Louisville City FC finally broke through to beat the New York Red Bulls II last month. This time, can the boys in purple do it at home?
The defending USL champions visit for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday start at Slugger Field, with tickets available by calling (502) 384-8799 or at www.loucity.com/tickets. Purchase in advance to save money and avoid game day lines.
Here’s what to watch for with New York at LouCity…
Tune In
TV: WMYO-58 will air the game live and in high definition locally with Mike Watts, voice of the USL, on the call.
Radio: TJ Walker (play-by-play) and Jeff Milby (color commentary) will voice the action on NewsRadio 840 WHAS, with pregame coverage starting at 7:15 p.m.
Streaming: Watch live via the USL Match Center or at www.loucity.com.
Follow Along
For Starting XI information and in-game updates, check us out on social media. It’s @loucityfc on Twitter, Louisville City FC on Facebook and louisvillecityfc on Instagram. Vote for the Modelo Man of the Match on Twitter starting in the 75th minute.
Links
• Lancaster’s experience a boost to striker competition
• Videos: O’Connor, players preview Saturday’s game
• Red Bulls formidable even without leading scorer Allen
• LouCity looking for regular-season sweep of Red Bulls
• Kaye learns important lessons on international duty
Notes
Chasing Charleston: The race for the top spot on the USL Eastern Conference table shifted in LouCity’s favor recently as the first-place Charleston Battery played to a midweek draw. They now sit four points up, but LouCity (9-3-5, 32 points) has three games in hand. The New York Red Bulls II (7-10-3, 24 points) are well behind their record-setting 2016 pace, though they still occupy a playoff position in the USL East’s top eight
Last time they met: LouCity snagged its first-ever victory over the Red Bulls II in a June 11 game in New Jersey. A 3-0 scoreline represented a reversal of fortune for the boys in purple, who had lost all five of their previous matchups with the Red Bulls. Goals came from Kyle Smith, Brian Ownby and Richard Ballard as goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh delivered the clean sheet on the road.
Attendance rising: Support for LouCity is sharply on the rise, with attendance peaking for the club’s last home game against FC Cincinnati at a single-game record 11,632. The figure boosted the season average through seven home games to 8,529, an 18.2 percent increase over 2016. A crowd in excess of 8,000 can be expected again Saturday with another home game against FC Cincinnati then set for Aug. 12.
LouCity bounces back: A positive trend continued last weekend with LouCity’s 4-1 win at Saint Louis FC. In that game, along with two others this year following losses, the club has followed up defeat with victory. As this weekend passes, LouCity will mark a full calendar year without back-to-back losses as part of a streak dating back to July 30, 2016.
Accolades for Oscar: Oscar Jimenez earned his first USL Team of the Week honor with a Man of the Match performance against Saint Louis. The defender equalized for LouCity shortly after the hosts received a red card, and he minutes later assisted the game-winning goal on a cross to teammate Paco Craig. His scoring strike — a cutback from the right side, in which Jimenez played the ball through a defender’s legs — narrowly missed on winning USL Goal of the Week voting.
Kaye key in return: Last Thursday, LouCity’s Mark-Anthony Kaye was on the bench for Canada’s final CONCACAF Gold Cup game, his mind on international duty. But after a loss to Jamaica, he was on a plane the next morning to St. Louis, then on Saturday started for LouCity, which was shorthanded with two players out due to yellow card accumulation. Kaye logged 73 minutes on the wing, tallying one shot attempted and one blocked.
A shift in goal: Tim Dobrowolski returned between the posts against Saint Louis for the first time since May 20, before Greg Ranjitsingh returned from a hip flexor injury suffered in the season opener. He was credited with one save — a key stop in the second half, when LouCity led 2-1 — boosting his season total to 20. It was a coach’s decision to start Dobrowolski over Ranjitsingh, opening the battle for playing time in goal.
Smith’s season: Even after forced to sit out last weekend’s game on yellow card accumulation, Kyle Smith continues to lead his team with 1,440 minutes played. Consistency on the right side of the field recently earned him USL Midseason Defender of the Year honors. His stats: 7 blocks, 2 assists and 1 goal scored in the club’s first game against New York. Smith has gone the full 90 minutes in all 16 of his appearances.
Ballard setting the pace: Louisville native Richard Ballard has proven a threat late in games, bringing speed and athleticism when opponents are on tired legs. Last week, he assisted LouCity’s final two goals, raising his season total to a team-leading four assists while mostly featuring as a substitute. The DuPont Manual High School product has also scored two goals, including a game-winner in June against the Charlotte Independence, who have yet to lose again since then.
Injury report: LouCity midfielder George Davis is questionable to appear Saturday due to a tweak to his knee, but coach James O’Connor hasn’t ruled out the winger, saying, “We’re still hopeful that he’ll have a chance. George is such a great guy. He’d run through a brick wall for you. He’s not somebody you write off.”
