ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Louisville City FC suffered its only setback of the season so far Saturday night, falling by a 2-0 score to the host Tampa Bay Rowdies after opening 2017 on a string of six games unbeaten.
Georgi Hristov, a Bulgarian striker who played first division soccer in Europe, curled a go-ahead goal past LouCity’s defense in the 59th minute before Deshorn Brown capitalized on a turnover to double the lead in the 72nd.
The second half outburst offset a solid opening first — albeit a scoreless one — by LouCity. Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye banged a shot off the near post in the 15th minute, and forward Luke Spencer pushed a header just wide before the break.
A defeat dropped LouCity to No. 4 on the USL Eastern Conference table following a week-long hiatus in the schedule. The club has at least one game in hand on others in the top eight, which designate playoff positions.
“There were passages of play we can be pleased with, but today we’ve been beaten two-nil,” said coach James O’Connor. “You don’t get anything for playing well. It’s important we take it on board and analyze the game. It’s frustrating to lose for sure.”
Momentum swung out of the locker room in LouCity’s first visit to Al Lang Stadium. Shots were even at five apiece heading into the half, but Tampa Bay wound up with 7 on goal to the visitors’ 1. LouCity did find some vulnerability in the Rowdies’ back line, as all four defenders were assessed yellow cards — but they stood up to every attack.
The best chances to strike both immediately followed Tampa Bay’s first goal. Three minutes later, midfielder Brian Ownby squared up on a shot from distance that was tipped over the bar. On the ensuing corner kick, the Rowdies came up with a save on defender Kyle Smith’s header at the far post.
Tampa Bay’s goals marked the first time LouCity has trailed this season. The club had also yet to allow more than one goal in a match.
“I think our pressure was good in the second half, but we didn’t maintain enough possession,” Kaye said. “It’s very difficult to get ahold of the game when you don’t have the ball. They fed off of it, and they ended up scoring a good goal. After that, you’re under pressure, and it’s a harder climb to get back. It’s not impossible, but I think us not maintaining possession of the ball definitely hurt us.”
LouCity faces a short turnaround to its next game, a Wednesday matchup against Pittsburgh-based Tartan Devils FC in the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup. That game, as with LouCity’s May 20 meeting with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, will be played a Highmark Stadium.
Game Summary
Match: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Louisville City FC
Date: May 13, 2017
Venue: Al Lang Stadium
Kickoff: 7:35 p.m.
Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy
Man of the Match: Tim Dobrowolski
Scoring
Tampa Bay Rowdies (0,2,2)
Louisville City FC (0,0,0)
Goals
Tampa Bay Rowdies: 59’ Georgi Hristov right footed to top right corner, assisted by Joe Cole. 72’ Deshorn Brown right footed to top left corner, assisted by Joe Cole.
Lineups
Tampa Bay Rowdies: 18- Matt Pickens, 2- Darnell King, 4- Marcel Shafer, 31- Damion Lowe, 3- Neill Collins, 32- Martin Vingaard, 26- Joe Cole (89’ 23- Michael Nanchoff), 13- Justin Chavez, 7- Darwin Jones, 11- Leo Fernandes (53’ 10- Georgi Hristov), 8- Deshorn Brown (78’ 19- Martin Paterson)
Subs not used: 50- Akira Fitzgerald, 14- Luke Boden, 17- Tamika Mkandawire, 9- Alex Morrell
Head coach: Stuart Campbell
Louisville City FC: 28- Tim Dobrowolski, 24- Kyle Smith, 19- Oscar Jimenez, 4- Sean Totsch, 18- Paco Craig, 36- Paolo DelPiccolo, 7- Mark-Anthony Kaye (65’ 23- Richard Ballard), 8- Guy Abend, 10- Brian Ownby (71’ 9- Cameron Lancaster), 22- George Davis IV (79’ 12- Ilija Ilic), 12- Luke Spencer
Subs not used: 13- Micah Bledsoe, 6- Tarek Morad, 15- Sean Reynolds, 80- Speedy Williams
Head coach: James O’Connor
Discipline
Tampa Bay Rowdies: 46’ Darnell King shown yellow card, 70’ Damion Lowe shown yellow card, 73’ Neill Collins shown yellow card, 78’ Deshorn Brown shown yellow card, 89’ Justin Chavez shown yellow card.
Louisville City FC: 87’ Paco Craig shown yellow card.
Officials
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Osterhouse
Assistant Referee 2: Hassan Belmnahia
4th Official: Alexander Derostaing