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Louisville City FC advanced to the 2018 USL Cup with a commanding 5-1 win over New York Red Bulls II in Friday’s Eastern Conference Final. Los Morados will face the winner of the Western Conference Final between Phoenix Rising SC and Orange County SC, to be played on Saturday, November 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET in California.

What Happened?
For the third straight year, Louisville City and New York Red Bulls II faced off to see which side would be crowned Eastern Conference champions.

No more than 11 minutes passed before the cold temperatures influenced the match as a premature injury sidelined forward Cameron Lancaster. Luke Spencer entered as his replacement.

The first true scoring opportunity for either side came in the 16th when LouCity’s George Davis IV was called for a foul in the penalty box leading to a Red Bulls II penalty kick.

The visitors’ Chris Lema stepped up to the ball, slipping on Slugger Field’s turf and launching the ball over the crossbar as LouCity escaped with no harm delivered.

The defending champions earned themselves a penalty kick five minutes later when LouCity forward Ilija Ilic’s goal line run ended in a foul by a member of the Red Bulls II backline. Ilic would then open the night’s scoring as he aimed right and NYRBII goalkeeper Evan Louro dove left to convert the spot kick.

After an impressive performance saw him score twice in last week’s win over Bethlehem Steel FC, midfielder Brian Ownby found Spencer in the 6-yard box who then doubled the hosts’ lead with a strike past Louro.

Louisville City entered the break with the 2-0 lead.

Both sides spent the first 15 minutes of the second half trading possession before NYRBII had their answer for the two LouCity first-half goals.

A service from Red Bulls II’s Ethan Kutler found forward Tom Barlow in the penalty box, eventually leading to a Barlow header and bringing the visitors within a goal.

Los Morados had their answer thanks to the first of two Devon “Speedy” Williams strikes on the night.

The first came when Niall McCabe found Williams on the left side of the penalty box before Williams’ bending shot snuck past Louro for his side’s third goal of the night.

The second came two minutes later when Williams’ strike from the top of the box rocketed into the back of the net as Ownby recorded his second assist of the match.

With his side up 4-1, Brian Ownby added to his fantastic two-game stretch when the midfielder’s strike from the top of the box gave his side the 5th and final goal of the night.

Louisville City would go on to win the match by a final score of 5-1 as the club advances to their second straight USL Cup final.

Kickoff for the USL Cup final match is set for Thursday, November 8 at 8:00 p.m. at the University of Louisville’s Lynn Stadium.

The Key Points:

• Louisville City forward Cameron Lancaster left Friday’s match early due to injury. Lancaster broke the USL’s single-season goalscoring record with 26.
• Thanks to a strong second half push, Louisville City advances to their second straight USL Cup championship match.

Injury Report:
None

Louisville City FC 5 : 1 New York Red Bulls II
Friday, November 2, 2018
Louisville Slugger Field | Louisville, KY
47 degrees / partly cloudy
Attendance: 10,059

Scoring Summary:
LOU – Ilija Ilic 
LOU – Luke Spencer (Brian Ownby) 32’
NY – Tom Barlow (Ethan Kutler) 60’
LOU – Devon “Speedy” Williams (Niall McCabe) 73’
LOU – Devon “Speedy” Williams (Brian Ownby) 75’
LOU – Brian Ownby 81’

Disciplinary Summary:
NY – Hassan Ndam (caution) 22’
LOU – Ilija Ilic (caution) 40’
NY – Andrew Tinari (caution) 45’
LOU – George Davis IV (caution) 61’
LOU – Paco Craig (caution) 65’
LOU – Brian Ownby (caution) 68’
LOU – Niall McCabe (caution) 80’

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Greg Ranjitsingh (GK); Alexis Souahy, Paco Craig, Oscar Jimenez, Kyle Smith; Paolo DelPiccolo (c), Niall McCabe, George Davis IV (Devon “Speedy” Williams 64’), Niall McCabe (Sean Totsch 83’); Cameron Lancaster (Luke Spencer 13’), Ilija Ilic

Bench: Shaun Francis, Richard Ballard, Tim Dobrowolski, Luke Spencer, Sean Totsch, Magnus Rasmussen

For the fourth straight season, Louisville City FC is headed to the Eastern Conference Final, this time looking to advance to the USL Cup for the second consecutive year.

