Among the 7,603 fans at City Stadium on Saturday were a few still wearing their red replica jerseys with “Ownby” or “Davis IV” printed across the backs.
Two former Richmond Kickers players — now starting midfielders for Louisville City FC — led the attack in a 1-0 LouCity win, all as the Kickers labored with their own offense.
Brian Ownby tallied five shots and Davis IV two. The latter stepped up to net a penalty kick in the 81st minute that made the difference in a happy homecoming.
Here’s more of what we took away from Saturday’s game:
• Forward Luke Spencer made his first professional start up top, a week after scoring his first processional goal in a 3-1 win over Orlando City B. Spencer numbered three shots on target and often used his 6-foot-2 frame to keep the ball in dangerous spots.
• Mark-Anthony Kaye missed LouCity’s first two games while on international duty with Canada’s U-23 national team. The midfielder showed just how valuable he is after coming on for Ownby in the second half. After just two minutes on the pitch, he played a part in earning the game-winning penalty kick.
• Thrust into the starting goalkeeper role early this season, Tim Dobrowolski received fans’ votes for Man of the Match while posting a clean sheet, though it didn’t come easy. He recorded two saves and registered one intercepted cross. A diving stop late prevented Richmond from equalizing.
• LouCity has now defeated Richmond in three straight meetings, with this victory coming on the heels of last year’s tilt in the USL Cup Playoffs. A win set up a meeting of unbeaten Eastern Conference powers next weekend at Louisville Slugger Field, where LouCity hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
