News

Louisville City FC has pushed up the start time for its Saturday, Sept. 2, home game against the Charleston Battery to accommodate those also planning to watch our town’s other football team.

LouCity and the Battery will now kick off at 5 p.m. at Slugger Field before the University of Louisville opens its season against Purdue at 7:30 p.m. in Indianapolis.

“We anticipate our home game against the Battery as an important one in the race to win a USL regular-season title,” said LouCity Chairman and President John Neace. “We’ll need support in the stands at Slugger Field and, likewise, won’t preclude our supporters from watching a Top 25 program and its Heisman Trophy-winning star.”

LouCity versus the Battery was originally set for 7:30 p.m., a direct conflict with the college football game. United Soccer League and Charleston club officials this week approved the time change in conjunction with LouCity’s front office.

WBNA TV-21 and USL Soccer’s YouTube channel are scheduled to broadcast the third meeting between LouCity and the Battery. Their first two clashes resulted in draws, with both of those games a fight near the top of the table. Charleston led the Eastern Conference standings through much of the 2017 season’s first half and features Romario Williams, the USL’s second-leading scorer.

Other LouCity home games before Sept. 2 fall on Saturday against FC Cincinnati, Aug. 23 against the Harrisburg City Islanders and Aug. 26 against Orlando City B. Visit www.loucity.com/tickets or call (502) 384-8799 for more information on attending.

Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor said Monday that ticket sales for this weekend’s rematch with FC Cincinnati are “way ahead of where we’ve been for any other game” — so much so that Slugger Field could reach its 13,100-fan capacity Saturday.

Accordingly, O’Connor’s preparing his players for an amped-up environment.

“You want to make sure it becomes an intimidating place for the opposition, so when you get that level of support, it’s important then that we feed off the back of it, which we do,” the coach said at his regular weekly press conference.

Having already bounced back from its three losses this season with wins, LouCity will have a chance at continuing that trend against FC Cincinnati. O’Connor compared a 3-1 loss last Saturday at Charlotte — now the USL Eastern Conference’s top team — to the 3-2 defeat his side suffered in its last meeting with Cincinnati, back on July 15.

That meaning LouCity controlled possession and created chances, only to give up “poor” goals.

“Well, looking at Saturday, we haven’t learned any lessons,” O’Connor said. “That was the frustrating thing for me.”

Still, he added, “To go and completely dominate like we did and play as well as we did against a team that’s number one in the East is very, very promising.”

Next, the boys in purple will look to hold that form — perhaps in front of a sellout crowd.

Here’s more from O’Connor’s meeting with the media…

On the players’ reaction to the halftime deficit to Charlotte: “The reaction I think second half to being two-nil down was excellent. We created multiple opportunities, but then we leave the back door open and get pinched in again on the third goal. So there’s a little bit of learning for us from that standpoint. But again, I’ve said it multiple times, I couldn’t be prouder of our players. That type of performance generally will get you a result. It’s not too often you’re going to play like that and lose the game three to one, that’s for sure.”

On the defensive errors leading to goals for the opposition: “I think when we look at it, it’s never just one player. It’s multiple reactions, multiple instances — maybe lack of communication — so there’s multiple things that we’ve gone through today. Again, when you’re dealing with guys that want to get better and are very attentive and very keen to learn, it becomes easy. I think it would be really frustrating if you’re dealing with a group of guys who don’t care or don’t want to pay attention — who aren’t striving for growth. I think there’s a real hunger and a real determination from our guys, which is great to see. They’re very keen to get back out there, so we’re all looking forward to Saturday’s game.”

On lineup changes, including resting Brian Ownby in Charlotte: “Again, for me, it’s not necessarily about formations. It’s more getting players in attacking space and doing whatever it is that will win you the game and again, I think throughout the course of the season, we’ve done that really well.”

Now a midfielder, Mark-Anthony Kaye played earlier in his career along the back line, giving the Louisville City FC star insight into just what happened Saturday night against the Charlotte Independence.

