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Louisville City FC hosts the Rochester Rhinos on Wednesday in the first of two games between the clubs this month. Kickoff’s set for 7:30 p.m. at Slugger Field, with the return game Sept. 30 in New York.

Call (502) 384-8799 for tickets, or click here to select your seats.

Here’s what to watch for…

Tune In

TV: WBNA TV-21 will air the game live and in high definition locally.

Radio: TJ Walker (play-by-play) and Jeff Milby (color commentary) will voice the action on AM 790 WKRD, with pregame coverage starting at 7:15 p.m.

Streaming: Watch at www.loucity.com.

Follow Along

For Starting XI information and in-game updates, check us out on social media. It’s @loucityfc on Twitter, Louisville City FC on Facebook and louisvillecityfc on Instagram. Live stats are available at the USL Match Center. Vote for the Modelo Man of the Match on Twitter starting in the 75th minute.

Links

• Smith making an impact on return from suspension
• Confident Jimenez leading USL in chances created
• Video: Coach O’Connor previews Wednesday’s game

Notes

Playoff picture: Thanks to other results Saturday around the United Soccer League, LouCity clinched a third straight trip to the USL Cup Playoffs, becoming the first team from the Eastern Conference to shore up a spot. The top eight teams from the East and West make the playoffs, with the top four guaranteed to host first-round postseason games.

Eastern Conference race: LouCity (15-5-6) has a three-point advantage on the second-place Charlotte Independence and can further extend that during a run of five games in 15 days. Rochester (11-5-10) sits in fourth with 43 points having steadily climbed the table the second half of the season. The Rhinos are just one point out of third place.

Resilient LouCity: The boys in purple rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 scores Friday to secure a draw against Bethlehem Steel, the latest of four comeback efforts this season. Two previous came away against the Charleston Battery with the June matchup a wild one in which LouCity trailed 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 before taking a point. The club also came back from an early deficit in July to top Saint Louis FC.

Scouting Rochester: Wednesday will mark the first meeting between LouCity and the Rhinos this season. Rochester comes to Louisville on an eight-game unbeaten streak, most recently earning a draw Saturday with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Rochester’s defense is its usual self having not conceded more than one goal since Aug. 5 and more than two since April 15. Wal Fall leads the Rhinos in scoring with eight goals.

Jimenez on the rise: Oscar Jimenez continued a breakout season Friday with an equalizer on a centrally located set piece. The left winger added five goal-scoring chances in all, upping his USL-leading total in that statistical category to 63. Jimenez, who spent last year in the Professional Development League, also paces LouCity in minutes played at 2,125.

Williams in the spotlight: Devon “Speedy” Williams posted another strong performance Friday, holding his starting job in the central midfield as captain Paolo DelPiccolo returned to the lineup. Williams completed 89.5 percent of his passes a game after scoring his first goal of the year on a penalty kick against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Spencer remains efficient: Luke Spencer leads LouCity in both goals scored this season (nine) and in shots taken (41). However, he’s just 13th in minutes played, making the first-year striker the club’s most efficient scorer with one goal for every 119 minutes on the pitch. Spencer is averaging one goal for every 119 minutes of play while having started in less than half his team’s games.

Strength at Slugger: LouCity drew 8,303 last time out for its first-ever Friday night home game. With attendance up 22 percent over last year, results have improved likewise. The club is 8-2-3 in home games this year with three fixtures left to go at Slugger.

Injury report: Midfielder Niall McCabe is expected to return Wednesday after a strained quad kept him from LouCity’s last two games. Cameron Lancaster, playing through a broken toe, made the bench for Friday’s Bethlehem game and remains available for selection.

Kyle Smith, for much of the season Louisville City’s leader in minutes played, could have used the break anyway. But he viewed a recent three-game suspension doled out by the United Soccer League as more of a letdown to his Louisville City FC teammates.

“So I feel like I had to make up for that,” the defender said, and that’s what Smith has done with goals in back-to-back games since his return.

Smith scored a 55th-minute penalty kick Friday night to bring his last month full circle. He received a red card and suspension for a stoppage-time shove when LouCity visited Bethlehem Steel FC back in August. Smith’s goal equalized in the return game with Steel FC at Slugger Field.

The point earned from a 2-2 draw ended up crucial, as on Saturday other results around the league clinched LouCity’s trip to the USL Cup Playoffs.

“He gives us that option on the right,” winger Oscar Jimenez said of his counterpart. “He’s not going to stop working or fighting. It’s fun. We have a little connection going in practice and stuff. It’s good to have him back. We really missed him those three games, but the guys who filled in did well.”

Smith would rather not simply watch.

Voted the USL Midseason Defender of the Year, he’s totaled three goals to go with a pair of assists. His other recent goal came on a 43rd-minute strike Sept. 9 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. With that, Smith ensured a stylish return to the lineup.

