Three second-half goals pushed Louisville City past the University of Louisville 3-1 in the final preseason match before the season starts next Saturday.
“I want a good game,” Louisville City coach John Hackworth said. “I want the other team to fight like crazy to try to make it hard on us. I thought they did a wonderful job of that. They did it physically and they did it tactically. They took away a lot of our space and made it really hard for us, and that was challenging. We had to problem solve and make sure that sure that we broke them down and it took us a while to do that. I’m happy with the match. That’s exactly what we were looking for.”
The match, dubbed the 502 Derby, was created to help promote local soccer. Louisville City played several games in Lynn Stadium last season during the U.S. Open Cup and won the 2018 USL Cup at Lynn.
“I would like to thank the University of Louisville and the men’s soccer program specifically,” Hackworth said. “It is a fantastic opportunity to play a meaningful match in this city, and I hope we can continue to build this relationship.”
Louisville City had its first chance in the 2nd minute as Brian Ownby got free on the left side and sent a shot across the frame, but Louisville goalkeeper Jake Gelnovatch grabbed it before another City player could get to it.
The Louisville Cardinals had a run in the 5th minute as Elijah Amo got behind the Louisville City defense, but Louisville City goalkeeper Tim Dobrovolski grabbed it outside the 6 yard box. A shot by Brian Ownby in the 13th minute was knocked away for a Louisville City corner, but Gelnovatch caught the corner kick try.
In the 15th minute, Oscar Jimenez sent a shot on the left side of the frame, but Gelnovatch dove on it for the first save of the match by either team. Just two minutes later, a lofted pass was headed toward the goal by Ownby, but it was saved by Gelnovatch.
In the 26th minute George Davis sneaked a clever pass into the box to Niall McCabe who put a shot on frame that was saved by Gelnovatch.
In the 32nd minute, LouCity got a pair of shots, the first from Paolo DelPiccolo was blocked and the rebound follow by Abdou Thiam sailed above the goal. A minute later a shot by George Davis IV was knocked away for a corner kick.
The Louisville Cardinals caught a break in the 35th minute as a foul was called in the box which resulted in a penalty kick from Pedro Fonseca. The Louisville striker stutter stepped and then sent a shot into the left side of the net past the out-stretched arms of LouCity goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski.
A shot by Ownby in the 47th minute sailed high of the goal and into the supporter’s section on the berm. A header from Paco Craig just missed the frame in the 49th minute as Louisville City tried to find the equalizer.
Louisville City’s Niall McCabe notched the equalizer in the 52nd minute on a header from a long pass across the box by George Davis IV. The Louisville Cardinals almost pushed back ahead when a shot by Pedro Fonseca hit the crossbar and caromed away.
Another shot by McCabe, this one in the 57th minute from inside the box, was blocked by UofL keeper Will Meyer. A header by Devon Williams was caught by Meyer resulting in UofL’s seventh save.
In the 64th minute, Ownby was taken down in the box resulting in a penalty kick. Speedy Williams’ penalty kick saved by Louisville goalkeeper Will Meyer in the middle of the goal. In the 68th minute a header by Abdou Thiam sailed wide of the frame.
In the 77th minute, McCabe stopped a ball from going out the end line with a nifty pass to Speedy Williams who buried it into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal.
Just a short time later, Louisville City’s third goal came on a corner kick from Oscar Jimenez to Alexis Souahy for a header.
Louisville City will begin its regular-season Saturday in Cary, NC, vs. North Carolina FC. The team will conduct Media Day Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Field.
