By Andrew Bell
Louisville City FC defeated North Carolina FC by a 2-1 score Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium in a game where LouCity dominated in nearly all parts of the game and were unlucky not to convert more chances.
After City midfielder Adrian Perez absorbed a hard foul and had to be taken off in the 13th minute, substitute Sam Gleadle came on and slid into the striker position. Just 18 minutes later, Gleadle found the back of the net. Aidan McFadden called for the ball on the far side of the field as he was making a run. He controlled possession, picked his head up and then swung in a perfect cross, which Gleadle rose to nod inside the far post.
In the 68th minute, McFadden found the end line and played a cross toward North Carolina’s six-yard box. His pass was met by the arm of a NCFC defender and drew a penalty. LouCity veteran Sean Totsch coolly converted the attempt by rolling the ball into the bottom right corner to double his team’s lead.
North Carolina FC clawed back a goal in the 92nd minute after a low cross into LouCity’s box was hit first time across the face of goal and into the bottom corner. It was too little, too late, though, as City closed the game ahead of the visitors.
“It’s good to be able to fight through a game here and have to close a game out under pressure, and I thought the guys did a great job of that,” head coach Danny Cruz said after the closer-than-usual City home game — at least by 2024’s standards. “North Carolina, from a data perspective, has given up the least amount of shots per game against their opponents, and I thought we created plenty tonight. I thought we put ourselves in position to win the game, probably more than most teams have against them up to this point.”
LouCity has now won all seven of its home games in league play this season. City also moved three points clear with a game in hand on the Charleston Battery, who sit second in the USL Championship Eastern Conference’s standings.
A Swiss Army Knife
Gleadle, a versatile player who has already played at striker, winger and outside back for LouCity, was added to Cruz’s tool -it just this past offseason when the Englishman joined City from fellow USL Championship side Monterey Bay.
This season for City, Gleadle has made nine appearances, but just earned his first start against Miami FC last weekend. On Saturday, with marksman Wilson Harris unavailable, Cruz opted to play Jorge Gonzalez up top with Perez and Ray Serrano beside him. When Perez went off injured, Gleadle was put in as the nine, pushing Gonzalez wide.
Gleadle took full advantage of his opportunity against North Carolina, tallying three shots, two on target, 10 passes into the final third, one chance created and a goal on the night. Even more impressive than his numbers, though, was his off-ball work ethic. Gleadle’s heat map suggests that he didn’t just move up and down the field, but he moved laterally as well, allowing his teammates to find him as a target through multiple channels and passing lanes throughout the game.
Gleadle’s skillset and range of positions allows him to shapeshift to whatever Cruz needs at the moment. If Gleadle isn’t able to make an impact at outside back, he can slide into the wing or as the striker, as he did against North Carolina on Saturday. With LouCity well stocked at the wingback role, Cruz was able to put Gleadle in up top with the confidence.
Gleadle is the perfect player on a team like City that has so many weapons across the pitch. Gleadle allows Cruz rotation in a variety of positions without compromising quality of play from those spots.
“It’s not easy at times to be shuffled around at four different spots,” Cruz said of Gleadle. “But the biggest thing for him is that he keeps his head down and works hard. He understands tactically what’s needed from him. He’s extremely reliable. I know what I’m going to get out of Sam. I’m going to get work rate, I’m going to get bite, and I’m really proud of that.”
Fabulous McFadden
McFadden, who’s on a season-long loan to LouCity from Atlanta United, has certainly made an impact in his new home. The outside back has made 10 appearances this season, starting six games in that time. Recently, McFadden’s performances have granted him four starts out of his last five appearances, and deservedly so.
On Saturday against North Carolina FC, McFadden created three chances — tied for the most on the pitch — four crosses, and a shot on goal. McFadden also assisted City’s opening goal and crossed the ball that drew NCFC’s handball penalty, which Totsch converted. McFadden nearly had another assist in the 39th minute after redirecting a high ball to Gonzalez, whose header was denied by the post.
Not only did McFadden dominate the right flank when attacking, but he also controlled the game when it came at him. On the night, McFadden won seven ground duels, 4/4 aerial duels, made three clearances and a tackle. In the 56th minute, McFadden made a simple, yet potentially game-changing play. As lightning-quick NCFC left back Ezra Armstrong drove at him, McFadden stood his ground, moved his feet, and contained Armstrong who was flying toward LouCity’s end line, shutting down a huge chance for North Carolina when LouCity was defensively shorthanded at that moment.
“He’s a kid that’s bought in,” Cruz said about McFadden’s mentality. “He gives us so much going forward. But I don’t think he gets enough credit for the defender that he is because he’s an excellent one-on-one defender, one of his biggest strengths in my opinion. I thought he was relentless tonight. I’m glad he was rewarded with the service that he put in. This is a player with a really bright future.”
The defensive discipline that Cruz has instilled in his team is clear. So clear sometimes it looks like LouCity is playing a low block, or parking the bus. That all changes when City springs an attack that sends six or seven players toward the opposition’s box at any given moment. A system like this works because of players like McFadden, who possess extreme talent on both sides of the ball, the work ethic to play on both ends, and the fitness to execute what the game demands from him.
