRB II: 18-Ryan Meara, 66-Noah Powder, 33-Aaron Long, 17-Zach Carroll, 41-Konrad Plewa; 36-Dan Metzger (66’ 39-TIm Schmoll), 80-Devon Williams, 88-Vincent Bezecourt (39’ 44-Brian Saramago),; 7-Derrick Etienne Jr. 21-Brandon Allen, 77-Junior Flemmings (80’ 34-Mason Deeds)
Subs not used: 74-Rafael Diaz, 29-Stefano Bonomo
Resumen: LouCity Abre en Frente de 7,500 Aficionados contra NYRBII
Por Quin Welch, LouCity Insider/Traducido por Andy Canales
Louisville, Ky.- Louisville City FC abrió su temporada en casa el Sábado en Louisville Slugger Field en frente de 7,522 aficionados. El partido — jugado debajo de vientos fuerte — vio a el equipo visitante los New York Red Bulls II escapar con una victoria de 2-0 a través de goles de Junior Flemmings (minuto 29) y Brandon Allen (minuto 79).
“Tenemos los mejores aficionados en la liga” dijo O’Connor. “Tener 7,500 es un testamento a ellos. Mantuvieron animando el equipo por todo el partido. Le decimos gracias por eso y vamos mejorar.”
“Tenemos que poner este partido detrás de nosotros y asegurar que tenemos una buena semana de entrenamiento y estar listo par Orlando (City B).”
A pesar de controlar la posición por la mayoría del partido, LouCity no pudieron encontrar el gol que necesitaban. Los vientos fuerte en Slugger Field jugó una gran parte de la incapacidad de Louisville de anotar un gol. El entrenador James O’Connor dijo que le gustaría ver su equipo manejar las condiciones un poco mejor.
“Cuando manejamos una situación así y si no sabes como manejar unos vientos fuertes, lo hace bien difícil jugar nuestro juego en el segundo tiempo,” dijo O’Connor.
LouCity pudieron presionar a Nueva York y tuvieron varios tiro de esquina en todo el partido, coherente del estilo que quiere atacar O’Connor.
“Era unos de esos partidos frustrante y bien irritante. Todo era muy muy frustrante.”
O’Connor dijo que si vio unas cosas que el equipo puede trabajar durante la semana. Y dijo que es importante que el equipo mantengan sus cabezas arriba, a pesar de la derrota.
El portero Scott Goodwin repitió lo que dijo O’Connor de los aficionados el Sábado.
“Nuestro aficionados salieron a apoyar el equipo en la temporada pasada,” dijo Goodwin. “Ellos salieron hoy en gran números. Ese apoyo es enorme para el equipo porque sabemos que pase lo que pase ellos van estar detrás de nosotros.”
Entrando el 2016, Louisville City FC tiene 13 jugadores regresando de el equipo del 2015- incluyendo el ganador de el 2015 Gol del Año de la USL Aodhan Quinn y el ex delantero de la English Premier League Cameron Lancaster. Nuevo jugadores incluyen Chandler Hoffman quien ganó el MLS Cup con LA Galaxy, ex jugador de la Universidad de Louisville Paolo DelPiccolo y ex jugador de la Universidad de Kentucky George Davis IV.
LouCity regresa a Louisville Slugger Field el 9 de Abril para enfrentar a Orlando City B a las 7:30 p.m.
Aficionados pueden seguir toda la nueva noticias y información de boletos por nuestras medios sociales oficiales sobre Facebook, Twitter y Instagram. Boletos de temporada están disponible para nuestra segunda temporada sobre nuestro sitio web oficial.
