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Louisville City FC lost their first match of the 2018 season in a scrappy, 1-0 battle with Indy Eleven in front of 9,008 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

A late penalty kick from Indy Eleven’s Ayoze ultimately separated the two sides despite tremendous fight from the “Boys in Purple” on the afternoon.

What Happened?

Tight from the beginning, LouCity and Indy Eleven played out to nearly 80 scoreless minutes of action before a penalty was given against LouCity defender Paco Craig for apparently handling the ball in the box. 

Stepping up to kick, Indy Eleven’s Ayoze sent LouCity ‘keeper Greg Ranjitsingh the wrong way to put the hosts in front. As the “Boys in Purple” fought their way back, their best chance of the night came at the end of five-plus minutes of stoppage time. Swinging a ball into the box, forward Luke Spencer  watched as his header flashed just wide of the post and out.

The result sees LouCity’s record move to 5W-1D-1L as they prepare for a trip to Nashville on Sunday, May 13, kickoff slated for 6:00 p.m. ET.

The Key Points:

• A penalty kick from Indy Eleven’s Ayoze in the 79th minute separated the two sides

O’Connor’s Takeaways:

His initial reaction:
“Obviously, we’re very disappointed. I thought it was a very scrappy game. I think the outcome has been decided by the referee. For whatever reason, he’s decided to give a penalty there, which is bewildering to me, really. I think if that’s a penalty, then the one at the start of the second half where Indy blatantly handled the ball in their box isn’t given. There’s a real inconsistency there. For us, it’s really hard to swallow. That kind of thing is painful.”

On the first half:
“I thought at times we could’ve been a lot sharper on the ball. The field is quite difficult to play on. I think when you actually look at the quality of the turf, for us, it’s not really a great surface for us to try and pass the ball on. I thought Indy pressed well and their shape was good, but I thought the quality of our play at times needed to be better. We’ve been playing sharper and crisper than that.”

On the field:
“We’re not making any excuses. I think we’ve played on fields that are similar. It’s just when you look at the way our passing was today was off. The pitch didn’t help, but for our standards we need to play better, quicker, and sharper, and to receive the ball in better areas. It was a very scrappy game. It looked like it was going to be a nil-nil if I’m being honest. There was nothing really in the game. It wasn’t a great game. But, unfortunately, for us the game has been decided because the referee gave a penalty against us and I think I’m still struggling to understand how that can be given as a penalty and the one for them isn’t. If both are penalties, then you accept it, and this is part of the problem, when you get inconsistencies like that it becomes really hard to take.”

On facing forward:
“We’ll sit down on Monday and break down the game and go through it and then look to Nashville. But at the moment, it’s bitter disappointment because I feel as if that was very, very harsh.”

Injury Report:
OUT – Richard Ballard (stress fracture)
OUT – Shaun Francis (hamstring)

Indy Eleven 1 : 0 Louisville City FC
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
70 degrees / sunny
Attendance:

Scoring Summary:
IND – Ayoze (p) 78′

Disciplinary Summary:
LOU – Paolo DelPiccolo 37′
IND – Jack McInerney 67′
IND – Ayoze 79′
IND – Justin Braun 90+1′
LOU – Brian Ownby 90+1′

Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Greg Ranjitsingh (GK); Kyle Smith, Paco Craig, Sean Totsch, Oscar Jimenez; Paolo DelPiccolo (c); Devon “Speedy” Williams, George Davis IV, Magnus Rasmussen (Brian Ownby 46′), Cameron Lancaster; Ilija ilic

Subs: Tim Dobrowolski, Chris Hubbard, Luke Spencer, Niall McCabe,  Alexis Souahy

CLICK HERE to vote Cameron Lancaster for USL Player of the Month!

Louisville City FC has managed six straight unbeaten to open the 2018 season, the club’s best-ever start, following a 3-1 thrashing of Bethlehem Steel FC last Saturday evening.