“We all know Kyle,” coach James O’Connor said, looking back at the red card. “He’s not that type to lose it. A lot of people have seen the tape. That wasn’t worth sending off— but unfortunate.”

Smith added: “I’m going out every game and just giving 100 percent.”

Just once, he went too far. Both Smith and Bethlehem’s Sekku Conneh were assessed suspensions by the USL in August. O’Connor’s confidence in one of his top players hasn’t waned.

With Steel FC causing delays on the run up to LouCity’s penalty Friday, O’Connor instructed Smith — rather than forward Luke Spencer, who held the ball — take the shot. The coach didn’t want Spencer overthinking the opportunity.

“I just wanted Kyle then to grab the ball and just take it and almost take the pressure off because I think when that happens, it felt like an eternity,” O’Connor said.

Smith, the right winger, scored minutes before Oscar Jimenez, the left winger, booted in a free kick. A day before LouCity solidified its playoff spot, Smith discussed the importance of twice rallying for a draw.

“If this happens in the playoffs, we have to make sure that we just stick to what we know,” Just stick to the process and do the things that coach tells us to do. And make sure that we never lose fight, never give up, and if we go down 2-0, 3-0, we can always come back. We can score five goals in a game. Just to make sure we never give up.”

Oscar Jimenez was full of confidence Friday night. 

To be fair, he’s been brimming with it all season.

The Louisville City FC wing back played a role in both of Friday’s goals, including scoring a cheeky free kick, going around the wall on the infield turf and Bethlehem Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire in a 2-2 draw at Slugger Field. 

Jimenez normally takes corner kicks and free kicks from out wide, but on Friday, with his confidence at a high, he wanted to take a centrally-located set piece.

“It was in a good range for Kyle (Smith), and Kyle went over there and he said, ‘This is my range,’ and I was just feeling it so I told him, ‘Let me have it’,” Jimenez said. “I figured (McGuire is) on the turf, it’s a little bit wet, if I can get it on the ground, maybe it can bounce right before him. It might be tricky for him — make it hard for him.”

Jimenez has arguably been Louisville City’s most important player all season in an attacking sense. The converted center midfielder created another five goal-scoring chances with his dangerous crosses and passing Friday evening, adding to his league-leading 62 goal-scoring chances created this year. 

But sometimes his decisions on the field don’t even make the stat sheet. Jimenez’s run down the left wing gave midfielder Speedy Williams an option. Williams’ pass into the path of Jimenez’s run was redirected by the Steel defense, eventually resulting in a LouCity penalty kick.

Had Jimenez not made that run, there’s every chance that Williams would have played a square pass to a teammate or moved backward to reset the play.

“The one thing that people don’t realize is his fitness is exceptional. It really is,” said LouCity coach James O’Connor.” His intensity is really good. I think when you have the heart and the character he has, people will look at the quality – he’s got great quality – but the piece that a lot of people will miss is you look at how much ground he covers.

“You look (and) he’s up, he’s back, he’s up, he’s back, and his mentality is spot-on. He’s someone we’ve been really thrilled with, and I’m delighted because as it is to say, his work rate has been exceptional. So great for him, great that he’s getting his rewards.”

It certainly helps that Jimenez has so many targets to aim for in the center. The team had scored 42 goals since the start of June, with 16 of the 17 players getting on the scoresheet.

Jimenez admitted that he came in as a new player this season looking to fit into the squad. He’s done that and more, stepping into a leadership position on and off the field.

“I just think that you grow in confidence,” Jimenez said about his growth this season. “And right now, I feel good. I feel well here. I feel comfortable playing with these guys. I think we’re clicking at a very good time right now, and it’s just a lot of fun. And that’s the main thing. You want to have fun with soccer. That’s what I’m doing here — enjoying myself.”

Opinions expressed in this piece were not subject to club approval. For more insights on LouCity, follow former Courier-Journal reporter Dan Karell on Twitter: @DanKarellPreps.

Louisville City FC supporters Patrick Blanton and Joe Vala, along with the club’s public address voice, Lance McGarvey, joined host Steve Peake on Saturday morning for the latest edition of the “Soccer City” radio show presented by Louisville City FC.

The crew wrapped up the 2016 season, looked ahead to the next and chatted about the upcoming USL Cup Final.

Listen back at the link below or by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2ehNjPY. Soccer City airs most Saturdays from 9-10 a.m. but will be on next weekend from 8-9 a.m. on AM 790 WKRD.

Louisville City FC trailed twice Friday night but equalized on both occasions to take away a point from its matchup with Bethlehem Steel FC at Slugger Field.