LouCity “completely dominated the game,” coach James O’Connor said, beating out the Independence in nearly every statistical category except the ones that count most — goals scored and allowed.

Final score in Matthews, N.C.: Charlotte 3, LouCity 1.

“I think it’s just that complacency sets in,” Kaye said. “I can see it. I can understand it, because I’ve been a defender. You see the players in front of you dominating the game, you switch off for one second, and then they’re on a breakaway.

“Everyone needs to be tuned in on and off the ball, and I think tonight was a great example of what happens when you’re not.”

LouCity held 58 percent of the possession and didn’t settle on the ball, earning eight corners to Charlotte’s one. Shots were 13-7 in favor of the visitors. Passes ended up 510-379, with LouCity completing 80 percent of its attempts. The Independence weren’t credited with a single cross.

But Charlotte made the most of its chances, converting all three of its shots on goal, while Kaye saw “mental lapses” from LouCity, which was to an extent a victim of its own success controlling the game.

“It looks like they’ve had four attacks and scored three goals,” O’Connor said. “That’s painful, and it’s completely on us. We need to do a much better job than that.”

LouCity surrendered a first half brace to Independence midfielder Enzo Martinez, a 2016 USL MVP candidate, but fought off the shock of a 2-0 deficit with Kaye’s 48th-minute goal. An equalizer felt imminent as well.

Luke Spencer put a shot over the bar in the 51st minute. Kaye’s try from the center off the box went wide right in the 57th. Kyle Smith sailed another nice look high in the 61st.

Then came the 67th minute try that included a diving save by Charlotte’s keeper, who came off his line to stop Kaye’s shot. Cameron Lancaster followed with a header blocked at the last moment.

“How he managed to get that off the line,” O’Connor said of an Independence defender, “I don’t know. You have to capitalize on opportunities like that. Equally, when you give them three goals like we did, it’s difficult to get in a game. That’s the key point.

“You look at how we started the game in the first 10 minutes, we were looking to win the game. We played a huge role in our own downfall, which we need to stop doing.”

On one final counter, Martinez completed his hat trick and in turn received a second yellow card — plus a sending off — for leaving the field to celebrate. O’Connor saw his 11 fail to capitalize against Charlotte’s 10 during the game’s final minutes, saying, “Our intelligence needs to be better than that.”

Add it to the list for this week’s training. Six days remain before LouCity hosts FC Cincinnati in a rematch of a July 15 game at Slugger Field, that one a 3-2 defeat that felt much like Saturday’s loss.

The outlook with 13 games left in the regular season remains positive, as the boys in purple sit fourth in the USL Eastern Conference standings at 10-4-5, good for 35 points. Second (Charleston Battery) and third (Tampa Bay Rowdies) are just two points up with LouCity holding three games in hand, while the Independence are four points cleared with one more game played than LouCity. 

A hat trick by the Charlotte Independence’s Enzo Martinez, along with missed chances when trailing, foiled Louisville City FC’s bid Saturday night for a return to first place in the USL Eastern Conference standings.

An MVP candidate in 2016, Martinez scored twice in the first half and again in the second to secure a 3-1 result at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, N.C.

Either side would have moved to the top of the table with a victory following the Charleston Battery’s defeat earlier Saturday. The Independence, now on an 11-game unbeaten streak, made the most of the opportunity on an uncharacteristic night for LouCity.

“We’ve completely dominated the game, but we lifted off at really key moments,” said coach James O’Connor. “They could’ve had four attacks and scored three goals. The goals were, from their standpoint, they’re going to be really pleased. But from our standpoint, we really need to be better than to concede goals like that.

“…We’ve been given a very harsh lesson tonight, because we played some good football, but at the end of the game we’ve been beaten. We need to be better and stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Martinez slipped behind the defense —one that had allowed just 17 goals in 18 games entering the weekend — for an 11th-minute goal. A poor touch in LouCity’s defensive half set up Martinez’s second. second scoring strike.

