Louisville City FC on Saturday night proved its offense is up to the task of competing with the best of the United Soccer League.
The club broke out of its scoring drought via a shootout with first-place Eastern Conference side Charleston Battery, playing to a 4-4 draw at MUSC Health Stadium in South Carolina.
LouCity trailed at points by 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 scores but rallied in each instance. A 79th-minute strike from distance by midfielder Brian Ownby pulled the boys to within one before Richard Ballard’s cross resulted in an equalizing own goal in the 82nd minute.
“I’m so proud of the character of the team,” said coach James O’Connor. “Tough draw to keep fighting like that and to keep going, keep driving, and keep pushing. It really was exceptional character for the team.”
The result came on the heels of a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup loss Wednesday at FC Cincinnati. And dating back to April, LouCity had tallied just one goal against professional competition in three games.
Offense didn’t lack Saturday against a Battery side that entered with the Eastern Conference’s highest number of wins (seven) and points (23).
“It was a tough game mentally and physically, but we grinded and showed some true heart,” said left back Oscar Jimenez. “We got punched in the face when we were a goal down. Got two goals down and came back on the scoreboard. We get punched in the face again.
“Then there’s just the willingness and the drive that all the boys had. It’s just, “Go for it and try to get back in this game.” And we did.”
Charleston forward Romario Williams, a former first-round Major League Soccer draft pick, set the tone with a first half brace pushing his season tally to 10 goals in 11 appearances. When LouCity’s hopes looked bleak, Jimenez deflected in the club’s first goal in stoppage time before the half.
Momentum was halted again when Maikel Chang doubled the lead in the locker room, but George Davis IV pulled LouCity back — also on a deflected shot — with his team-leading fourth goal of the year in the 60th minute.
A draw also seemed unlikely after the hour mark of the game. Ricky Garbanzo slotted home host Charleston’s fourth goal on a nice ball in by O’Brian Woodbine. But then LouCity rallied with two goals in three minutes.
“We went down how many times? Four times?” asked Davis IV. “And we we’re able to come back every time. There was plenty of fight in the guys, and they never gave up.”
LouCity had scored eight goals in eight USL games going into Saturday. The club has only one other time conceded four goals in a game, in an Aug. 5, 2015, loss to FC Montreal.
Despite high tallies on both sides, the stat sheet leaned heavily toward the boys in white and gold. LouCity controlled 59 percent of the possession, out-shot Charleston by a 19-6 margin and nearly came away with a game-winner late.
Ownby tried again from distance in the 89th minute, and midfielder Niall McCabe, on as a substitute, put one over the bar in stoppage time.
Slow from the gate, LouCity’s adjusted lineup paid off Saturday. Forward Ilija Ilic and defender Sean Reynolds made their first starts, Cameron Lancaster switched to the attacking midfield, and Devon “Speedy” Williams played alongside Guy Abend in the holding midfield. Davis IV wore the captain’s armband with Paolo DelPiccolo out on red card suspension.
Away from Louisville Slugger Field since April 29, LouCity returns Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Charlotte Independence.
Game Summary
Match: Charleston Battery vs. Louisville City FC
Date: June 3, 2017
Venue: MUSC Health Stadium
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.
Weather: 80 degrees, sunny
Man of the Match: George Davis IV
Scoring
Charleston Battery (2,2,4)
Louisville City FC (1,3,4)
Goals
Charleston Battery:
11’ Romario Williams threads one in from the left side of the box with a LouCity defender just short of keeping it from going over the line; assist to Kotaro Higashi.
32’ Williams fires one back for his second of the night.
48’ Maikel Chang strikes it back from the top of the box; assist to Higashi.
73’ Ricky Garbazno lets one fly into the center of the goal; assist O’Brian Woodbine
Louisville City FC:
46’ Oscar Jiminez strikes one in off a deflection from a free kick at the top of the box.
60’ George Davis IV, also thanks to a deflection, knocks one over the keeper’s head; assist to Ilija Illic
79’ Brian Ownby strikes one in the top left corner of the goal from distance.
82’ Forrest Lasso scores on own goal on a cross from Richard Ballard.
Lineups
Charleston Battery: 23- Odisnel Cooper, 6- Skylar Thomas (72’ 11- Quinton Griffth), 4- Taylor Mueller, 3- Forrest Lasso, 7- O’Brian Woodbine, 21- Maikel Chang (86’ 19- Dante Marini), 20- Justin Portillo, 22- Tah Brian Anunga, 25- Kotaro Higashi, 16- Heviel Cordoves (63’ 17- Ricky Garbanzo), 9- Romario Williams
Subs not used: 0- Joe Kuzminsky, 8- Neveal Hacksaw, 24- Nico Rittemeyer, 14- Jeffrey Otoo
Head coach: Michael Anhaeuser
Louisville City FC: 1- Greg Ranjitsingh 24- Kyle Smith, 4- Sean Totsch, 15- Sean Reynolds, 19- Oscar Jimenez, 8- Guy Abend, 80- Devon “Speedy” Williams (10- Brian Ownby), 22- George Davis IV, 9- Cameron Lancaster (83’ 11- Niall McCabe), 7- Mark-Anthony Kaye ( 69’ 23- Richard Ballard), 14- Ilija Ilic
Subs not used: 28- Tim Dobrowolski, 13- Micah Blesoe,18- Paco Craig ,6- Tarek Morad.
Head coach: James O’Connor
Discipline
Charleston Battery: ’23 Forrest Lasso – Yellow Card
53’ Tah Brian Anunga – Yellow Card
88’ Dante Marini — Yellow Card
Louisville City FC: 60’ Kyle Smith – Yellow Card
90’ Richard Ballard — Yellow Card
Officials
Referee: Jon Freemon
Assistant Referee 1: Caleb Nobles
Assistant Referee 2: James Boswell
4th Official: David Erbacher
