Marking a change of pace, Louisville City FC will be rebounding from a defeat for the first time in over a month Wednesday when OKC Energy FC visits Lynn Family Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
LouCity coach Danny Cruz said the boys in purple were “leaking goals” after FC Tulsa netted three shots in the first half of a weekend loss. LouCity fought back as Kyle Greig scored in first half stoppage time, and Cameron Lancaster headed in a 60th-minute shot that featured at No. 8 on the SportsCenter Top 10.
Ultimately, the club fell just short with a 3-2 result ending its five-game unbeaten streak.
OKC Energy’s in top form, entering the midweek tussle on a four-game unbeaten streak. Wednesday’s visitors have as of late defeated Memphis 901 FC, Sporting Kansas City II and Atlanta United 2, plus drew with FC Tulsa. OKC’s most recent contest Saturday against Indy Eleven was left uncompleted following a weather-related power outage.
Yes, the Energy lacked just that.
As with other USL Championship Central Division members, LouCity will meet OKC four times during 2021 season. Following a return visit July 31 to Lynn Family Stadium on July 31, LouCity will do the traveling to Taft Stadium on Aug. 22 and Sept. 12.
Here’s what to watch for 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, plus don’t forget to download our official app.
• On the WBKI-TV (The CW)/ESPN+ streaming call: Tim McDermott (play by play) and Devon Kerr (color).
• And for ESPN 680/105.7 on the radio: Jeff Greer and Casey Whitfield.
Notes to know
Race to the top: With its 3-2 road loss, second-place LouCity saw Tulsa close its gap to a point behind in third on the Central Division table. But a weekend defeat by division leader Birmingham Legion FC kept that club only two points ahead of the boys in purple, who also hold a game in hand. With a win Wednesday, LouCity would return to first place.
Short series history: The USL Championship’s new division format has resulted in some unfamiliar foes — Tulsa and OKC — becoming regulars on the schedule. Wednesday will mark just the second-ever meeting between LouCity and the Energy. The boys in purple routed OKC by a 6-2 score back on June 27, 2015, in a game where league MVP Matt Fondy registered the club’s first hat trick.
About the visitors: Stingy on defense, OKC Energy has only allowed 12 goals on the season, good for fourth-best in the Eastern Conference. Between the posts, goalkeeper CJ Cochran, who places fourth in the Eastern Conference in saves with 32, also boasts four clean sheets. On the attack are forwards Villyan Bijev, who’s scored a team-high four goals, and Frank Lopez, who has two goals and 11 shots on target this season.
Slow starts: While LouCity’s offense has ranked among the most potent in the league, defensively the boys in purple have cost themselves points. LouCity has conceded eight goals in its last three games, and all but one of those were scored in the first half of games. The club has locked down consistently over the final 45 minutes, but a full-game performance has been fleeting.
On the comeback: Defender Josh Wynder, back in training after a quad strain slowed him earlier this season, could play a part in Cruz’s defensive solutions if deemed fit to play in upcoming games. The 16-year-old in June became just the second player in club history to complete the local path to pro, following his older brother, Elijah, in signing a pro contract out of LouCity’s academy. Wynder twice appeared on the lineup sheet before his injury.
Greig’s good form: The rich got richer when LouCity, needing depth at the top of its formation, nabbed free agent forward Kyle Greig back in May. Greig has already racked up four goals to rank second on the team; three of those were scored in the last two games alone. Greig has filled in nicely as star striker Cameron Lancaster was slowed in recent weeks by a nagging hamstring and concussion. Greig has amassed 61 career USL Championship goals, closing in on former LouCity man Chandler Hoffman’s 66 for fourth place all-time.
A lift from Lancaster: Speaking of decorated USL Championship goal scorers, Lancaster made his return against FC Tulsa and did what he does best: find the back of the net. His flying header in the 61st minute cut the deficit to one goal and came in at No. 8 the SportsCenter Top 10 — one spot ahead of Argentinian star Di María’s Copa América game winner over Brazil. The Tottenham Hotspur product Lancaster is on 57 career USL goals, seventh-most.
The delivery man: It would be hard to find a hotter player in the league than LouCity winger Brian Ownby. He’s numbered all four of his assists in the club’s last three games to tie for third overall in the USL. Ownby’s most-recent assist – and 20th overall in purple – came in first half stoppage time at FC Tulsa as the Virginia native crossed in a ball inside the box from the right corner to find Greig.
Milestone watch
- Cameron Lancaster is three goals away from 60 USL Championship goals.
- Sean Totsch is 55 minutes away from clocking 10,000 minutes with Louisville City FC.
- Chris Hubbard is four saves away from 100 in purple.
Injury report
- Oscar Jimenez
- Adbou Thiam
- Elijah Wynder