Then momentum turned.

Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye managed an answer in the 48th minute, finishing a ball played through from teammate Niall McCabe for his first USL goal of the year. There were other chances as well, including Kaye’s touch on goal in the 67th minute saved by Charlotte goalkeeper Cody Mizell. Forward Cameron Lancaster headed the rebound, and the Independence managed to clear that shot off the line as well.

“I had a talk with (coaches) James O’Connor and Daniel Byrd and they told me what I needed to do — work behind the ball, get behind the ball when I don’t have it and bring more intensity to the game,” Kaye said. “I realized when I came in that I had an opportunity to change the game, and that’s what I wanted to do. I was in a good position on the goal and scored, but I think as a team and for me, myself, we could have done much better.”

Ultimately, LouCity didn’t find the back of the net again, and its efforts pushing players up led to a dangerous Charlotte counter. Martinez completed his hat trick in the 80th minute before booked for a second yellow card — and sending off — for leaving the field in celebration.

By then, it was too late in the going for LouCity to pull even while up a man.

“I feel like we played really well,” said midfielder Guy Abend. “We had control over the game. But we made some critical mistakes that cost us, and it just feels like we missed a big opportunity tonight.”

Forward Luke Spencer used his size to hold up possession and saw multiple looks at the face of goal. Oscar Jimenez put both his shots on target, and Abend had a try from distance sail over the bar.

The final stats read with familiarity. LouCity out-shot the Independence by a 13-7 margin. Charlotte only put three shots on goal; all of them went in. And possession was held 58 percent of the time by the visitors.

That was even after facing some adversity. In the 27th minute, captain and midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo called for an early substitution. O’Connor elected to rest Brian Ownby, one of LouCity’s most prolific attackers, and winger George Davis IV missed a second consecutive game on his way back from a minor knee tweak.

“I think we’re a short team for a reason,” Abend said. “Every player can be put in every position pretty much. Our subs — take Luke for example last week — come in and impact the game. Mark did the same today. I feel like everyone’s pretty much on the same level, and they show it on a weekly basis.”

Squad management will be key this week before LouCity gets a visit from rival FC Cincinnati, a matchup between teams in playoff positions. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Slugger Field.

Game Summary
 
Match: Charlotte Independence vs. Louisville City FC
 
Date: August 5, 2017
 
Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews
 
Kickoff: 7:05pm
 
Attendance: 2,648
 
LouCity Man of the Match: Mark-Anthony Kaye
 
Scoring
 
Charlotte Independence (2, 1, 3)
 
Louisville City FC (0, 1, 1)
 
Goals
 
Charlotte Independence

11’ Enzo Martinez (assisted by Callum Ross)
44’ Enzo Martinez
80’ Enzo Martinez (assisted by Donald Smith)
 
Louisville City FC

48’ Mark-Anthony Kaye (assisted by Niall McCabe)
 
Lineups
 
Charlotte Independence: Cody Mizell, Smith, Austin Yearwood, Bilal Duckett, Henry Kalungi, Callum Ross, David Estrada (David Spies- 76’), Jun Marques Davidson, Lewis Hilton (Yann Ekra- 59’), Enzo Martinez, Alex Martinez (Luke Waechter- 90’+6)
 
Subs not used: Kainoa Likewise, Ashani Fairclough, Jaime Siaj, Casey Townsend
 
Head coach: Mike Jeffries
 
Louisville City FC: Tim Dobrowolski, Paco Craig, Sean Totsch, Tarek Morad, Kyle Smith, Guy Abend, Paolo, DelPiccolo (Mark-Anthony Kaye- 27’), Luke, Spencer (Cameron Lancaster- 62’), Niall McCabe (Richard Ballard- 71’), Devon “Speedy” Williams, Oscar Jimenez
 