A flurry of goals all within the opening 22 minutes put LouCity three to the good. Forward Cameron Lancaster got the party started in the 13th minute, Ilija Ilic continued it with his first of the year in the 17th minute, and Lancaster added the team’s third in the 22nd minute.

Lancaster’s tallies saw him move up the charts to T-2 all-time with Chandler Hoffman (16) on the LouCity scoring charts, while Ilija Ilic became the seventh (!) player to score a goal through six games, another record-breaking moment for the club.

When & Where

Coach James O’Connor’s men move onto an early afternoon encounter against Indy Eleven on Saturday, with a noon kickoff slated at Lucas Oil Stadium this Saturday.

A different edition of “Derby Day,” the match represents the first-ever I-65 drive in the USL between the two clubs (more below).

WDRB will show the afternoon clash local to Louisville while 790 KRD carries the action over the airwaves. Fans can also follow the match live on Twitter & Instagram.

TV: WDRB
RADIO: 790 KRD
STREAM: ESPN+

DOWNLOAD: LouCity app for iOS | LouCity app for Android

Last Time Out

Louisville City FC downed Bethlehem Steel FC, 3-1, in front of 7,876 at Slugger Field thanks to goals from Cameron Lancaster (2) and Ilija Ilic all inside the opening half hour of play.

Dominating the opening minutes of play, LouCity pounced on early chances as forward Cameron Lancaster netted his 3rd goal of the season just 13 minutes in. As the visitors failed to clear a chance in their penalty area, Lancaster made sure to get a solid foot on what seemed a half chance and saw the ball fly past Steel FC ‘keeper Jake McGuire to open the scoring.

Three minutes later, the “Boys in Purple” capitalized on another chance just outside the Steel FC 18-yard box. As solid buildup play came to fruition, midfielder Kyle Smith ended up dinking a perfectly-weighted pass over the defense to find forward Ilija Ilic. Swinging at it on the first time of asking, Ilic got enough on the effort to beat McGuire and double the advantage.

Before Bethlehem could catch their breath, LouCity added a third again through the feet of Lancaster. Ilic turned scorer to provider as he slipped in the forward, and a snapshot from the Englishman ricocheted off the far post and nestled in the back of the net. 

The visitors would strike back just before halftime as midfielder Marcus Epps turned on a LouCity defender and found the far post, beating LouCity ‘keeper Greg Ranjitsingh for the first time.

At the break, the hosts held a strong 3-1 advantage.

The second 45 minutes yielded significantly fewer chances for both sides, but the injection of midfielder Brian Ownby and forward Luke Spencer after the break gave the “Boys in Purple” the legs they needed to close out the match. Conceding just one goal, the team’s defensive efforts were just impressive as their attacking output in the end.

The result saw the reigning champions stay atop the table (5W-0L-1D) with 16 points as the unbeaten streak is extended to six this season so far.

PHOTOS: LouCity trains ahead of IND trip

Rewind against INDY ELEVEN

One of few times we can say this in 2018, but Saturday afternoon’s contest in Indy will be the first time Indy Eleven and LouCity will go head-to-head in USL competition.

The pairs met twice previously in the U.S. Open Cup, with LouCity winning 2-0 (a.e.t) in 2015 before Indy got its revenge with a 2-1 win in 2016.

KY Lottery Kees to the Game

As LouCity looks to extend their unbeaten run to seven games, a look at three Kees to the Game presented by Kentucky Lottery:
1. Away days
Saturday represents the first of two straight away contests and a stretch of road that sees the team away from Louisville in the next four out of five weeks.

The difficulty this weekend lies especially in the kickoff time as both teams’ usual pre-match routines are moved up significantly for the noon start. When asked about how his team will prepare, head coach James O’Connor nearly had a laugh:

“I think for us at noon, generally, you’re still training or on your way back from training. So pre-match meal needs to obviously be brought in and brought forward, so you’re eating your pre-match meal at eight-thirty in the morning, which is different [laughs].”

