Despite allowing four goals for just the second time in franchise history, Louisville City FC on Saturday answered questions on offense in a meeting with the USL Eastern Conference’s No. 1 team, the Charleston Battery.
The club matched what it tallied in its previous five league games combined, and they were just enough to draw the Battery, 4-4. Charleston had already numbered five clean sheets through its first 11 games, a sign of forward momentum as LouCity returns home.
Next comes a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday game at Louisville Slugger Field, the first game there since April 29.
Until Saturday, LouCity’s attack had come under fire. Twice the boys in purple have played to scoreless draws this year. They had just two multi-goal games. And they entered off a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup defeat at rival FC Cincinnati.
But a draw at Charleston changed plenty, especially with a series of home games up next.
Here’s more of what we took away from Saturday’s game:
• LouCity saw a number of lineup changes in its first USL match since May 20. With Paolo DelPiccolo serving a one game suspension for a red card against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, George Davis IV took his role as team captain against the Battery. Other notable changes include Ilija Ilic getting the nod at forward as well as Mark-Anthony Kaye starting at right wing.
• Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made his second straight start against professional competition after his return from a Week 1 hip flexor strain. Ranjitsingh, who played in 27 games for LouCity in 2016, made four saves Wednesday against FC Cincinnati and saw significant more action against the Battery’s attack.
• LouCity midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye made his third start of the 2017 campaign Saturday. Kaye, having already earned a short stint with Canada’s U-23 National Team, received his first full call up to the Canadian National Soccer Team and will depart Sunday for a training camp in Montreal.
• Despite being down two goals at half, LouCity had a quick turnaround in the second 45. The boys tallied six shots on target, doubling the Battery’s tries on frame. Though LouCity also dominated the possession in the first half (60.8%), it wasn’t until the second that the side saw three goals hit the back of the net. LouCity finished the match with a whopping 59.3% possession.
