George Davis IV’s goal in Sunday afternoon’s 1-1 draw at the Ottawa Fury was Louisville City at its best.
The whole move leading up to the goal displayed tactical intelligence, aggressive play, and picture-perfect execution.
And if it looked familiar, that’s because we have seen this play before. Think back to Brian Ownby’s goal at New York Red Bulls II in June, when he beat the offside trap and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper before making an easy finish. That time it was Paolo DelPiccolo playing provider.
Let’s take a closer look at Davis’ goal:
54:57
Ottawa Fury’s Jamar Dixon saves a loose ball from going out of play, which would have given Louisville City a throw in at midfield. Tarek Morad closes Dixon down while Dixon’s teammate Jonathan Barden checks to him as a passing option.
Dixon decides to take a touch to his left to create a new passing angle, and plays a ball forward towards the checking run of 18-year-old Adonijah Reid. But Paco Craig reads the pass all the way and is first to the ball, stabbing it in the direction of Guy Abend.
55:03
With Louisville City in possession, muscle memory begins to activate. Davis begins his run towards goal about 10 yards behind the midfield line. Luke Spencer and Mark-Anthony Kaye are also leaning forward, as if they’re about to start running at the Fury backline. Speedy Williams is moving forward as well into open space in the midfield.
As soon as he receives it, Abend plays a quick one-touch pass forward to Williams, who quickly controls as Louisville City attack Ottawa in transition.
55:06
In the three seconds since Abend received the ball, Davis is already sprinting towards goal, I’m sure he’s noticed that Jamaican international and Fury midfielder Andrae Campbell is too wide, and has allowed Davis to get goal side as the pair are matching stride, step-for-step.
Meanwhile, Williams lets the pass from Abend run across his body as he advances into Ottawa’s half of the field, with multiple teammates to pass to; Richard Ballard is available on the left, while Spencer and Kaye are available on the right, though Kaye’s passing angle appears to be blocked by Dixon, who has quickly moved inside of Williams in a defensive possion.
Williams then plays a sneaky pass with the outside of his right boot to Spencer, who lunges to keep possession and plays it back to Williams in plenty of space, as Dixon has dropped off into the backline.
55:08
In two split seconds, both after Williams’ initial pass to Spencer and then when he is returned the ball again, he takes a quick glance up to survey the field. Williams realizes that Davis has the inside angle on Campbell and plays a lofted ball over the defense with his first touch, releasing Davis into the space behind the backline while Ottawa players can only watch.
55:11
The ball lands just inside the 18-yard box but former University of Kentucky goalkeeper Callum Irving comes off his line to cut off Davis’ angle. Davis however deftly and calmly takes the lofted cross down with his right foot and takes the ball around his fellow Wildcat Irving and Campbell before scoring into an empty net. Davis took advantage of Irving’s mis-timed decision but the quality to take a cross down with one touch on the turf and finish with the next is extraordinary.
In the span of 15 seconds, Louisville City went from defending to seeing the ball cross the line to score, a classic counter-attacking goal that has been a mainstay for James O’Connor’s side.
Here’s a look at the goal from start to finish:
