Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor and players said they’d benefit from the wide open spaces provided by Orlando City Stadium, the massive downtown facility with a field built specifically for soccer.
Wearing their white and gold road kits — LouCity remained unbeaten in them Thursday night — the club poured in goals to knock off Orlando City B, 3-1, and validate their claim.
Here’s what else we took away from the game:
- Tim Dobrowolski, who started once last season with Greg Ranjitsingh away on international duty, filled in well with the starting keeper this time out due to injury. Dobrowolski was rarely tested but rose to the occasion in the 61st minute when a brilliant header came his way. The keeper preserved what was then a 2-1 lead.
- Fans voted George Davis IV their Man of the Match after a beautiful go-ahead goal midway through the second half on the assist from Richard Ballard. Could it be the start of another big year? Davis IV finished 2016 as LouCity’s co-second-leading scorer with 5 goals in the regular season, and the USL veteran added another in the playoffs.
- Midfielder Cameron Lancaster got over the hump of scoring on either penalty kicks or set pieces in the 11th minute when, on the counter, he slotted a shot from distance pat Orlando City B’s keeper. Lancaster subbed out in the first half for precautionary reasons; his replacement, Luke Spencer, tallied six shots and a goal.
- Though the official time of possession (52-48%) said otherwise, LouCity poured the pressure on Orlando City B’s defenders. The end result was an effort that took advantage of the chances created. While LouCity totaled fewer shots Thursday (17) than in last week’s scoreless draw with Saint Louis FC (21), the boys goals.
- Defender Paco Craig returned from suspension Thursday, listed on the bench, but did not see the field. Coach James O’Connor complimented his center backs, in particular Tarek Morad, who bounced back to have a strong second half after scoring an equalizing own goal in the first. Orlando totaled only three shots on target, all in the second half.
