Oscar Jimenez was full of confidence Friday night.
To be fair, he’s been brimming with it all season.
The Louisville City FC wing back played a role in both of Friday’s goals, including scoring a cheeky free kick, going around the wall on the infield turf and Bethlehem Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire in a 2-2 draw at Slugger Field.
Jimenez normally takes corner kicks and free kicks from out wide, but on Friday, with his confidence at a high, he wanted to take a centrally-located set piece.
“It was in a good range for Kyle (Smith), and Kyle went over there and he said, ‘This is my range,’ and I was just feeling it so I told him, ‘Let me have it’,” Jimenez said. “I figured (McGuire is) on the turf, it’s a little bit wet, if I can get it on the ground, maybe it can bounce right before him. It might be tricky for him — make it hard for him.”
Jimenez has arguably been Louisville City’s most important player all season in an attacking sense. The converted center midfielder created another five goal-scoring chances with his dangerous crosses and passing Friday evening, adding to his league-leading 62 goal-scoring chances created this year.
But sometimes his decisions on the field don’t even make the stat sheet. Jimenez’s run down the left wing gave midfielder Speedy Williams an option. Williams’ pass into the path of Jimenez’s run was redirected by the Steel defense, eventually resulting in a LouCity penalty kick.
Had Jimenez not made that run, there’s every chance that Williams would have played a square pass to a teammate or moved backward to reset the play.
“The one thing that people don’t realize is his fitness is exceptional. It really is,” said LouCity coach James O’Connor.” His intensity is really good. I think when you have the heart and the character he has, people will look at the quality – he’s got great quality – but the piece that a lot of people will miss is you look at how much ground he covers.
“You look (and) he’s up, he’s back, he’s up, he’s back, and his mentality is spot-on. He’s someone we’ve been really thrilled with, and I’m delighted because as it is to say, his work rate has been exceptional. So great for him, great that he’s getting his rewards.”
It certainly helps that Jimenez has so many targets to aim for in the center. The team had scored 42 goals since the start of June, with 16 of the 17 players getting on the scoresheet.
Jimenez admitted that he came in as a new player this season looking to fit into the squad. He’s done that and more, stepping into a leadership position on and off the field.
“I just think that you grow in confidence,” Jimenez said about his growth this season. “And right now, I feel good. I feel well here. I feel comfortable playing with these guys. I think we’re clicking at a very good time right now, and it’s just a lot of fun. And that’s the main thing. You want to have fun with soccer. That’s what I’m doing here — enjoying myself.”
Opinions expressed in this piece were not subject to club approval. For more insights on LouCity, follow former Courier-Journal reporter Dan Karell on Twitter: @DanKarellPreps.
