Magnus Rasmussen’s first goal of the season also landed the Louisville City FC midfielder on the USL Team of the Week for the first time in 2016.
Rasmussen, who scored from distance Saturday in the 55th minute of a 2-0 win over the Richmond Kickers, earned a spot on the USL’s top 11. Meanwhile, forward Cameron Lancaster found a position on the bench for converting a 19th-minute penalty kick that originally gave LouCity the lead.
The club has won three straight games in a streak that coincides with Rasmussen’s return to the starting lineup. A Denmark native, he was LouCity’s top returning scorer from 2015 but underwent offseason hip surgery, forcing him to miss preseason.
“After such a long time, you need that game speed,” Rasmussen said Saturday. “You need that fitness. I can run all I want on the training pitch, but it’s not the same as playing a game. I feel like my game fitness is getting there.”
The 23-year-old added, after scoring eight goals last season, “It’s obviously a big moment for me to get a goal and feel like I’m making a difference on the team again.”
Next time out, LouCity will face the reigning USL Player of the Week, Saint Louis FC forward Irvin Herrera, who recorded a hat trick last weekend in a win over San Antonio FC. In his return from international duty with El Salvador, Herrera scored twice in the first half and once in the second to help keep STLFC’s playoff hopes alive.
Kickoff Saturday in St. Louis is 8:30 p.m. ET.
USL Team of the Week
GK – John Berner, Charlotte Independence: Berner recorded a seven-save shutout as the Independence took a 4-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
D – Brent Richards, Portland Timbers 2: Richards scored the only goal as T2 took a victory against Rio Grande Valley FC, snapping the Toros’ 10-game undefeated streak.
D – Bruno Perone, Wilmington Hammerheads FC: Perone scored twice as Wilmington took a 3-0 victory against Orlando City B last Wednesday to boost his side’s playoff hopes.
D – Oumar Ballo, Swope Park Rangers: Ballo helped limit Tulsa to only three shots on goal in the Rangers’ 3-0 victory against the Roughnecks on Saturday night.
M – Jimmy-Shammar Sanon, FC Montreal: Sanon’s first professional goal lifted Montreal to a 2-1 victory against Charleston last Wednesday, the side’s third win in four games with the Battery.
M – Vincent Bezecourt, New York Red Bulls II: Bezecourt had three goals and an assist in two games as the Red Bulls II claimed the 2016 USL Regular Season Championship.
M – Luke Vercollone, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Vercollone notched both goals as the Switchbacks took a victory on the road against Vancouver in a key Western clash.
M – David Estrada, Charlotte Independence: Estrada scored a pair of goals as the Independence took a 4-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night.
M – Magnus Rasmussen, Louisville City FC: Rasmussen’s first goal of the season highlighted a strong all-around performance in Louisville’s 2-0 win against Richmond.
F – Sean Okoli, FC Cincinnati: Okoli had three goals in two games as Cincinnati took victories against Saint Louis and Wilmington to move back into third place in the East.
F – Irvin Herrera, Saint Louis FC: In his return from international duty with El Salvador, Herrera had a hat trick to lead STLFC to a 3-1 win on the road against San Antonio.
Bench: Mark Pais (STL), Kyle Hyland (OKC), Jordan Schweitzer (SEA), Cameron Lancaster (LOU), Trevin Caesar (OC), Noah Powder (NY), Maikel Chang (CHS).
