After a gritty draw with North Carolina FC on Saturday, Louisville City FC faces Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on short notice for their fourth match in 12 days in all competitions.
Celebrating Pride Month in all of June, City hosts the club’s Pride Night presented by the Kentuckiana Pride Foundation. For more information on Playing for Pride and how to donate, check out this USL’s article!
When & Where
LouCity welcomes Riverhounds SC on Wednesday, June 27, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. at Slugger Field.
The match will be aired on WBNA-TV 21, as well as streamed on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the match on 1080 WKJK. Fans can also follow #LOUvPGH on Twitter & Instagram.
TV: WBNA-TV 21
RADIO: 1080 WKJK
STREAM: ESPN+
DOWNLOAD: LouCity app for iOS | LouCity app for Android
Last Time Out
Louisville City FC returned to Louisville with a point in hand following the team’s 2-2 draw with North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC on Saturday night. The result extended City’s unbeaten run to eight games across all competitions and leaves them in second place in the Eastern Conference on 25 points with 13 games played, five points behind FC Cincinnati (30 pts) on 15 games played.
Defender Paco Craig scored City’s equalizer from a set piece after NC forward Daniel Rios initially put the hosts in front in the first half. Near the hour mark, it was City’s turn to go ahead via a goal from forward Ilija Ilic, before a late equalizer, again from Rios, secured a point for both sides.
– U.S. OPEN CUP: CITY TO TRAVEL TO CHICAGO FOR QUARTERFINAL CLASH AT TOYOTA PARK –
Rewind against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
This is the first time in the 2018 regular season that LouCity and Riverhounds SC will cross paths. However, City coach James O’Connor and Riverhounds SC coach Bob Lilley are plenty familiar with each other.
The last time these two met at Slugger Field, City were 1-0 victors in the 2017 USL Eastern Conference Semifinal when Lilley was in charge of the Rochester Rhinos. This will also be the first time O’Connor takes on Lilley as the head coach of Riverhounds SC.
Kentucky Lottery Kees to the Game
With LouCity looking to stay unbeaten at home in the regular season, here are a few KY Lottery Kees to the Game for #LOUvPGH:
- Keep your shape
- Convert your chances
- Move the ball effectively
James O’Connor’s pre-match press conference:
On whether Saturday’s draw feels like a loss:
“Yeah, it does, to be honest. I think we spoke about it, obviously we’ve got some instances where we’re really pleased with it, and other instances we’re really frustrated. I think it’s just a testament to the guys, it shows you how far we’ve come, we get frustrated. I think for us, we expect to win the game, but whatever it is, 4-5 minutes left, we should win the game. You know, we’ve had some chances obviously, a goal disallowed, which was maybe a bit dubious, but I think overall, we had instances where we looked as if we were moving the ball really well, other instances where we didn’t look as sharp. That’s our issue.”
On the team’s thoughts on their place in the table:
“Ah, yeah. I think for us, what are we? We’ve still got – is it 21 games left? Whatever it is, we’ve a load of games left, so I think for us, it gets really boring, and I’m sure everyone, even my wife gets bored of me saying it, but it’s the next game. It’s literally – it’s Pittsburgh, we’re focused on Pittsburgh, which should be a real test for us. Obviously a really experienced coach, he’s done a great job there already. So, we’ve got a big game against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.”
On returning to Slugger Field:
“We’re excited to play in front of our supporters, we love playing in front of our supporters, the passion that they bring. So, for us, I think it’s always great to be at home and to play in front of our supporters. So, obviously, we’re excited and looking forward to the game on Wednesday.”
On the groundbreaking and what that will be like:
“Look, that’s going to be a very special time for us, it really is. I think when you look at where we started, you know, to where we are, to now the first step of the new stadium. You know, emotionally, I think for all the owners and for ourselves I think it’s such a significant event to have happen. So, I think we’re looking forward to it and we’ll be excited, and I’ll be more pleased when it’s the last brick that goes in and it’s built. So, we’re looking forward to that yeah for sure.”
On Cam’s status, maybe another knock:
“I mean the ball’s hit him square in the shoulder. you just couldn’t write this kind of — I mean I won’t say it—but it’s just one of those things, but you know I think for us, it was important we try to give Ilija a little bit of a rest. So, Cam went on. You know, credit to Cam for even going on and doing that. I mean he still coming back, it’s still very early stages. So it’s fantastic for him to be able to go and do that. You know obviously we’ve got Luke who’s out a little bit more long-term so you know it’s just managing that as best we can and when we get games in quick succession it’s trying to manage the players. But he should be okay I think. He’s dislocated his shoulder, it’s been two weeks, he still going to be in a lot of pain, and when the ball smacks you on that that, it’s certainly not going to help him.”
On Bob Lilley and how successful he’s been at Pittsburgh:
“Bob is someone that, for us … we know how good Bob is. He’s very underrated. I think you look at his history, when he was at Rochester, his teams are really difficult to break down, they’re very organized, very structured. He’s got some good attacking pieces this year in Pittsburgh, they’ve got a lot of pace. So, they’re going to be a real threat. You know, he’s gone in there and he’s done a really great job in a very short space of time. But you know, we expected that from Bob because of how he’s been you know? So, I think anyone who understands the USL would know Bob and know how he operates. He’s someone that, for us, is very underrated and has been very successful in his time in the league.”
Team News
OUT – Luke Spencer (knee)
OUT – Richard Ballard (stress fracture)
QUESTIONABLE – Cameron Lancaster (shoulder)
