By Andrew Bell
Louisville City FC defeated Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on penalty kicks, 5-3, Saturday night after the clubs played to a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation of a USL Championship Eastern Conference Semifinal.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the 14th minute when forward and Riverhounds top scorer Russel Cicerone settled a cross within the six-yard box and finished at point-blank range. The visitors doubled their advantage and stunned LouCity in the 47th minute after Cicerone was slipped in on goal and finished past City goalkeeper Danny Faundez, who filled in for the injured Golden Glove winner Kyle Morton.
Still, LouCity stayed in the hunt, finding its first goal in the 83rd minute when a deep free kick fell to Elijah Wynder, whose blocked shot landed to Manny Perez for a finish on a low, tough angle for his first goal in purple. The boys in purple, urged on by the home crowd, found their equalizer in the 85th minute after Cameron Lancaster’s clever flick was received by Wynder in the box, leading to a foul and penalty try. Lancaster finished clinically into the bottom left corner to complete the comeback.
Two periods of extra time went by without either side finding a winner, bringing the teams to penalties. Faundez saved the Riverhounds’ first try and LouCity went 5-for-5 on its spot kicks, with Carlos Moguel Jr., the 19-year-old homegrown midfielder, punching in the winner.
“I’m so incredibly proud of my group to continue to fight, to continue to believe,” said coach Danny Cruz. “That’s what I asked them to do before the game. We scored the first one, then you hear the belief, you feel the belief in the stadium. This stadium, and our fans, they give us that extra push. When I look at the work that my staff has done — when I look at the work that my players have done — I walk out of here as an extremely proud manager.
“…It’s something I’ll never forget.”
LouCity advanced to the conference final for an eighth consecutive season, or every year since the club existed. Saturday’s matchup marked the third playoff meeting between LouCity and Pittsburgh in four years, with LouCity victorious in all three encounters.
Cruz’s super subs
Just when LouCity’s title dreams seemed to be dashed, a quartet of Cruz’s substitutes leashed the Riverhounds’ efforts. Wynder’s 83rd-minute shot on target put Pittsburgh’s goalkeeper off and set up Perez’s strike to halve his team’s deficit. Just a minute later, Wynder won the crucial penalty that Lancaster would go on to score. In his time on the field, Wynder drew three fouls and engaged in 15 duels.
Lancaster, a 69th-minute substitute, has come back from various injuries throughout the year in top form, scoring four goals in seven appearances. On the night, the Englishman had two shots, the most expected goals, and converted his 10th penalty attempt in a row.
Additionally, three of LouCity’s five perfect spot kicks were taken by subs — Oscar Jimenez, Napo Matsoso and Moguel Jr. — who all finished confidently past Riverhounds goalkeeper Jahmali Waite. Notably, Moguel Jr. recorded 12 crosses (the most out of any player on the night), 89% passing accuracy and had 10 final third entries.
Faundez’s heroics
In a press conference earlier in the week, Cruz said, “We’ve got a lot of guys banged up…but the one thing I know about this group is that when someone’s number is called, they’ve stepped up this year. Whoever does step in [at goalkeeper], I’m confident can get the job done.”
Faundez, who was put between the sticks with Morton unavailable, got the job done against Pittsburgh. Sub-par defending at moments didn’t deter the veteran keeper from coming up big in the game’s most important moments.
In the 59th minute, Pittsburgh striker Albert Dikwa was 1-on-1 with Faundez with a chance to put LouCity away. Faundez came off his line rapidly to meet and deny the opportunity. Saves in the 68th and 93rd minutes by the Seattle native kept LouCity alive and earned Faundez Man of the Match honors. Finally, Faundez’s colossal save on Pittsburgh’s first penalty of the night set up City for the win.
“We found Danny at an open tryout here at Louisville City,” Cruz said. “He has worked [so hard] to be where he is today. It’s a special story…he’s worked so hard for these moments and he deserves it.”
LouCity will host the conference final at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the East’s other semifinal, either Memphis 901 FC or the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The USL Championship Final is set for Sunday, Nov. 13.