Spaghetti and meatballs?
“Yeah, probably! So for the guys, trying to manage that and making sure we’re awake and that we’re sharp. It’s about managing that and making sure we’re aware of that and that everyone is comfortable.”

2. Stay in your element
The unbeaten “Boys in Purple” have one goal in mind whether at home or on the road–play their way.

O’Connor’s crew have had the advantage of four at home in their first six contests overall, meaning the ability to stay sharp and keep in their element is vital.

“There’s nobody coming in thinking they’ve got all the answers and there’s a desperation to be solution-oriented and to be the best they can be, which is what we try to do every day,” said O’Connor.

3. Time on your side
LouCity has the benefit of a normal seven-day stretch in between games, while Indy’s midweek contest against FC Cincinnati leaves them with less turnaround time to prepare for the champions.

However, O’Connor is still wary of the threat posed by Indy in their home environment:

“I think obviously for them, being at home, there will be a desperation to go on and please their supporters and there will be a comfort level based on that environment.”

James O’Connor’s pre-match press conference:

On facing Indy for the first time
“It’ll be interesting to see. They had a great start—their best start in club history—so we’re expecting a very tough game.”

On Lucas Oil Stadium:
“It’ll also be interesting to see what the turf is like. The actual stadium looks incredible and the facility looks fabulous. Great credit to [Indianapolis] for allowing Indy Eleven to play there. It’s a venue that we’re certainly looking forward to playing in.”

On Paco Craig and injuries:
“We have a lot of concerns, Paco included. At this point, it’s easier to say who isn’t carrying a little something right now!”

Team News

OUT – Richard Ballard (stress fracture, out for foreseeable future)
QUESTIONABLE – Shaun Francis (hamstring)

TALKING POINTS: #INDvLOU
 

1) Lancaster rolling

Louisville City FC forward Cameron Lancaster has been on fire in and around the box since earning his first start of the season in Cincinnati on April 7. In five appearances, Lancaster has scored four goals (CIN, ATL, BSTx2), three of which have been assisted by his teammates. 

On climbing the LouCity scoring charts to closer to top all-time, Lancaster did not hesitate to credit his teammates for their hard work in helping him find the back of the net. 

“It’s always nice to be recognized individually but the main thing is the team. As long as the team is doing well, I’m happy,” he said. “We don’t really want to look too far ahead. We’ll take it game-by-game and we’ll look forward to next weekend and try to get the result again.”

2) ANOTHER TOUGH TEST AHEAD

Coach James O’Connor addressed the difficulties that lay ahead in traveling to Indianapolis this week. He referenced the atmosphere that Lucas Oil Stadium could potentially provide during the noon kickoff and what that may do to motivate the opposition.

“I imagine it’ll have a big impact. Obviously, for them to play in their own stadium in front of their own supporters against a local rival, they’ll be determined to put on a good show. I think obviously for them, being at home, there will be a desperation to go on and please their supporters and there will be a comfort level based on that environment,” he said.

“I think for us at noon, generally, you’re still training or on your way back from training. So pre-match meal needs to obviously be brought in and brought forward, so you’re eating your pre-match meal at eight-thirty in the morning, which is different [laughs]. So for the guys, trying to manage that and making sure we’re awake and that we’re sharp. It’s about managing that and making sure we’re aware of that and that everyone is comfortable.”

TICKETS: LouCity vs. Atlanta United FC 2 | Sat., May 19 at 7:30 p.m.

3) ATTITUDE AND EFFORT

Frequently alluding to how proud his team’s willingness to learn has made him this season, O’Connor also highlighted the great effort his crew has put in so far this season, and with a fantastic attitude.

“If you look at how hard the guys work and how focused they’ve been, that’s obviously played a key role in it. But, we’re always forward-facing so we’re always looking to the next game,” stated the gaffer. 