Subs not used: Greg Ranjitsingh, Sean Reynolds, Brain Ownby, Ilijia Ilic
 
Head coach: James O’Connor
 
Discipline
 
Charlotte Independence

1’ Enzo Martinez – Yellow Card
65’ Henry Kalungi – Yellow Card
68’ Alex Martinez – Yellow Card
80’ Enzo Martinez – Second Yellow Card

Louisville City FC

40’ Kyle Smith – Yellow Card
68’ Devon “Speedy” Williams – Yellow Card
68’ Paolo DelPiccolo – Yellow Card
75’ Paco Criag – Yellow Card
90’+ Mark-Anthony Kaye – Yellow Card
 
Stats
 
Charlotte Independence  / Louisville City FC
 
Shots: 7 / 13
 
Shots on target: 3 / 5
 
Possession: 41.7% / 58.3%
 
Passes: 379 / 510
 
Corners: 1 / 8
 
Fouls: 14 / 18
 
Officials
 
Referee: Christopher Spivey
 
Assistant Referee 1: Eric Barnes
 
Assistant Referee 2: John Rush
 
4th Official: Benjamin Ellis

A Louisville City FC team that had allowed just 17 goals in 18 games entering Saturday found itself in a rare position at the half — down 2-0, and with both goals by the same player, Enzo Martinez.

It also happened June 3 in a game against the Charleston Battery with sticker Romario Williams recording the first half brace. Then, LouCity rallied for a 4-4 draw. But such results are rare, and the hole proved too deep against the Charlotte Independence.

An Independence win vaulted them into first place, while LouCity slid from third to fourth as a result — though the boys in purple maintain games in hand over each team ahead.

Midfielder Guy Abend didn’t see a 3-1 loss to Charlotte coming.

“We had control before they scored their first goal, and even after that,” he said. “I felt like we were in control, and they scored out of nowhere. The second and third goal — kind of the same. We showed our mental toughness the way we came out in the second half and continued to dominate the game. Then out of nowhere came the other goals.”

As Sean Totsch came out to challenge, Martinez slipped behind the defense and received a pass for his first goal. The second came after Paco Craig mishandled a long ball in his own half. A separate pass back to Tim Dobrowolski in the first half nearly got past the goalkeeper for another Charlotte tally.

Each sequence was uncharacteristic for one of the league’s best defenses.

Here’s more from the game:

• For the first time this season, midfielder Brian Ownby remained on the sideline for a game’s entire 90 minutes, resting after a strenuous first half of the year. The only other game he didn’t start — the aforementioned draw June 3 in Charleston — Ownby came on as a substitute to score.

• In his third game back after a stint with the Canadian national team, Mark-Anthony Kaye tallied his first goal of the season for LouCity and earned the fans’ vote for Man of the Match. Kaye was brought on the pitch in the first half after Paolo DelPiccolo called for a sub, and the change ultimately paid off for coach James O’Connor.

• Luke Spencer, a former MLS SuperDraft pick, played multiple brilliant balls in the Independence box on hold plays that gave his teammates enough time to create space and looks at goals. His hold plays set up just some of the 13 total shots for LouCity, seven of which came from in the box, but only one of which saw the back of the net.

• The setback came a week before the River Cities Cup rivalry’s final leg plays out at Slugger Field. Elsewhere in USL play, FC Cincinnati ended level at 2-2 against Orlando City B. A league regular-season record 25,308 attended at Nippert Stadium.

As far as early August games go, Saturday’s clash between Louisville City FC and the Charlotte Independence is a big one. The clubs meet for a 7 p.m. start in Matthews, N.C.

Here’s what to watch for…

Tune In

TV: WBNA TV-21 will air the game live and in high definition locally with Mike Watts, voice of the USL, on the call.

Radio: TJ Walker (play-by-play) and Jeff Milby (color commentary) will voice the action on NewsRadio 840 WHAS, with pregame coverage starting at 7:15 p.m.

