Ahead of his team’s fifth of six games in a 21-day span, Louisville City FC head coach Danny Cruz will use depth for Wednesday’s trip to Loudoun United, making six changes to his lineup following last Friday’s 2-1 loss at North Carolina FC.
Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. LouCity lost its last trip to Loudoun, a 2-1 USL Jägermeister Cup group stage game on May 31, but twice prior to this defeated United at its home Lynn Family Stadium.
Sam Gleadle gets his first start since May 1, a 2-0 win over Lexington SC. The 29-year-old has battled a leg injury in the weeks since, missing just over a month following that game. He’s appeared off the bench three times since June 11, and this will be his first start since injury. He’s scored three goals and registered one assist across all competitions this season.
Two players will make their first starts since May 10, a 0-0 draw versus Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: midfielder Carlos Moguel Jr. and defender Josh Jones.
Moguel will make his second start overall. The LouCity Academy graduate has played 99 league minutes this year.
For the former University of Louisville captain Jones, this will be the third career start. The 6-foot-5 rookie center back last saw action off the bench in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on June 7.
Like Jones, Kevon Lambert also brings size to the Louisville lineup, joining Moguel and Davila in the midfield. The 6-foot-4 Jamaican international will make his fifth league start and seventh across all competitions this season. His last start was two weeks ago, a 2-1 win over Rhode Island FC on June 11 in which he played just seven minutes, subbing off early after suffering a gash on his head that required stitches.
Amadou Dia returns to the starting 11 after not appearing in Friday’s loss. Dia scored in his last outing, a 4-2 win over Birmingham Legion FC on June 14. His two goals this season are tied for a career-high for the 11-year veteran. A regular, this will be Dia’s ninth league start of the season and 12th overall.
Phillip Goodrum retains his place in the team after scoring LouCity’s lone goal in Friday’s game. With six goals in his last five appearances, the 28-year-old is enjoying the best form of his career, equalling his best five-game stretch as a professional.
Gleadle and Goodrum will start as a forward tandem for the first time this year.
LouCity’s leading assist man, Taylor Davila, remains in the starting midfield. The 24-year old leads the team with five assists and is second in the USL Championship in chances created this season with 33.
Aiden McFadden makes his second consecutive start but will switch to right flank to make way for Dia, displacing Manny Perez. The 27-year-old has the third-most crosses for LouCity this season with 37. He has a goal and two assists in league play.
Jones will take the place of Arturo Ordóñez in Louisville’s back line. Captain Kyle Adams and USL Championship minutes leader Sean Totsch will play either side of him in the back three. The pair have played every league minute of the season thus far.
Damian Las has yet to relinquish his place between the posts for LouCity this season, regardless of competition. Wednesday will mark the Austin FC-loanee’s 17th start of the season across competitions. He and Adams are the only players to start all 17 of Louisville City’s games this year.
If Cruz finds himself needing something late, he’ll have plenty of experience on the bench. The seven available substitutes have made a combined 33 league starts for Louisville City this year with a cumulative eight goals and six assists.
Also of note, Jake Morris is also available from the bench against his former club. The 26-year-old made 12 league appearances for Loudoun while on loan from the Columbus Crew in 2023.
Team Sheet at Loudoun United FC
1 – Damian Las
13 – Amadou Dia
32 – Kyle Adams (c)
24 – Josh Jones
4 – Sean Totsch
2 – Aiden McFadden
31 – Kevon Lambert
17 – Taylor Davila
8 – Carlos Moguel Jr.
23 – Sam Gleadle
9 – Phillip Goodrum
Substitutes: 30 – Ryan Troutman; 3 – Jake Morris, 7 – Ray Serrano, 15 – Manny Perez, 25 – Jansen Wilson, 53 – Cameron Lancaster, 70 – Isaac Cano
