Louisville City FC earned a hard-fought three points over Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday night, with Cameron Lancaster’s penalty and Napo Matsoso’s run-and-slam goal giving the separation needed for a 2-0 win. The victory keeps LouCity on course for first place in the Central Division once it plays the same number of matches as its primary competitors, including Birmingham.
The win represented substantial progress for LouCity (4-2-1) in seeing out leads and securing key points. Jonathan Gomez claimed Man of the Match, and deservingly so, but honors could’ve also gone to goalkeeper Chris Hubbard, versatile midfielder Napo Matsoso or right back Akil Watts, each of whom played particularly well.
Here’s what we learned from the win:
Fortitude to see out win in chippy game
This was a big result. Not only does it pull LouCity within three points of the division leaders with two games in hand, but the three points also reflect real growth. A 1-1 draw with Birmingham five weeks ago played out similarly — an early goal followed by a chippy game and ultimately a breakdown that allowed the Legion to equalize. This time, LouCity got its early goal but only tightened up as the game progressed. The boys in purple smoothed out their build from the back after some early communication and passing miscues. The midfield made everything difficult for Birmingham, and the high press flustered the Legion as they tried to work possession to their wingbacks. It was a close-to-complete performance from LouCity.
Work rate wins
Again, this isn’t anything we necessarily learned. We knew Jonathan Gomez, Akil Watts and Napo Matsoso, among others, have exceptional work rates. But that came through again as LouCity fought off Birmingham’s attacking moves that continued late into the contest. Matsoso, who scored one of the best goals in recent LouCity memory to go up 2-0, switched from the right winger spot to central midfield midway through the match, and his industrious ball-winning masterfully bothered Birmingham. Gomez and Watts along the flanks gave LouCity serious speed and energy, and both players got forward and defended with verve. Watts was especially impressive defensively, bottling up Junior Flemmings, the league’s top scorer last season. Gomez’s dynamic running and passing helped create the Matsoso goal, and his ability to pick out a pass from the end line is going to make him a lot of money in Europe.
Chris Hubbard’s aerial command
Claiming his third clean sheet of the season, the Louisville native illustrated why he won the starting job this season. He is good with his feet — distributing from the back with a real calmness — and commands his area. He picks the right times to come off his line, and his read on set pieces delivered into traffic in front of him makes him a valuable defensive presence. He made multiple catches and punches off crosses that could’ve been dangerous. Hubbard earned the clean sheet.
Jimmy McLaughlin provides width
In his first start for his team, McLaughlin pulled defenders wide to the touch line and played really well off the dynamic Gomez, whose runs forward can also get wide or plunge into the middle. McLaughlin’s pass to Cameron Lancaster set up Gomez’s sprint to the end line that led to Matsoso’s goal. The winger also gave Sean Totsch a regular option for his long-ball switches from the center back spot, forcing Birmingham to shift its entire shape to meet McLaughlin as he collected in dangerous areas. It was a solid starting debut for McLaughlin after three appearances off the bench.
Jorge Gonzalez on the subs bench
This is a good sign — the Portland Timbers loanee made the 18 for LouCity after missing out on the early stages of the season through injury. The 22-year-old Spaniard is an electric playmaker who can operate out wide, in central midfield or even in a false nine role, and his addition to Danny Cruz’s selection options makes the boys in purple that much more dangerous.
