Louisville City FC conceded its only first half goal of the season Sunday, and that was enough for host Atlanta United 2 in a rematch of both clubs’ earlier USL Championship openers.
While Atlanta right back Aiden McFadden finished a cross at the back post in the 26th minute, the boys in purple had a multitude of chances to even the score line, the clearest of them stemming from a late Wes Charpie bicycle kick that led to a blocked penalty and rebounding try for LouCity in a 1-0 result.
Atlanta goalkeeper Alex Kann numbered seven saves as the visitors barraged his side with 21 crosses. Still, it wound up LouCity’s second loss in a row on the heels of a defeat to rival Indy Eleven, with the outcome dropping the club to fifth in the Central Division, just outside a playoff spot but with two games in hand on leader Birmingham Legion FC.
“Ultimately, the way we started that first half was unacceptable,” said coach Danny Cruz, with the Atlanta goal part of that spell. “And then in the second, we created enough opportunities to win the game and we don’t capitalize. I certainly feel we are creating enough chances to win games.”
Here’s more of what we learned from LouCity at Atlanta United 2…
City’s showing attacking prowess
Despite the loss, as Cruz said, LouCity is getting to the final third often. It’s another thing, however, to finish a chance, with that the key piece of the puzzle moving forward.
The boys in purple numbered 24 shots in Atlanta at full time, six more than they took against a much more defensive-minded Indy Eleven side. Some 20 of those shots were taken from inside the opponent’s box.
Along with having possession of the ball the majority of the time (60.2%), City won 18 fouls, was never offside and earned four corners compared to Atlanta’s one.
Breaking the penalty trend
LouCity didn’t convert its 81st-minute penalty kick. But then again, the boys in purple also didn’t concede one of their own.
Defensively, the club has been solid aside from a tendency to make individual mistakes in its own area, with the boys in purple tied for second in goals allowed in the Central Division at five. Three of those came from penalties, leading to dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham back on May 8 and both goals as well in the 2-1 defeat to Indy.
Atlanta truly scored the first meaningful goal against LouCity in the run of play this season through five games. Before McFadden’s strike, the only other came in garbage time of a 2-1 victory over San Diego Loyal back on May 22.
Subs brought the right energy
In a rare halftime change, the defender Charpie came on for winger Brian Ownby, a fix of sorts after Napo Matsoso had been tasked with trying to start at left back for the first time. Charpie joined the back line as Matsoso slid up in the formation, both stabilizing the defense but also adding to the attack in his first appearance of the season.
Active in the box, Charpie was brave enough to try an acrobatic attempt on goal in the 80th minute that led to an Atlanta handball and ensuing LouCity penalty. He also chipped in four shots, a chance created and gained possession five times off Atlanta, second on his team despite being on the pitch only half the game.
Cruz’s other subs, forward Jimmy McLaughlin and midfielder Tyler Gibson, came on in the 71st and 77th minutes, respectively. McLaughlin had two shots and a key pass, and Gibson had an incredible 90% pass accuracy in the opposition’s half. The two combined for 20 good passes and crosses in their combined 32 minutes on the pitch.
