ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a rematch of last year’s USL Eastern Conference final, Louisville City FC exacted some revenge Saturday, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos that snapped the host club’s 24-match home unbeaten streak.
A pretty piece of play in the 28th minute — it started with captain Aodhan Quinn’s interception and ended with midfielder Andrew Lubahn’s third goal of the season — kept LouCity undefeated on the road this season. The club hasn’t lost now, overall, in 12 straight league games.
“I thought the players showed tremendous fortitude,” said coach James O’Connor. “I thought our play at times was really, really good. I thought we passed the ball well. I thought we had some good opportunities to score.
“The players deserve enormous credit to come to a place where they’re unbeaten so many games in the league – I think it’s 24, 25 games in the league – and for the guys to come and show that type of performance, I can’t speak highly enough.”
Highlights: Top plays from LouCity-Rochester
Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made three saves throughout and posted a clean sheet while working with a pair of new defenders on the back line: Enrique Montano made his second start of the season and rookie Paco Craig his first as a professional.
The Rhinos had two solid looks of their own LouCity’s decisive goal. Rochester’s leading scorer, Christian Volesky, accounted for both of them, but neither his shot in the 17th or header in the 25th made it past Ranjitsingh.
Three minutes later, Quinn fed George Davis IV a pass near the box before Davis crossed to Niall McCabe, and Lubahn chipped in the go-ahead shot.
Photos: Gallery from Rhinos Stadium
“A great ball from Quinnie, a great ball from Niall, and Andrew finished it off,” Davis IV said. “Good play all around, and we know we’re capable of scoring good goals like that. We just have to take the chances when we get them.”
Rochester upped its pressure late looking to tie. A raised flag for offside waived off a would-be goal in the 82nd minute, and a flurry of chances in stoppage time didn’t materialize into an equalizer.
The Rhinos’ last loss at home in USL play came in August of 2014 — before LouCity’s franchise even started play.
The teams first battled to a draw in 2015 at Louisville Slugger Field. Later in the season, Rochester took all three points in both meetings in New York, the second of them in the playoffs.
Video: Coach O’Connor speaks on the victory
This time, LouCity’s victory improved its record to 9-1-4. At 31 points, Louisville has four more than the New York Red Bulls II, who play Sunday, and the win served as a rebound from last week’s draw with Wilmington Hammerheads FC, which evened the score in stoppage time.
“We came out with a lot of energy,” Davis IV said. “We wanted a good response after the result last week. We felt like we wanted a win – that we should have won – and we want to stay at the top of the league. We want to continue to strive for our goals. I thought the attitude was spot on.
“The mentality was good, and I thought we deserved three points.”
Summary
Match: Rochester Rhinos vs. Louisville City FC
Date: June 18, 2016
Venue: Rhinos Stadium
Kickoff: 6:06 p.m.
Weather: Clear, 86 degrees
Attendance: 4,365
Man of the Match: Andrew Lubahn
Scoring Summary
Louisville (28′): Aodhan Quinn intercepted a Rochester pass and threaded the needle to George Davis IV near the box. A cross met the foot of Niall McCabe, who dished to Andrew Lubahn for the finish on LouCity’s first shot on goal of the match.
Goal Scoring Rundown
LouCity (1, 0, 1)
Rochester (0 ,0, 0)
Lineups
Rochester Rhinos: 18-Tomas Gomez, 3-Kamdem Bradley (81′ 2-Marcps Ugarte), 4-Sean Totsch, 15-Joe Farrell, 21-Dom Samuel (60′ 11-Kenardo Forbes), 7-Ryan James (81′ 22-Brandon Beresford), 13-Mike Garzi, 17-Wal Fall, 29-Sofiane Tergou (71′ 6-Michael Guilavogui), 9-Christian Volesky (60′ 10-Steevan Dos Santos), 12-Asani Samuels.
Subs not used: 1-Adam Grinwis, 23-Jordan Becker.
Head coach: Bob Lilley
Louisville City FC: 13-Greg Ranjitsingh, 24-Kyle Smith, 20-Enrique Montano, 15-Sean Reynolds, 18-Paco Craig, 4-Aodhan Quinn, 36-Paolo DelPiccolo, 77-Andrew Lubahn (74′ 12-Mark-Anthony Kaye), 11-Niall McCabe (89′ 8-Guy Abend), 17-Chandler Hoffman (86′ 9-Cameron Lancaster), 22-George Davis IV (84′ 7-Kadeem Dacres).
Subs not used: 1-Scott Goodwin, 14-Ilija Illic, 5-Conor Shanosky.
Head coach: James O’Connor
Stats Summary: Rochester / LouCity
Shots: 4 / 3
Shots on Goal: 3 /3
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 15 / 16
Offside: 3 / 4
Officials
Referee: Patrick Rosas
Assistant Referee 1: David Carpinella
Assistant Referee 2: Jeffrey Cook
4th Official: B J Dunham
