Louisville City FC hosts their rivals from the north on Saturday night at Slugger Field in the third installment of the 2018 Dirty River Derby. City have only fallen twice at home this season with a recent meeting against Toronto FC II derailing the club’s four-game unbeaten run in Louisville and seven overall unbeaten in USL play.
The Queen City squad are in good form heading into Saturday’s clash having not lost since the pair met at the end of May at Nippert Stadium. In that meeting, goals from Cameron Lancaster and George Davis IV gave the visitors all three points in a 0-2 win. The match was the second clean sheet kept for LouCity against the Ohioians after winning at Nippert Stadium one month previous, 0-1, on a gorgeous Cameron Lancaster free kick.
However, FCC’s recent success—including a 2-1 win over Riverhounds SC—make them a formidable side to face. Few City fans will need a reminder of the last time the pair met at Slugger Field, though, as the hosts drubbed the orange and blue, 5-0, in one of the most lopsided scorelines in either side’s short history.
For coach John Hackworth, Saturday’s match will be his first taste of the Dirty River Derby. When asked what he knows about the matchup?
“Just that it’s pretty nasty. I’m looking forward to it.”
The final USL regular season meeting between the two clubs is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. in Louisville.
