Louisville City FC won back-to-back USL Cups after defeating Phoenix Rising FC, 1-0, thanks to a goal by Luke Spencer just after the hour mark at Lynn Stadium.
What Happened?
For the second consecutive year, Louisville City FC took on a Western Conference opponent in a match deciding who would be crowned USL Cup champions.
This year’s foe happened to be Didier Drogba and Phoenix Rising FC.
Through the first 20 minutes of action, both sides saw multiple scoring opportunities off free kicks though neither club were able to find the back of the net.
Play would continue through the first 45, though neither club would concede as both entered the half scoreless.
In similar fashion to the first, neither Phoenix Rising nor LouCity were able to capitalize on early scoring opportunities through the first 15 minutes of play.
It wasn’t until a LouCity corner kick from Oscar Jimenez sent into the penalty box that the night’s scoring sheet would finally be opened.
After several headers from the likes of Paco Craig and a bicycle kick attempt from Ilija Ilic, the ball finally fell at the feet of forward Luke Spencer who slotted it past Phoenix goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski for the 1-0 lead.
No more than three minutes passed before midfielder Brian Ownby had one of the night’s best runs, slipping through PRFC defenders before eventually losing possession ending in a LouCity corner.
Nothing would come off the set piece.
As time continued, neither side would score over the remaining 28 minutes as LouCity captures back-to-back USL Cup championships.
Injury Report:
- Cameron Lancaster (leg)
Louisville City FC 1 : 0 Phoenix Rising FC
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Lynn Stadium | Louisville, KY
40 degrees / partly cloudy
Attendance: 7,025
Scoring Summary:
LOU – Luke Spencer 62’
Disciplinary Summary:
PHX – Joseph Farrell (caution) 39’
LOU – Kyle Smith (caution) 45’
PHX – Didier Drogba (caution) 73’
PHX – Kevon Lambert (caution) 84’
LOU – Luke Spencer (caution) 90’+1
LOU – Greg Ranjitsingh (caution) 90’+2
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Greg Ranjitsingh (GK); Alexis Souahy, Paco Craig, Oscar Jimenez, Kyle Smith; Paolo DelPiccolo (c), Niall McCabe, George Davis IV (Sean Totsch 84’); Luke Spencer, Ilija Ilic (Devon “Speedy” Williams 70’), Brian Ownby (Magnus Rasmussen 90’+2)
Bench: Shaun Francis, Richard Ballard, Tim Dobrowolski, Luke Spencer, Sean Totsch
