In a game with limited chances for both sides, Louisville City FC benefitted from a Loudoun United FC own goal Saturday en route to a 1-0 victory at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia.
Newcomer Aiden McFadden — having recently arrived on loan from Atlanta United — recycled a 67th-minute cross into the box. The ball caromed off multiple players before hitting Loudoun’s Florian Valot last and rolling in at the back post.
That propelled LouCity to a second win this week on the heels of a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over Greenville Triumph SC. City also bounced back in USL Championship play, prevailing in its first game since an April 9 away defeat to the Charleston Battery.
The boys in purple are 5-1-0 on the season and pulled even with Charleston atop the Eastern Conference table thanks to the result.
“I felt that in the first half, we were really poor,” said coach Danny Cruz. “The execution of halftime adjustments was really good. I felt the subs that came in made a huge impact, and that’s what a team is.
“Overall, we ground out a result in a difficult environment on the road. We get another shutout, and really, that’s the focus for us.”
Two moments following LouCity’s goal nearly changed the game.
In the 84th minute, Jorge Gonzalez headed down a Niall McCabe corner kick, forcing a Loudoun save. Wilson Harris’ follow-up effort from the face of goal was also denied.
Then with the last kick of the game, Valot nearly made good on a cross of his own. Played in dangerously to the back post, his ball bounced just wide and too early for a lurking teammate to get a foot to it.
Going back to the first half, Danny Faundez — making his first league start of the season between the posts — saved both of Loudoun’s shots on target for the day to keep his side in it.
“It was something we talked about: We said when we go on the road, it doesn’t matter how we win,” said defender Sean Totsch. “Our favorite way to win on the road is those 1-0 grinders, you get the clean sheet, you get a goal however you can get it, ruthless in the back, keepers need to make a save or two to keep us in the game and get the three points.”
LouCity has scored in each of its games this season but for the first time since the opener March 16 the boys in purple were held to a single goal. That was also a 1-0 away result. City has scored as many as five goals twice in a game this year, too.
“We’re showing that we can win games in different ways,” Cruz said. “This was more of a fight. It was more of a grind…The players left everything that they could on the field there in the second half. I think there’s a lot to be proud of and confidence to be taken from it.”
Next up, LouCity hosts the Hartford Athletic at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27. It’s Pups at the Pitch night at Lynn Family Stadium, where fans can bring their dogs with them to the game. Tickets purchased at LouCity.com/pups benefit the Kentucky Humane Society.
Game Summary: Loudoun United FC vs. Louisville City FC
Date: April 20, 2024
Venue: Segra Field
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Weather: 67 degrees, sunny
Scoring
Loudoun United FC (0, 0, 0)
Louisville City FC (0, 1, 1)
Goals
Louisville City FC:
67’ Florian Valot own goal
Lineups
Loudoun United FC: 23 — Hugo Fauroux, 6 — Kwame Awuah (75’ 10 — Kalil ElMedkhar), 24 — Jacob Erlandson, 3 — Keegan Tingey, 5 — Yanis Leerman (18’ 15 — Riley Bidois, 71’ 21 — Nelson Martinez), 12 — Drew Skundrich, 4 — Tommy McCabe, 8 — Florian Valot, 30 — Abdellatif Aboukoura (71’ 40 — Gavin Turner), 14 — Zach Ryan, 7 — Wesley Leggett (61’ 17 — Christiano Francois)
Subs not used: 1 — Dane Jacomen, 9 — Tommy Williamson, 11 — Isaac Espinal, 36 — Justin Melly
Head coach: Ryan Martin
Louisville City FC: 12 – Danny Faundez, 3 – Jake Morris (46’ 13 – Amadou Dia), 32 – Kyle Adams, 5 – Arturo Ordóñez (76’ 6 – Wes Charpie), 4 – Sean Totsch, 25 – Jansen Wilson (46’ 2 – Aiden McFadden), 17 – Taylor Davila (68’ 11 – Niall McCabe), 23 – Elijah Wynder, 7 – Ray Serrano (68’ 21 – Jorge Gonzalez), 16 – Adrien Perez, 14 – Wilson Harris
Subs not used: 18 – Damian Las, 20 – Sam Gleadle
Head coach: Danny Cruz
Stats Summary: Loudoun United FC / Louisville City FC
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on Goal: 5 / 1
Possession: 45.4% / 54.6%
Fouls: 10 / 12
Offside: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Discipline Summary
Loudoun United FC:
45’ Florian Valot (yellow)
Louisville City FC:
20’ Arturo Ordóñez (yellow)
88’ Jorge Gonzalez (yellow)
89’ Wilson Harris (yellow)
Referee: Alyssa Nichols