Their opposition–New York Red Bulls II–are familiar foes given that City has faced the “Baby Bulls” in the last two conference finals, making this the third straight season they will lock horns. 

City comes in off the back of a truly dominant display in a 2-0 win over Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday, while Red Bulls II defeated FC Cincinnati in Cincinnati in the other conference semifinal.

TICKETS: Louisville City FC vs New York Red Bulls II – Friday, Nov. 2 | 7:30 PM | Slugger Field

When & Where
The match is set to take place on Friday, November 2 at Slugger Field with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

The match will be aired on WBKI as well as streamed on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the match on 790 WKRD. Fans can also follow #LOUvNY on Twitter & Instagram.

TV: WBKI
RADIO: 790 WKRD 
STREAM: ESPN+

DOWNLOAD: LouCity app for iOS | LouCity app for Android

Where They Stand
#2 Louisville City FC:
18-6-9, 66 points – 2nd in EC 

#5 New York Red Bulls II:
13-8-13, 52 points – 5th in EC

Last Time Out
Hosting Bethlehem Steel FC for the second time this season, Louisville City FC spent their Saturday night in search for their fourth trip to the Eastern Conference finals in as many years of existence.

With temperatures dropping to the lower 50s by kickoff, Steel FC spent the first 20 minutes successfully pressing the home side and creating multiple scoring chances, one being a free kick in the 17th minute.

With a chance to strike first, Bethlehem’s James Chambers attempted to sneak one under the wall, failing to get the ball up and over the wall thanks to a strong defensive hold from LouCity.

Turning the page on the match, LouCity’s first chance yielded a goal as Brian Ownby slotted a brilliant one past the visiting goalkeeper Jake McGuire thanks to yet another Oscar Jimenez assist.

Neither side would find the back of the net the rest of the half as Louisville City entered the break with the 1-0 lead.

Both sides started the second 45 minutes in similar fashion to the first, with a continuous fight for possession as neither club found a true scoring opportunity.

However, after regaining possession in midfield in the 59th minute, LouCity’s Niall McCabe fed a fantastic through ball to Ownby in the open field, who eventually slipped another past McGuire and doubled the hosts’ lead.

The remaining 31 minutes of play were spent with few opportunities for the Steel as LouCity ‘keeper Greg Ranjitsingh and company recorded the clean sheet and knocked off Steel FC, 2-0.

Coach John Hackworth’s pre-NY assessment
On his message to the group this week:
“Just trying to stick to our process and understand that we’re playing an opponent that has been as good and as successful as we have been as a club in recent years and it’s everything to play for. There’s a trophy on the line. The obvious goal is to advance and to make it to the final.

On the play of NYRBII as of late:
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment by them. I know [coach] John Wolyniec well and he always does an excellent job with those guys. I know some of their players pretty well, too, and it’s a club that is committed to a philosophy and a style of play and it’s very difficult to beat. They have—like us—improved and are playing their best soccer at this time of the year.”

On his first game against Red Bulls II:
“It’s similar to last week with Bethlehem Steel but I was paying closer attention to [the August 10 meeting against] Red Bulls II last time and they have dramatically improved since the last time these two teams have met. The matchup has some similarities and traits and moments that both teams are going to look at and try and take advantage of. It should be an excellent game.”

On a big crowd at Slugger Field:
“Look, we’ve enjoyed being here in the ‘Ville. We are making sure that we do everything we could off the field to prepare from our rest and nutrition and just being comfortable with our process on how we go into games at home. The fact that we’re playing at Slugger [Field] and in front of our crowd tomorrow, they have been tremendous. That’s our 12th man. We know it’s going to happen again tomorrow night.”

On the expectation of making it to this stage since his arrival in August:
“I was telling my wife last time on the phone that it never stops. You want more and more and I said it in a couple of interviews earlier this week, this group is just a great group to be around and coach and exchange ideas. They like to be pushed. I’m enjoying it and I hope it continues.”

Injury Report
None

A year after a Richard Ballard penalty kick sent his side to the USL Cup championship, New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City face off in a third-straight showdown for the Eastern Conference championship.

Displaying some of its best defensive efforts during their current 8-game winning streak, LouCity recorded 4 clean sheets and conceded no more than one goal when other clubs added to the scoring sheet.

Though their stout defense has proven strong of late, a new challenge comes for head coach John Hackworth and Los Morados.

