By Andrew Bell
Louisville City FC defeated Rio Grande Valley FC by a 1-0 score Saturday night away from Lynn Family Stadium in a game crucial to both LouCity’s form and standing entering the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs.
Forward Wilson Harris, who has three goals in City’s last three games and a team-high 14 on the season, hit the back of the net again when glancing Paolo Delpiccolo’s cross from deep over the RGV FC keeper in the 32nd minute. Though both teams had chances to alter the scoreline throughout the game, the hosts came closest in the 95th minute. But their chance was foiled by goalkeeper Kyle Morton, who saved the deflected shot with his foot while falling away, picking up a club-record 13th clean sheet on the year.
“He’s such a good goalkeeper,” Delpiccolo said after the game. “He saved the game for us. He saved three points for us. [I’m] so happy for him, I’m so glad to have him back there.”
Additionally, LouCity star forward Cameron Lancaster was substituted on in the 87th minute, making his first appearance since June and giving fans hope of seeing Lancaster play an important role in playoffs.
RGV FC entered the matchup on a four-game winning streak and sat just within the playoff cut line in the west. On the other hand, LouCity went to H-E-B Park off a tough loss to Memphis 901 FC. City (66 points) widened the gap to the east’s second-place Memphis (61 points) thanks to a 901 FC loss Saturday,
“I couldn’t be prouder of the group,” coach Danny Cruz said after the game. “We changed our shape. We’ve had a lot of injuries and suspensions and to go out there and do exactly as we worked on all week was fantastic. I felt the intensity and the mentality from the group from the minute the game started to the end of the game was exactly where it needed to be.”
Moguel, Serrano command midfield alongside captain
With Corben Bone, Tyler Gibson, Jorge Gonzalez and Napo Matsoso all unavailable for the match, the LouCity captain Delpiccolo stepped up big in the center of the pitch, providing the assist to Harris’ game-winning goal. Filling in the rest of the midfield were Carlos Moguel Jr. and Ray Serrano. Moguel put in an impressive 75-minute shift while Serrano slid into an unfamiliar position and excelled for 90-plus minutes.
Moguel, a Louisville native and LouCity Academy product, made his third start of the year and recorded one shot, two crosses, and five possession wins on the night. The 19-year-old nearly smashed home a 65th-minute volley from the top of the box but pulled the shot just wide of the bottom corner.
Serrano posted a superb two shots, two chances created and one cross against RGV. Serrano has seven goal contributions this season with most coming from his preferred home on the wing, but he could see more time in the midfield in the coming weeks.
Delpiccolo, Moguel and Serrano proved to be a threat from deep and progressed the ball deftly, linking up for 25 entries and 39 passes in the final third. The trio held it down on the other side of the ball, too, combining for five tackles and two clearances while winning the ball 15 times.
“I thought Carlos did super well, and Ray playing in a new position did super well,” said Delpiccolo about his midfield counterparts after the game. “That’s what it’s all about: the full team, one to 25, being able to do the job, and tonight, that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Irregular formation produces indomitable performance
Cruz arranged his side with three center backs, two wingbacks and two forwards, with the boys in purple executing the game plan excellently. Center backs Josh Wynder, Wes Charpie and Sean Totsch proved to be a fortress, holding RGV to just two shots on target and no big chances, according to StatsPerform. City’s defenders also slashed RGV’s average expected goals of 1.6 down to just 0.41 on the night.
“We have been trying to put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball,” said Cruz about his side’s shutout. “I was really proud of how our back five/back three handled [the game]. Fifteen [shutouts] —that’s pretty amazing. For us, this is a good stepping stone to get through the rest of the season.”
Amadou Dia and Manny Perez worked tirelessly up and down the sideline, together creating three chances and seven crosses, while winning the ball eight times each. Additionally, 71% of LouCity’s passes were in RGV’s half.
On defense, LouCity’s center backs, wingbacks, and midfielders worked to surround opposing players, with the wing-backs pinching in to prevent escape to the wing, and the midfielders blocking any back-passes. This led to RGV completing just 18% of its dribbles compared to City’s 60% dribble success rate. City held the Toros to a mere 20% shot accuracy.
Cruz wrapped up the night’s thoughts by talking about his hopes for the coming weeks.
“When you have 16 available guys,” he said, “it makes it a little bit more difficult for guys to compete, specifically with one or the other. So, we need to get guys healthy because I think it will benefit the group and the competition, which raises the level and puts us in a position as we go towards the playoffs to do something special.”
