Louisville City FC Match Report
By Quin Welch, LouCity Insider
MELBOURNE, Fla.- Louisville City FC rallied from a goal down playing with ten men to secure all three points on the road against Orlando City B by a score of 3-4.
Coach James O’Connor’s squad started nicely and looked hot from the start, with striker Chandler Hoffman opening the scoring after a perfect cross from Kyle Smith. Despite the hot start, however, Orlando City B responded quickly with a Harrison Heath goal in the 29th minute.
Things looked even more dreary for LouCity in a matter of minutes, as midfielder George Davis IV was sent off with a second yellow card. The two teams went into their respective locker rooms deadlocked at 1-1.
OCB cranked it up at the start of the second half and took advantage of their one-man advantage. Orlando’s Hadji Berry received a cross from a teammate and and gave his team the go-ahead goal and OCB led 2-1. However, as they say, it’s always darkest before the dawn. O’Connor said the challenge of playing away from home with a man down was a tough one.
“It was a tough game. It was a big challenge for us to come to Orlando. That definitely increased when we went down to ten men,” O’Connor said.
In the 60th minute, Andrew Lubahn bravely dribbled into the Orlando box and passed to a charging Ben Newnam. The defender smashed the ball off the post, into the back of the net, equalizing the match. Many would have been content with a 2-2 draw with a man down, but as LouCity supporters know, this team has incredible ambition.
That ambition led to a go-ahead third goal, courtesy of a Lubahn header from a Paolo DelPiccolo cross. The goal further energized the ten-man LouCity and led to yet another goal against a shocked Orlando City B.
After an OCB foul, Aodhan Quinn, the reigning goal of the year winner, had another beautiful bender and scored off of the free kick.
LouCity sat back for the remainder of the half and played defensively. Despite a Michael Cox goal in stoppage time, O’Connor’s squad was able to hold on and win 3-4. O’Connor said he was happy with the grit his team showed in such difficult circumstances.
“I thought the guys showed tremendous fight and tremendous courage so I’m pleased with how we performed tonight,” O’Connor said. “Anthony (Pulis) is a very good young coach. He’s very organized. We were well aware of the challenge it was to come here. It was a big test and we performed well, so we can be happy.”
Louisville City will return to Slugger Field on June 11 to host Wilmington Hammerheads (7:30 p.m. | TICKETS).
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.
Match: Orlando City B vs. Louisville City FC
Date: June 5, 2016
Competition: United Soccer League
Venue: Titan Soccer Complex
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Weather: 80 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 FT
ORL 1 2 4
LOU 1 3 4
Key Defensive Stops and Saves
LOU: 50’ Greg Ranjitsingh: Ranjitsingh made a beautiful double save by tapping an incoming shot off the bar and then by stopping the rebound with his body.
Goal Scoring Rundown
LOU: 12’ Chandler Hoffman: Hoffman received a beautiful cross from Kyle Smith and sent it home to open the match’s scoring.
ORL: 29’ Harrison Heath: Heath charged in the box and took a Hadji Barry cross and put it past Greg Ranjitsingh for OCB’s first goal.
ORL 51’ Hadji Barry: Barry gave OCB the lead and made it 2-1, seemingly sealing the deal for the hosts.
LOU: 62’ Ben Newnam: Newnam made an unusal run into the box and sent one home after a pass from substitute Andrew Lubahn.
LOU: 64’ Andrew Lubahn: Just two minutes later, Lubahn scored one of his own. He headed home a Paolo DelPiccolo cross to give LouCity the lead again.
LOU: 68’ Aodhan Quinn: Quinn took advantage of the free kick and sealed the deal for LouCity with a beautiful bender past the OCB keeper.
ORL: 90+’ Michael Cox: Cox went on a run for a long ball through the air and got one back for the hosts.
Lineups
LOU: 13-Greg Ranjitsingh; 24-Kyle Smith, 15-Sean Reynolds, 6-Tarek Morad, 2-Ben Newnam; 4-Aodhan Quinn (c), 36-Paolo DelPiccolo, 12-Mark-Anthony Kaye (82’ 8-GuyAbend), 11-Niall McCabe (56’ 77-Andrew Lubahn), 22-George Davis IV; 17-Chandler Hoffman (53’ 9-Cameron Lancaster)
Subs not used: 1-Scott Goodwin, 14-Ilija Ilic, 20-Enrique Montano, 5-Conor Shanosky
ORL: 50-Mark Ridgers; 2-Tyler Turner, 16-Devron Garcia, 23-Conor Donovan, 45-Mikey Ambrose, 6-Richie Laryea, 8-Harrison Heath (70’ 51-Michael Cox), 24-Lewis Neal, 46-Tony Rocha, 48-Pierre DaSilva; 13-Hadji Berry
Subs not used: 70-Jake Fenlason, 42-Zach Hayden, 48-Kyle McFadden, 40-Johnny Mendoza, 47-Marius Obekop, 49-Andrew Ribiero,
Additional Notes
- Louisville City FC enters the game as the leaders of the USL’s Eastern Conference.
- LouCity defeated Orlando City B 4-1 on April 9 at Louisville Slugger Field.
- LouCity coach James O’Connor played for Orlando City SC, OCB’s parent club, from 2012-14. He also worked as a player coach with the club.
- Orlando City B coach Anthony Pulis is the son of English Premier League manager Tony Pulis.
Quote Sheet
James O’Connor on winning with ten men away from home: “It was a tough game. It was a big challenge for us to come to Orlando. That definitely increased when we went down to ten men.”
O’Connor on how his team played on Sunday night: “I thought the guys showed tremendous fight and tremendous courage so I’m pleased with how we performed tonight.”
O’Connor on coaching against Anthony Pulis:“Anthony (Pulis) is a very good young coach. He’s very organized. We were well aware of the challenge it was to come here. It was a big test and we performed well, so we can be happy.”