“It’s a club that is committed to a philosophy and a style of play and it’s very difficult,” said Coach Hackworth. “I think they have, like us, improved and are playing their best soccer at this time of year.”

Since joining LouCity, Hackworth has played a number of USL clubs in regular season play, though Red Bulls II was not one of them.

With an explosive attack displayed in their two matches with LouCity, Red Bulls II found the back of the net 3 or more times in eleven of their matches throughout the 2018 campaign. Two of those came against Louisville City as both sides combined for a whopping 16 goals through 180 minutes of play.

“It’s similar to last week in Bethlehem Steel, but I was paying close attention to last time,” Coach Hackworth said. “Again, I think Red Bulls II have dramatically improved since the last time these two teams have met.”

Similar to last year’s circumstance of advancing to the USL Cup on penalty kicks, Los Morados will be hosting their opponent and seeking to continue their unbeaten streak at Slugger Field in this year’s USL playoffs.

“The fact that we’re playing at Slugger and having the crowd there – they have been tremendous,” added Coach Hackworth. “That’s our twelfth man and we know it’s going to happen.”

Louisville City FC has made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth year in a row and, for the third consecutive time, their opponent will be New York Red Bulls II. LouCity continued their path to defending their USL Cup title on Saturday, taking down Bethlehem Steel FC 2-0.

Last Time Against New York
Louisville and New York met in early August at Pittser Field, where City took down Red Bulls II, 6-4. After going down 2-0 early in the first half, Ilija Ilic and Cameron Lancaster each netted a goal to put the sides even at two heading into the break. Louisville would combine for three more goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half with second goals by Ilic and Lancaster and a goal for George Davis IV. Lancaster earned the hat-trick with an 88th-minute goal to seal the result for LouCity.

In the one other meeting at Slugger Field, Louisville and New York each took a point in a 3-3 draw.

Scouting New York
New York, the fifth seed in the conference, is coming off a 1-0 road win against FC Cincinnati. Goalkeeper Evan Louro has had two clean sheets in two playoff games. So far in the playoffs, both of New York’s matches have been 1-0 results. Defender Hassan Ndam was named to the USL’s 20 under 20 list.

Eastern Conference Finals since 2016
While this is Louisville’s fourth consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference finals, this will be the third time in three years that their opponent will be New York Red Bulls II. The conference finals series is technically tied at 0-0-2, with the match ending in penalty kicks on both occasions. 

In 2016, Paco Craig scored the only goal for Louisville in the 11thminute before New York found the equalizer in the 74th minute. RBII then took the match, 4-3, in penalty kicks.

In 2017, it was once again tied 1-1 at the end of regulation thanks to a Brian Ownby goal. This time, Louisville prevailed 4-3 on penalty kicks to send the club to their first USL Cup Final. 

Tee it up at Cardinal Stadium following Louisville City FC’s USL Eastern Conference Finals Match on Friday, November 2! 

Topgolf Crush will host the Official LOUCITY After Party and will feature drink specials for Louisville City supporters from 9pm ’til midnight.

Purchase your Topgolf Crush tickets using the promo code “LOUCITY” and receive a free ticket to Friday’s match, courtesy of our partners at Topgolf Crush! Receive tickets to two great events for the price of one Topgolf Crush ticket!

Join us at Topgolf Crush following our USL Eastern Conference Finals match as we continue to celebrate Louisville City’s historic 2018 Season!

 PURCHASE HERE

Don’t miss the LouCity merch truck traveling around our City ahead of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday night at Slugger Field! 

Get the latest City gear and tickets to Friday’s conference finale as we defend our cup and our City!

Tuesday, oct. 30

11 AM – 3 PM: Foot of the Big Four Walking Bridge

WEdnesday, oct. 31 & Thursday, nov. 1

11 AM – 9 PM: Oxmoor Mall – Popup Shop

friday, nov. 2

10:30 AM – 1:30 PM: 3rd & Main Street
1:45 PM – 3 PM: Outside Slugger Field
3 – 5 PM: LouCity Tailgate (Preston St)
 

LOUISVILLE – No. 2-seed Louisville City Football Club announced today that it will host No. 5-seed New York Red Bulls II in the Eastern Conference Final on Friday, Nov. 2 at Slugger Field. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET with local broadcast details still to be announced.

