Wilson Harris and Sean Totsch contributed to goals for the second Saturday running as Louisville City FC continued a perfect start to its 2024 season.
Harris scored late into first half stoppage time before Totsch tacked on a penalty in the second half of a 3-1 victory at Lynn Family Stadium. Ray Serrano knocked in the final goal with the game’s last play, providing an exclamation point on a sunny but chilly afternoon.
“When you look at the atmosphere, it was incredible,” said LouCity coach Danny Cruz. “In the first half our performance helped the atmosphere get louder and louder… To be able to get three points in front of our fans at home, making this place a fortress, my hope is Pittsburgh doesn’t want to come back.”
The home-opening victory followed a 1-0 road win last weekend at El Paso Locomotive FC, moving LouCity (2-0-0, 6 points) atop the Eastern Conference table. While Pittsburgh scored its first goal of the season, the Riverhounds (0-3-0, 0 points) are still seeking a result in an uncharacteristic start for the club.
City had Pittsburgh on its back foot from the beginning Saturday, taking eight first half shots in the box. That included misses just wide by Harris (eighth minute) and Arturo Ordóñez (18th minute) in front of goal.
Just when it appeared the boys in purple would have nothing to show from their start, Serrano played a deflected ball through to Harris, who calmly delivered the opening goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
“I just made an attacking run trusting that something may happen and anticipating it,” Harris said. “I turned over my shoulder and the ball was there. I composed myself to put it away. I felt like we were knocking on the door a lot, and I think I could have had a couple more. But there’s always things to improve on, so I’m excited for this week to continue to build.”
Pittsburgh equalized on a 59th-minute cross into Edward Kizza on a chance Totsch later blamed himself for allowing. The center back made good, though, when finishing a game-winning penalty earned by Serrano in the 64th.
Serrano finished one himself six minutes into second half stoppage time when rookie Evan Davila played in a cross from the right flank. The home crowd erupted, purple smoke spilled from the supporters section, and LouCity’s 10th anniversary season proved an early success.
“There was energy in the stadium with the fans, and there was energy on the field,” Totsch said. “We were feeding off one another. I think we could have started a little better in the second half, but the start of the game, coming out fast, a lot of chances — I think we were unlucky not to get another one with all the chances, energy and intensity. Credit to everyone who showed up today, because it was there from the start.”
Saturday’s game marked the first of three straight weekends the boys in purple will play at Lynn Family Stadium. They host Birmingham Legion FC on March 30 before rival Indy Eleven visits on April 6.
Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Date: March 23, 2023
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
Attendance: 9,313
Weather: 52 degrees, partly cloudy
Scoring
Louisville City FC (1, 2, 3)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (0, 1, 1)
Goals
Louisville City FC:
45’+5 Wilson Harris
65’ Sean Totsch
90’+6 Ray Serrano (Evan Davila)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC:
59’ Edward Kizza (Babacar Diene)
Lineups
Louisville City FC: 18 – Damian Las, 3 – Jake Morris (75’ 13 – Amadou Dia), 32 – Kyle Adams, 5 – Arturo Ordóñez, 4 – Sean Totsch, 25 – Jansen Wilson (89’ 6 – Wes Charpie), 17 – Taylor Davila (75’ 11 – Niall McCabe), 23 – Elijah Wynder, 7 – Ray Serrano, 16 – Adrien Perez (75’ 27 – Evan Davila), 14 – Wilson Harris (87’ 20 – Sam Gleadle)
Subs not used: 18 – Danny Faundez, 22 – Dylan Mares, 80 – Hayden Stamps
Head coach: Danny Cruz
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: 1— Erick Dick, 2 — Danny Griffin, 4 — Dani Rovira (27’ 7 — Langston Blackstock), 8 — Junior Etou (72’ 15 — Bradley Sample), 11 — Kenardo Forbes (72’ 45 — Kazaiah Sterling), 13 — Luke Biasi, 14 — Robbie Mertz, 19 — Edward Kizza, 27 — Babacar Diene (72’ 5 — Sean Suber), 28 — Illal Osumanu, 32 — Jackson Walti (87’ 9 — Emmanuel Johnson)
Subs not used: 3 — Pat Hogan, 12 — Gabriel Perrotta
Head coach: Bob Lilley
Stats Summary: Louisville City FC / Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Shots: 17 / 5
Shots on Goal: 8 / 5
Possession: 49.3% / 50.7%
Fouls: 11 / 8
Offside: 0 / 4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Discipline Summary
Louisville City FC:
54’ Sean Totsch (yellow)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC:
48’ Robbie Mertz (yellow)
Referee: Elton Garcia