Louisville City FC hosts Birmingham Legion FC at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a rematch of clubs that both have reason to hope for more than the last time they saw one another.
Back on May 8, LouCity conceded an equalizing goal after Birmingham was awarded a penalty kick, then allowed to retake it when the referee judged goalkeeper Chris Hubbard to have left his line early. The boys in purple were also adjusting to their first game under direction of head coach Danny Cruz, and Lynn Family Stadium was limited to half its current 100% capacity.
There are a pair of reasons why Birmingham should pose a larger threat this go around, too, than in last month’s 1-1 draw. Legion FC played with key offensive pieces missing. The 2020 USL Championship Golden Boot winner Junior Flemmings and JJ Williams — a University of Kentucky product who scored and assisted goals in his club’s Saturday victory over OKC Energy — were both suspended.
With its weapons available, Birmingham is the hottest team in the league, entering on a four-game winning streak that has the side atop the Central Division table. LouCity, meanwhile, sits six points behind in third but with two games in hand having ended a losing skid in last weekend’s win over Memphis 901 FC.
Division rivals will clash four times during the USL Championship’s 32-game campaign, twice home and away. After this mid-week matchup, LouCity finishes the series in Birmingham on Aug. 28 and Oct. 30, the latter a regular season finale that could have a say in the playoff race.
Here’s what to know heading into Wednesday…
Follow along…
• For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc on Twitter and Louisville City FC on Facebook. Also find us at louisvillecityfc on Instagram. Live stats can be found at www.loucity.com/match-center.
• On the WBKI-TV (The CW)/ESPN+ streaming call: Josh Eastern (play by play) and Devon Kerr (color).
• And for ESPN 680/105.7 on the radio: Jeff Greer and Casey Whitfield.
Notes to know
Floodgates open: In consecutive losses, first to Indy Eleven and then at Atlanta United 2, LouCity out-shot opponents 42-11 but got out-scored 3-1. That drought looked forgotten as the boys in purple scored all three of their goals in 12 minutes last Saturday following a Memphis 901 FC red card. The scoreline marked the most lopsided LouCity result since the last time Memphis visited in September of 2020, then a 4-1 victory.
For the fans: Lynn Family Stadium shouldn’t just be a fun place for the home side to play. It also appears daunting for opponents with 100% capacity allowed going forward. A record 12,115 were on hand for Saturday’s Memphis game, which doubled as a Grand Opening celebration for a gem of a venue that had the misfortune of completing construction just as the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The chances are there: LouCity out-shot Memphis 18-3, continuing to spark quality opportunities on goal. Midfielder Corben Bone ranks second across the USL Championship with 19 chances created, while the numbers also evidence this in midfielder Niall McCabe’s 41 total crosses, also second in the league. The boys in purple are mid-packers in terms of conversion rate, with its 12% tied for 19th of 31 teams.
And about the defense: LouCity has only asked goalkeeper Chris Hubbard to make eight saves this season, among the fewest in the league. And among five goals conceded, just two have stemmed from the run of play. The boys in purple — knock on wood — have paused a trend that saw them drop points due to penalty kicks both against Birmingham and in a May 29 loss to Indy Eleven.
A milestone moment: Seven seasons into his professional career, Wes Charpie found himself deflecting in a game-winning goal against Memphis, sliding on his back and celebrating. All were firsts for the central defender who has seen his career take him to Toronto, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Memphis and now LouCity. Charpie scored off an extended set piece in the 58th minute of his first start of the season as he comes back from a quad injury.
From the spot: Forward Cameron Lancaster, back with LouCity this season on a new contract, rose to his usual spot of leading scorer alongside of captain Paolo DelPiccolo when earning and scoring on a 68th-minute penalty versus Memphis. A second goal of the season — Lancaster also scored a penalty May 22 against San Diego Loyal — moved his career total in purple to 52 in USL play.
Well-deserved tallies: Two players with the type of pace that constantly has them in position to create goals finished one together Saturday. Defender Jonathan Gomez drove to the end line and played in the sort of cross that could have doubled as a shot. Following a deflection, forward Brian Ownby skied for a header in basketball alley-oop fashion to mark his first goal and Gomez’s first assist of the season.
Back from El Tri: Gomez made the Memphis game his return to Louisville after a two-week stint training with the Mexican National Team as the it participated in the CONCACAF Nations League’s final. At just 17 years old, the Dallas native Gomez is a rising star defender who, because he remains uncapped, retains the option to represent the United States moving forward. On the club level, he’ll have an eye toward Europe after this season.
A starting role: Having signed with LouCity less than a month ago, forward Kyle Greg is already in a prominent spot on the lineup sheet, starting two straight games as Lancaster takes it easy on a sore hamstring. Greig didn’t contribute to a goal against Memphis, but his physical play at center forward led to a foul drawn, red card shown to Memphis and a set piece that resulted in Charpie’s go-ahead strike. A USL Championship fixture over the years, Greig has scored 58 career league goals.
Injury report
- Oscar Jimenez (out)
- Abdou Thiam (out)
- Elijah Wynder (out)
Milestone watch
- Niall McCabe is one appearance away from his 150th Louisville City FC appearance and two goals away from 20.
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Kyle Greig is one appearances away from making his 200th USL Championship appearance.