Ticket sales for the Eastern Conference Final clash began on Sunday. Fans can purchase tickets to the match for just $10 online at www.LouisvilleCityFC.com/Playoffs or by phone at 502-LOU-CITY.

LouCity locked down its place in the final stage of conference play for the fourth straight season with a dominant 2-0 win over Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday, October 27, while NYRBII secured a third straight trip to the conference final with a 1-0 win against FC Cincinnati in Cincinnati on the same day.

LouCity was 1-0-1 against Red Bulls II in the 2018 regular season. City split a point with the “Baby Bulls” in a wild 3-3 draw at Slugger Field on Saturday, June 30, with midfielder Magnus Rasmussen’s stoppage-time equalizer preventing the visitors from stealing all three points. City then blistered Red Bulls II for six goals in a 6-4 win on Friday, August 10, with forward Cameron Lancaster scoring his first hat-trick of the year in his first start since returning from injury. 

The matchup will mark the third consecutive year that Los Moradoswill take on NYRBII and the second straight year the decider will be played in Louisville. Falling on penalties in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final, LouCity got its revenge in the 2017 Eastern Conference final, defeating Red Bulls II 4-3 on spot kicks.

Louisville City FC will train at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Thurman-Hutchins Field, with the Thursday training session open to the media. LouCity coach John Hackworth as well as select players will be available to the media immediately following training. 

BUY NOW: LouCity vs New York Red Bulls II

For the fourth year running, Louisville City FC booked their place in the Eastern Conference Final, this time after shutting out Bethlehem Steel FC, 2-0, in front just over 6,800 at Slugger Field.

What Happened?
Hosting Bethlehem Steel FC for the second time this season, Louisville City FC spent their Saturday night in search for their fourth trip to the Eastern Conference finals in as many years of existence.

With temperatures dropping to the lower 50s by kickoff, Steel FC spent the first 20 minutes successfully pressing the home side and creating multiple scoring chances, one being a free kick in the 17th minute.

With a chance to strike first, Bethlehem’s James Chambers attempted to sneak one under the wall, failing to get the ball up and over the wall thanks to a strong defensive hold from LouCity.

Turning the page on the match, LouCity’s first chance yielded a goal as Brian Ownby slotted a brilliant one past the visiting goalkeeper Jake McGuire thanks to yet another Oscar Jimenez assist.

Neither side would find the back of the net the rest of the half as Louisville City entered the break with the 1-0 lead.

Both sides started the second 45 minutes in similar fashion to the first, with a continuous fight for possession as neither club found a true scoring opportunity.

However, after regaining possession in midfield in the 59th minute, LouCity’s Niall McCabe fed a fantastic through ball to Ownby in the open field, who eventually slipped another past McGuire and doubled the hosts’ lead.

The remaining 31 minutes of play were spent with few opportunities for the Steel as LouCity ‘keeper Greg Ranjitsingh and company recorded the clean sheet and knocked off Steel FC, 2-0.

With the win, the club advances to the USL Eastern Conference championship match against New York Red Bulls II. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm on Friday, November 2 at Slugger Field with tickets starting at just $10.

Key Points:

• After being held scoreless through USL regular season play, midfielder Brian Ownby recorded both LouCity goals.

Injury Report:
None

Louisville City FC 2 : 0 Bethlehem Steel FC
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Louisville Slugger Field | Louisville, KY
50 degrees / sunny
Attendance: 6,881

Scoring Summary:
LOU – Brian Ownby (Oscar Jimenez) 34’
LOU – Brian Ownby (Niall McCabe) 59’

Disciplinary Summary:
BTS – Santi Moar (caution) 57’
LOU – Kyle Smith (caution) 64’
LOU – Brian Ownby (caution) 79’
BTS – Olivier Mbaizo (caution) 83’
BTS – Ben Ofeimu (caution) 87’

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Greg Ranjitsingh (GK); Alexis Souahy, Paco Craig, Oscar Jimenez, Kyle Smith; Paolo DelPiccolo (c), Brian Ownby, George Davis IV (Sean Totsch 88’), Ilija Ilic (Devon “Speedy” Williams 72’) Niall McCabe; Cameron Lancaster (Luke Spencer 81’)

Bench: Shaun Francis, Richard Ballard, Tim Dobrowolski, Magnus Rasmussen