Streaming: Watch live via the USL Match Center or 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. Vote for the Modelo Man of the Match on Twitter starting in the 75th minute.

Links

• DelPiccolo ‘an example’ for earning playing time
• Videos: O’Connor, players preview Saturday’s game
• USL announces regular-season expansion for 2018
• WLKY: LouCity prepares to take on Charlotte
• First place within reach for LouCity, Independence

Notes

Chasing Charleston: It’s now a three-way race for the top spot on the USL Eastern Conference  table. With the No. 1 Charleston Battery kicking off against Toronto FC II at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, we’ll know by the start of LouCity at Charlotte whether a win would vault either to first. The boys in purple are 10-3-5, good for 35 points, with Charlotte one point up at 10-3-6. The Battery have accumulated 37 points but have played three more games so far than LouCity.

Last time they met: After ending its 2016 regular-season with draw against Charlotte Independence, LouCity posted a 1-0 victory in the June 7 rematch at Slugger Field. Louisville native Richard Ballard delivered the game-winning goal — his first in USL play — on a key assist from Brian Ownby. The Independence haven’t lost since.

A change in venue: Charlotte made the move from the Ramblewood Soccer Complex midway through this season to their new home at the Sportsplex at Matthews. The new stadium seats 2,500 fans — Charlotte typically fills it — and has a regulation-sized pitch, both wider and longer than the previous surface at Ramblewood. The Matthews, N.C., field will also at 3 p.m. Saturday host the PDL championship game between the Charlotte Eagles and Canada-based Thunder Bay Chill.

Entering in top form: On a streak of 10 straight games unbeaten, Charlotte enters Saturday off a decisive, 4-0 win over the Bethlehem Steel. The Curren run includes a stretch of six consecutive wins as well. LouCity’s also in solid form with back-to-back wins over Saint Louis FC and the defending USL champion New York Red Bulls II.

Craig honored: Paco Craig earned his first USL Team of the week honor of the season following last Saturday’s Man of the Match performance against New York. Craig headed in the first goal before going on to tally four tackles and three interceptions. That effort followed up the Saint Louis FC win, in which Craig also scored what ended up the game-winner on the road. Both his goals were assisted by fellow defender Oscar Jimenez.

Spencer rises: Subbed in during the 70th minute against the Red Bulls II, it took Spencer just 41 seconds to find the back of the net. He nearly connected on an initial corner kick. The next boot in from Paolo DelPiccolo resulted in a Spencer header for the win, also tying him for the team scoring lead at five goals. Spencer landed on the USL Team of the Week’s bench as a result.

Kaye key in return: LouCity’s Mark-Anthony Kaye had a CONCACAF Gold Cup title on his mind as recently as July 20. Two days later, he started for LouCity in his return to club from country. Kaye logged 73 minutes against Saint Louis FC and entered against New York as a substitute in his return from international duty, which included a start against Costa Rica in Gold Cup group play.

A shift in goal: Tim Dobrowolski returned between the posts against Saint Louis FC, making his first appearance since May 20, before Greg Ranjitsingh returned from a hip flexor injury suffered in the season opener. Dobrowolski has conceded just seven goals in 10 appearances this season, surrendering more than one goal in just a single game, a May 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He and Ranjitsingh remain in an open competition for the starting job.

Smith’s big season: Even after forced to sit out the July 22 Saint Louis game on yellow card accumulation, Kyle Smith continues to lead his team with 1,530 minutes played. That consistency on the right side of the field recently earned him USL Midseason Defender of the Year honors. His stats: a team-leading 7 blocks, 2 assists and 1 goal scored in the club’s first game against New York. Smith has gone the full 90 minutes in all 17 of his appearances.

Injury report: Coach James O’Connor said midfielder George Davis IV continues to receive treatment for a minor tweak to his right knee. Davis IV participated in training leading up to Saturday’s game and is questionable to appear for LouCity.