Louisville City held a 2-0 lead just after half, but Bethlehem Steel got a pair of second-half goals to force a draw Sunday afternoon at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.
Louisville City’s first goal came off a quick-thinking play by striker Luke Spencer. A ball in the box bounced off a Bethlehem defender and just a few feet from Spencer. He calmly side-stepped the defender and buried a shot into the side of the net in the 26′.
In the 37′, both teams lost a man when Bethleghem’s Faris Pemi Moumbagna head-butted LouCity’s Napo Matsoso. The second time Faris made contact with Matsoso, the LouCity forward pushed back and the official decided to issue both a red card.
Despite the extra space, neither team scored the rest of the first half though Louisville City had several chances while holding the ball for nearly 69 percent of the time.
It didn’t take long for LouCity to reach the board again in the second half as veteran George Davis IV skillfully played a ball into the box and forward Lucky Mkosana headed it into the net just 37 seconds after halftime.
Bethlehem Steel got a goal on a penalty kick after a foul in the box in the 51′ by Chavany Willis. The Bethlehem forward also got the equalizer on a shot just outside the box in the 57′.
The game was marred by rough, physical play. Referee Kevin Broadley issued seven yellow cards, two of which resulted in a red card for Benjamin Ofeimu, who was ejected in the 90+2′.
With six minutes of stoppage time, LouCity tried desperately to find the game winner in the final four minutes after Ofeimu was sent off. But the Boys in Purple couldn’t find a way to make it happen despite playing against just nine Bethlehem Steel players.
The draw marks the start of a very busy week for Louisville City as the third round of the Open Cup commences Wednesday. LouCity will host Bethlehem Steel at Lynn Stadium on the campus of the University of Louisville Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
Then on Saturday, LouCity will host Charleston Battery at Slugger Field for the club’s annual Pride Night.
