WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19 — Louisville City FC remained at the top of the 2020 Wasatch Cup standings with a 1-1 draw vs. Union Omaha Wednesday in Herriman, Utah.
The Boys in Purple started the match with a lineup of BenLundt in goal and Pat McMahon, Alexis Souahy, Wesley Charpie, and Cory Thomas on the back line. Speedy Williams, Paolo DelPiccolo, and Niall McCabe started in the midfield with Antoine Hoppenot, Abdou Thiam and George Davis IV up front.
LouCity got on the board in the 38′ when Abdou Thiam converted on a penalty kick. In the 44′ a great ball from Niall McCabe to George Davis IV gave City another opportunity, but Davis’ shot went just wide of the goal.
Union Omaha, which had threatened in the 23′, didn’t match Louisville City’s score before the half and the Boys in Purple went into halftime up 1-0.
LouCity replaced its entire lineup in the 60′, bringing in Chris Hubbard in goal, Oscar Jimenez , Sean Totsch, Jimmy Ockford and Akil Watts on the back line, Magnus Rasmussen, Napo Matsoso, and Corben Bone in the midfield and Brian Ownby, Cameron Lancaster and Antoine Hoppenot up front.
In the 72′ Hubbard grabbed a Union Omaha corner kick to keep LouCity in the lead, but Omaha found an equalizer in the 80′ on a penalty kick.
Louisville City opened the 2020 Wasatch Cup with a 3-0 win over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Sunday night. A brace in the first 22 minutes from Cameron Lancaster and a goal by Thiam helped Louisville City roll to three points and the top of the table.
The Wasatch Cup uses a group table format to determine the champion. Teams are awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw. With a win and a draw, LouCity has four points. Real Monarchs and Union Omaha are in second with two points with Colorado Springs Switchbacks in third with one point.
UP NEXT
Louisville City’s final game in Utah will be Saturday at 11 a.m. vs. the host Real Monarchs. The match will be streamed on the RSL Youtube Channel.
SCENARIOS
With a two-point lead in the standings, if Louisville City wins vs. Real Monarchs Saturday they’ll secure the 2020 Wasatch Cup.
Louisville City has a three-goal lead in the tie-breaking goal differential. That means if LouCity draws vs. Real Monarchs Saturday, the Boys in Purple would win the Cup as long as Union Omaha either draws, loses or wins by fewer than three goals over the Switchbacks.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE
After returning home from Utah, Louisville City will have a pair of preseason matches left before opening its USL Championship schedule on March 7 at North Carolina FC. The Boys in Purple will open Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday, April 11 vs. Birmingham Legion in a nationally televised match.
LouCity’s current roster, listed alphabetically by position:
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Hubbard, Ben Lundt, Muamer Ugarak
Defenders (6): Oscar Jimenez, Pat McMahon, Jimmy Ockford, Alexis Souahy, Sean Totsch, Akil Watts
Midfielders (7): Corben Bone, Paolo DelPiccolo, Napo Matsoso, Niall McCabe, Magnus Rasmussen, Speedy Williams, Elijah Wynder
Forwards (6): George Davis IV, Antoine Hoppenot, Cameron Lancaster, Brian Ownby, Luke Spencer, Abdou Thiam
WASATCH CUP SCHEDULE:
February 16 – Real Monarchs – 0, Union Omaha – 0
Louisville City FC – 3, Switchbacks FC – 0,
February 19 – Real Monarchs – 0, Switchbacks FC – 0
Louisville City – 1, Union Omaha – 1
February 22 – Real Monarchs v. Louisville City FC – 11:00a ET (streamed)
Union Omaha v. Switchbacks FC – 1:30p ET
