Louisville City FC on Saturday looked much like the team that closed the 2016 season with a run to the Eastern Conference Final, except only the scoreboard said otherwise.
While new Saint Louis FC coach Predrag “Preki” RadosavljeviÄ’s teams thrive while possessing and attacking – same as LouCity – the boys in purple limited both in their season opener at Slugger Field.
LouCity did it even with five newcomers in its lineup and withstood the mid-game departure of goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsinght.
Here’s what we learned…
• Coach James O’Connor named midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo, a University of Louisville graduate, as his team captain. DelPiccolo still holds the career assists record at U of L and figures to see plenty of minutes in 2017.
• Fans voted Richard Ballard their Modelo Man of the Match, and rightfully so. Ballard started on the right wing in his pro debut, often showing an ability to dribble past defenders and thrive in one-on-one situations. The goals didn’t come, but they appear on the way for the Louisville native.
• Ranjitsingh, who started for LouCity, suffered a non-contact injury late in the first half and left the game after seeing a trainer. He was forced to leave the 2016 Eastern Conference Final with a pulled groin, but after Saturday’s game, O’Connor said he wasn’t sure what ailed Ranjitsingh this time.
• Niall McCabe, who missed the last two games of 2016, received a warm welcome from LouCity fans as he subbed in late in the second half. McCabe came on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Cameron Lancaster, officially bringing his recovery from season-ending hip surgery in 2016 full circle.
• LouCity will see its depth return soon. Just five players filled out the bench – the USL allows three subs – though Mark-Anthony Kaye is on tour with Canada’s U-23 National Team. Defenders Paco Craig and Sean Reynolds continued to serve red card suspensions dating back to last year. Kaye, by the way, started Saturday in a 1-0 Canada win.
• The final score for Saturday’s game was 0-0, but that’s not it for the Kings’ Cup series this year. LouCity plays a return game in Missouri on July 22. More immediately, it’s purple against purple Thursday for LouCity’s next game at Orlando City B.