“We need a good week’s training to make sure we’re prepped and ready to go for a really tough game. [Indy] has really good players, some players with MLS experience, a coach with MLS experience, so they’ve obviously gone and garnered a lot of experience in their technical staff and also in their playing staff, so it’ll be a big challenge for us.”

4) HELLO FOR THE FIRST TIME

Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven have crossed paths in previous U.S. Open Cup runs, but Saturday’s kickoff in Indianapolis will mark the first-ever league meeting between the pair after the latter joined the USL in the offseason.

Like many others this year, this will also be the first time the club plays at Lucas Oil Stadium with previous meetings being held at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium (USOC) and Arad McCutchan Stadium (preseason) in Evansville.

5) RECORD BREAKER?

Louisville City FC midfielder Niall McCabe has the potential to break one of the most cherished records a player can hold on Saturday. Should McCabe start or feature in the weekend’s match against Indy Eleven, he would earn his 76th appearance in a LouCity shirt, taking over the number one spot on the club’s all-time appearance chart in all competitions.

LouCity forward Cameron Lancaster has been named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 7 following his two-goal showing against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday night. Opening the scoring inside 13 minutes, Lancaster added his second of the night–fourth of the season–less than ten minutes later as LouCity rolled to a 3-1 win. 

The goal moved Lancaster into T-2 on the all-time LouCity scoring charts (16) with Chandler Hoffman. 

Meanwhile, North Carolina FC midfielder Kyle Bekker has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 7 of the 2018 season. Bekker scored once and notched two assists to lead NCFC to a 3-0 victory against Penn FC on Saturday night that extended the club’s undefeated streak to four games and earned its first home win of the season.

Bekker received 47 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Charleston Battery forward Gordon Wild finished second with 26 percent.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Toronto FC II: Patterson-Sewell recorded a shutout that included a penalty-kick save to deny New York’s Stefano Bonomo as TFC II claimed its second draw of the season.

D – Skylar Thomas, Charleston Battery: Thomas won 16 of 24 duels overall during the Battery’s two victories against Atlanta and Tampa Bay, while recording seven tackles, four interceptions and 12 clearances.

D – Sam Fink, Saint Louis FC: Fink recorded a key late goal-line clearance to cap a performance that also saw him win eight of 13 duels and complete 33 of 39 passes.

D – Tobi Adewole, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Adewole recorded three tackles, two interceptions and eight clearances and won eight of 13 duels as the Hounds recorded their fifth shutout in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta.

M – Todd Wharton, Rio Grande Valley FC: Wharton recorded one assist, four key passes and 35 of 38 passes while winning five of seven duels in the Toros’ 2-0 victory against Orange County SC. 

M – Emmanuel Ledesma, FC Cincinnati: Ledesma notched a goal and an assist in Cincinnati’s 3-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday, while finishing with three key passes and three shots on goal.

M – Kevin Partida, Reno 1868 FC: Partida scored a tremendous opening goal in Reno’s 2-0 victory against OKC Energy FC and completed 34 of 40 passes in a tidy display in midfield on Saturday night.

M – Kyle Bekker, North Carolina FC: Bekker had a goal and two assists as North Carolina ran its undefeated streak to four games with a 3-0 victory against Penn FC on Saturday night.

M – Jose Escalante, San Antonio FC: Escalante scored the second goal of the night and also won a penalty kick, as SAFC handed Las Vegas Lights FC its first loss of the season in a 3-1 win on Friday night.

F – Gordon Wild, Charleston Battery: Wild scored his first two professional goals to lead the Battery to a 3-0 victory against ATL UTD 2 last Tuesday night.

F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Lancaster scored twice to lead Louisville to its fifth win in six games this season in a 3-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday night.

Bench: Sean Lewis (PEN), Thomas Juel-Nielsen (OC), Raul Gonzalez (RIC), Christiano Francois (PGH), Tah Anunga (CHS), Solomon Asante (PHX), Ilija Ilic (LOU)