Louisville City FC has neither started a game as late as 10:55 p.m. nor ended one as early as 12:46 a.m. in the club’s six-plus seasons.
Regardless of those milestones hit late Friday — or, really, Saturday morning — the boys in purple took a step forward when playing Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to a 1-1 away draw.
The clubs traded second half goals before LouCity left with a point earned, improving to 8-2-4. Those 27 points earned assure a first-place position in the USL Championship’s Central Division through the weekend.
Still, it was a lead lost for the visitors at 8,000-seat Weidner Field, which at the highest altitude in the league also provided a raucous environment after a nearly two-hour lightning delay.
“The game kicked off at 11 our time and with altitude and it’s a tough stadium to play in and at the same time,” said coach Danny Cruz. “I thought the guys responded well. I think we were on the back foot there for a little bit and showed some pressure. Ultimately, happy that we get the goal and go up and obviously I’m frustrated we conceded a goal so late.
“(There are) certainly some things to learn from, no doubt about it. I talked the players and said to them to keep their heads up.”
That’s because it’s a quick turnaround to Wednesday’s midweek games at Sporting KC II. The boys in purple will be going straight from Colorado to Kansas in preparation.
First, LouCity’s Antoine Hoppenot flicked in a 74th-minute cross from Jonathan Gomez for his first goal of the season, moving his side ahead first. The host Switchbacks, however, answered when Michee Ngalina slipped an 87th-minute equalizer into the back of the net.
So ended what was a physical game, with four yellow cards shown apiece, but even, as Colorado Springs controlled 57.9% of the possession but LouCity doubled the Switchbacks in shots on target, 4-2.
“The way we came away with a point makes it a little more bitter,” Hoppenot said. “We pride ourselves as a team, once we get a lead, we hold on to it. We want to make sure next time we grab a lead like that, we’re able to close off the game, which we pride ourselves on.”
Given almost a week’s worth of rest after three games in eight days, Cruz rotated back into his starting lineup names such as Gomez, Brian Ownby and Pat McMahon. Kyle Greig started at striker as Cameron Lancaster deals with the effects of a concussion, and team captain Paolo DelPiccolo came on as a substitution having picked up a knock in training before the trip.
Hoppenot too was a sub, entering in the 56th minute ahead of his goal. He became LouCity’s 11th scorer as one of the USL Championship’s top offenses continues to diversify its attack. The boys in purple have tallied 29 goals this year, best in the Eastern Conference and two off league leader Phoenix Rising.
“With the delays,” McMahon said of Friday night’s game, “both teams have to deal with it. It’s more about staying calm, getting extra food if you need. We played little games — keep your minute busy so you’re not sitting there bored.
“…Altitude, i think the first half, I felt a little fatigued quicker, i would say. Going into the second half, a lot of us got our second wind and we could control it a little more. Maybe it wasn’t quite as much up and down, which helped us. The crowd here, it’s a great stadium here.
“Atmosphere is good. It was a cool environment to have that going against us. Pushes you more to push and get that goal.”
That push will continue at 8 p.m. Wednesday. LouCity’s second trip to Sporting KC II — the first wound up a 4-1 result July 2 in favor of the boys in purple — will air on MyTV 58 and ESPN Louisville’s AM 680/FM 105.7.
Game Summary: Colorado Springs vs. Louisville City FC
Venue: Weidner Field
Kickoff: 10:55 p.m.
Man of the Match: Antoine Hoppenot
Scoring
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (0, 0, 1)
Louisville City FC (0, 0, 1)
Goals
Colorado Springs:
87’ Ngalina (Asst: Mahoney)
Louisville City FC:
74’ Hoppenot (Asst: Gomez)
Stats Summary: Colorado Springs / Louisville City FC
Shots: 10 / 13
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 13
Offside: 3 / 0
Corner Kicks: 2 / 5
Saves: 3 / 1
Lineups
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 28 – Abraham Rodriguez, 15 – Jimmy Ockford, 55 – Tristan Hodge, 27 – Sebastian Anderson, 5 – Matthew Mahoney, 11 – Michee Ngalina, 8 –Zachary Zandi (72’ 77 – Andre Lewis), 20 – Phillip Mayaka, 16 – Beverly Makangila (77’ 37 – Dantouma Toure), 31 – Deshane Beckford (82’ 17 – Darren Yapi) , 10 – Hadji Barry
Subs not used: 7 – Jose Torres, 30 – Andrew Pannenburg, 34 – Michael Edwards, 13 – Steven Echeverria
Louisville City FC: 1 – Chris Hubbard, 6 – Wesley Charpie, 4 – Sean Totsch, 15 – Pat McMahon (80’ 8 – Akil Watts), 42 – Jonathan Gomez, 11 – Niall McCabe, 20 – James McLaughlin (56’ 9 – Jorge Gonzalez), 10 – Brian Ownby (56’ 29 – Antoine Hoppenot), 12 – Tyler Gibson, 7 – Napo Matsoso, 21 – Kyle Greig (86’ Alexis Souahy)
Subs not used: 22 – George Davis IV, 16 – Simon Lefebvre
Discipline Summary
Louisville City FC: Ownby 31’
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Hodge 33’
Louisville City FC: McMahon 55’
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Makangila 65’
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Mayaka 70’
Louisville City FC: Hoppenot 70’
Louisville City FC: Greig 79’
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Lewis 89’
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