Kyle Smith converted a penalty kick in the 55th minute before Oscar Jimenez drove home a free kick in the 76th, resulting in a 2-2 draw in LouCity’s first-ever Friday night home game.

A crowd of 8,303 nearly saw the boys in black — wearing their third kits — clinch another playoff berth. A win would have done it, but it’s possible other results around the league will solidify LouCity’s standing this weekend.

“I’m incredibly proud of the players and football club,” said coach James O’Connor. “I think when you look at the supporters tonight and the players, I think they gave maximum effort. I think they really did, especially second half. I thought we threw everything at them.”

Bethlehem scored a penalty of its own after goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh clipped attacker Saint Moar in the box. Ranjitsingh made the save in the 61st minute, but Moar finished the rebound.

Fifteen minutes later, LouCity drew even to remain unbeaten in three games and extend its lead in the USL Eastern Conference to four points over the Charlotte Independence.

“It’s a little disappointing to drop points at home,” Smith said, “but at the same time, we were down 1-0. We were down 2-1. So to come back we showed great resilience. Coming out with a tie wasn’t the worst possible thing that could have happened. It was a rollercoaster.

“…We’ve just got to move on, and get a good week of practice in. We have another game Wednesday, so yeah, just move on.”

Halftime changes saw midfielders Richard Ballard and Brian Ownby immediately add to the attack. Despite trailing 1-0 at the break, LouCity went on to out-shoot the visitors 20-10 and limited Bethlehem to just three looks on goal.

Smith’s goal marked the second in as many games and came after forward Luke Spencer was taken down in the box. Jimenez, who plays opposite Smith on the left wing, elected to take his free kick around rather than over a wall of defenders for his third goal of the season.

LouCity had its chances to take all three points, as Ballard was denied on a nice attempt at the near post in the 65th minute. Immediately following his goal, Jimenez took another shot on frame in transition in the 79th stopped by Steel FC’s goalkeeper.

“Definitely frustrated just because I thought we battled there in the second half,” Jimenez said. “I thought we could’ve pushed for a third. Things just didn’t fall. but the guys worked really hard, and I’m proud of everybody. We all left it all out there, so we can’t fault anyone there.”

Between the posts for Bethlehem, Jakes McGuire totaled six saves, enough to keep his side level and force LouCity’s first draw in 11 games dating back to a 1-1 away result July 8 against the Charleston Battery.

Game Summary

Match: Louisville City FC vs. Bethlehem Steel FC

Date: Sept. 15, 2017

Venue: Louisville Slugger Field

Kickoff: 7:35 p.m.

Weather: 80 degrees and sunny

Attendance: 8,303

LouCity Man of the Match: Kyle Smith

Scoring

Louisville City FC (0, 2, 2)

Bethlehem Steel FC (1, 1, 2)

Goals

Louisville City FC

Kyle Smith (55’)

Oscar Jimenez, (76’)

Bethlehem Steel FC

Cory Burke (21’)

Santi Moar (61’)

Lineups

Louisville City FC: 1 Greg Ranjitsingh, 24 Kyle Smith, 19 Oscar Jimenez, 4 Sean Totsch, 18 Paco Craig, 15 Sean Reynolds, 36 Paolo DelPiccolo, 80 Devon Williams, 7 Mark-Anthony Kaye (23 Richard Ballard – 45’), 12 Luke Spencer (14 Ilija Ilic – 70’), 22 George Davis IV (10 Brian Ownby – 45’)

Subs not used: 28 Tim Dobrowolski, 8 Guy Abend, 9 Cameron Lancaster, 6 Tarek Morad

Head coach: James O’Connor

Bethlehem Steel FC: 29 Jake McGuire, 19 Aaron Jones, 42 Hugh Roberts, 26 Auston Trusty, 47 Matt Real, 45 James Chambers, 21 Derrick Jones, 24 Adam Najem (48 Matt Mahoney – 90’+4), 37 Chris Nanco (49 Yosef Samuel – 86’), 38 Santi Moar (40 Josh Heard – 89’), 41 Cory Burke

Subs not used: 64 Tomas Romero, 44 Charlie Reymann, 63 Brendan Aaronson, 39 Amoy Brown

Head coach: Brendan Burke

Discipline

Louisville City FC

Paco Craig, yellow, (46’)

Oscar Jimenez, yellow, (87’)

Bethlehem Steel FC

Cory Burke, yellow, (31’)

James Chambers, yellow, (70’)

Matt Real, yellow, (88’)

Adam Najen, yellow, (90’)

Stats

Louisville City FC / Bethlehem Steel FC

Shots: 19 / 10

Shots on target: 8 / 3

Possession: 57.4% / 42.6%

Passes: 444 / 341

Corners: 9 / 2

Fouls: 14 / 14

Officials

Referee: Lorant Varga

Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein