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Louisville City FC’s Niall McCabe has undergone successful surgery to repair a right foot injury, the club announced Monday, with the midfielder’s prognosis positive for a return to the pitch later this season.

McCabe appeared in five of six games so far during LouCity’s abridged campaign, pushing the attack with a pair of shots and a nearly 70% completion rate for passes in the opponent’s half.

“Obviously, losing Niall for the better part of this already strange season is a difficult situation because he is such an important member of our team,” said LouCity coach and sporting director John Hackworth. “However, we are hopeful that he will be able to return and contribute to our success in the postseason. In the meantime, his teammates will do everything they can to make sure our collective objectives are met.”

A mainstay in purple since the club’s inaugural season, McCabe is no stranger to coming back strong from an operation. He shut down his 2016 season to proactively repair hip cartilage, then returned as a key piece of LouCity’s USL championship runs in 2017 and 2018.

McCabe, who scored on a pair of free kicks in 2019, logged every minute during LouCity’s run back to the title game last year.

“It’s disappointing because this is such a short season,” McCabe said. “The timeline I got from the doctors puts me back before playoffs, so hopefully my body responds well to the surgery and I can even maybe be a week or so early.

“This is very minor. It will reinforce my foot and make it stronger.”

A native of Ireland, McCabe attended Division II Young Harris College in Georgia while competing as an amateur for Chattanooga FC in Tennessee. He signed his first professional deal with LouCity and has remained in Louisville ever since.

Midfielder Napo Matsoso said he was surprised to see a Louisville City FC lineup that on Saturday night moved him from the controlling midfield to a winger’s role. But it took just three minutes to understand why coach John Hackworth made the change.

Matsoso brought renewed pace to LouCity’s attach along with a standout play, regaining possession from Indy Eleven’s star striker Tyler Pasher, then delivering the cross that led to teammate Devon “Speedy” Williams’ headed goal at Lynn Family Stadium.

“I’ll take any opportunity that Hack gives me to play,” Matsoso said. “You take every moment and give it your all. It doesn’t matter what position I play — just giving everything I have and helping the team however possible to win.”

Matsoso’s lineup shift made room for both captain Paolo DelPiccolo and Williams in the defensive midfield during a 1-1 draw. It could also signal a more permanent change as the boys in purple face quick turnarounds, hosting Sporting KC II at 8 p.m. Wednesday before Loudoun United FC visits Saturday.

“We felt like we have not been at our best and Napo, Paolo, Speedy are guys that lead with their actions on the field,” Hackworth said. “We were trying to configure a way to get all of them on the field.

“Honestly, try and unbalance Indy a little bit because I don’t think they would’ve expected that initially. So, that’s what we came out with (Saturday).”

From his position out wide on the right side, Matsoso paced LouCity with three of what Opta statistics termed “good” crosses. He completed 81.8% of his passes against Indy Eleven, including 77.7% of attempts in Indy Eleven’s half of the pitch.

The boys in purple walked away with just one point in the USL Championship’s Group E standings with the draw. But in the bigger picture, Matsoso may have secured a key role moving forward.

“Napo is a great guy and a really good player and great to be around,” Williams said. “As you can see (Saturday), he played wing, and I don’t think he had played wing before, but he did a great job for us. He’s very shifty. In training he has guys running up and down in practice.”

Aside from Matsoso’s standout play, Williams saw the hot start as a product of an entire week of the squad training with a renewed vigor. The boys in purple carried a sub-.500 record — out of character for the historically competitive club — into the Indy game.

“I’m not sure [if] it was the lineup, but I thought it was our intensity,” Williams said. “Our intensity was really good, and they couldn’t handle it early in the game.”

“We’re disappointed that we didn’t get all three points,” Hackworth added. “We feel like we created enough chances once again — didn’t give up that many — controlled long stretches of the game, and really liked the collectIve effort and feel from the team.”

Louisville City FC played rival Indy Eleven to a draw Saturday night, and although the result was cast as two points dropped rather than a point earned, let’s take a deeper look at what clicked for the boys in purple along with what’s left to desire.

The Good

Limited Pasher and other impact players

This might sound odd considering Indy Eleven’s star striker, Tyler Pasher, scored in the second half to level the game, and he was assisted by another talented player in Andrew Carleton. But LouCity took a measured approach to keeping them quiet for the better part of an hour. In particular, defenders Sean Totsch and Wes Charpie funneled the likes of Pasher to the wings, rather than letting him cut inside where he is most effective. Keeping him from running in straight lines where he can use his pace was imperative. To add, Ayoze played in this game, and I barely noticed. 

Shaking things up

When the lineups were announced with Napo Matsoso playing on the right wing rather than in the midfield, more than a few people were scratching their heads. On the surface, Matsoso has all the hallmarks of a decent winger: an explosive first step, a modicum of technical ability and a high motor. He has a nose for goal, too, and was a big part of the offense in his college days at the University of Kentucky. The Lesotho international showed his ability in a new position for him at LouCity all game long, with the assist on the sole goal serving as the high water mark in the third minute. In his postgame comments, coach and sporting director John Hackworth admitted that he was looking to give Indy Eleven a few new looks that forced them to adapt, and it worked. This will not be the last time we see Matsoso him out wide. 

Dictating the game

LouCity leapt from the starting blocks, taking only 130 seconds to score — obviously an ideal start. Probably a bit shell-shocked from conceding so quickly, Indy Eleven made a number of errors that should have been more clinically punished. Also, the 4,850 spectators made their presence known, but if Lynn Family Stadium had been packed to capacity for this iteration of the Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest, the crowd would have certainly added to that pressure. While no team can control an entire game, LouCity nearly owned the entire first half, and that was precipitated in part by Devon “Speedy” Williams’ goal. While scoring the opening goal is important, putting the opposition away is where one point turns into three. 

The Bad

Leaving food on the table

Missing shots is bad. I can give you a numerical analysis, expected goals and paint the boys in purple as if they have forgotten how to score. They haven’t. Yes, they should have put the game to bed in the first half, tucking Indy Eleven in with a passage from “Goodnight Moon.” But they didn’t. It is hard to square these two ideas, so just take consolation in the fact that this team has something left to prove in the next three matchups against its rival.

Not shutting down Pasher completely

In the first stanza it was all LouCity, but by the second frame coach Martin Rennie and Indy had figured out how the home side was handling Pasher. They adapted. Lesser teams would have simply stuck a man on Pasher for the entire game. That would have caused a knock-on effect that might cause more problems than it solves. Either way, playing a playmaker like that straight up means that defenders have to know exactly where the player in question is and, more importantly, where he wants to go. A lapse in focus, losing track of Pasher, and you could be picking the ball out of your own net, and that is what happened. It may be down to communication, or simply not diagnosing and adapting quick enough on the pitch. 

More needed from front players

Cameron Lancaster looked a bit isolated at times. It was always going to be tricky for the 27-year-old going up against the sizable back three that the Hoosiers presented, but I would have liked to see Lancaster come back and involve himself more in the buildup like he has done in years past. He set up shop on the shoulder of their back line and stayed there. Against some teams, that works. I did like the stream forward of a couple midfielders, especially Paolo del Piccolo, but the rest of the front three got slightly too high up the field, not leaving enough space to run into, at least in my estimation. 

To close, a reminder that in sports, you are never assured anything. A 2019 USL Championship Final appearance guarantees you nothing in 2020. If LouCity wants to be the best of the league, or even the USL’s Group E, then draws won’t be good enough. The table does not make for light reading, but the fact that every game is essentially a six pointer means that things can, and will change fast. The pieces are here. Now it is just a case of putting it all together over the final 10 games.

Rivals Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven will play three more times during the shortened USL Championship season, and it’s those meetings in which the 2020 Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest will be decided.

The boys in purple leveled with Indy Eleven in a 1-1 draw Saturday at Lynn Family Stadium, where a Devon “Speedy” Williams header provided early theatrics for the home side. Later, the inevitable happened when Indy’s league-leading scorer, Tyler Pasher, equalized in front of an announced 4,850 fans.

As a result — a point to both clubs — the USL’s Group E standings stood pat with Indy Eleven (5-2-1, 16 points) extending its lead slightly. LouCity (2-3-1, 7 points) remained fourth in the pod after the first of three games in a frantic eight days. The boys in purple host Sporting KC II on Wednesday before welcoming Loudoun United FC on Aug. 15.

“If most teams are playing Indy, and it’s 1-1 late, they’re not the aggressors — not the ones putting their foot on the gas and not throwing attacking players on,” said LouCity coach John Hackworth. “We literally had a lot of control of the game until the very last whistle, so I think it’s something very positive to build on.

“The guys in the locker room are all disappointed. Sometimes a tie feels like a win. Sometimes it feels like a loss, and this one feels a little bit like a loss. At the same time, we have to understand where we are and use this as a positive because we have two hard games coming up in the next seven days.”

Williams moved LouCity ahead on a third-minute header, much in part to teammate Napo Matsoso’s work out wide. Moving away from his goal, Matsoso won a sliding challenge, turned and crossed, finding Williams on the other side of the box for the Jamaican international’s second goal of the season.

“This one felt much better,” said Wiliams, who also scored the first goal in Lynn Family Stadium history back on July 12. “I don’t know why, but it felt great. The entire week the entire squad was really good, and that is why we started the game so much stronger.”

LouCity continued pouring in chances during the first 45 minutes, going on to out-shoot Indy Eleven 22-10 by the final whistle. Particularly, in the seventh minute the home side nearly doubled the lead when striker Cameron Lancaster’s blocked shot landed at the foot of midfielder Brian Ownby, who pulled his try wide left.

Ownby had another nice look in the 68th minute this time forcing Indy Eleven’s goalkeeper to make a save. And Williams took another headed chance in the 81st minute that would have been good if on frame.

By that point, the boys in purple were trying to break a tie. In the 59th minute, Indy Eleven’s Andrew Carleton looped in a pinpoint cross to Pasher, who needed just one touch to equalize while racking up his seventh goal in eight games, best across the USL.

“I can’t believe that he’s not playing in a higher league,” Hackworth said. “He’s that good. He scores every time he plays against us, by the way.”

“He’s a good player, and I think we did a really good job trying to keep him silent,” Williams added. “He got that one unfortunately, but we did a good job of keeping him silent as much as we could.” 

Outside of shots, the stat sheet is a balanced one, and that’s where the LIPAFC rivals will leave it until finishing their season series Aug. 26 at Lynn Family Stadium before contests Sept. 5 and Sept. 16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Indy Eleven

Date: August 8, 2020

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

Kickoff: 8 p.m.

Weather: 86 degrees, sunny

Man of the Match: Devon “Speedy” Williams

Attendance: 4,850

Scoring

Louisville City: (1,0,1)

Indy Eleven: (0,1,1)

Goals

Louisville City FC: 3’ – Devon “Speedy” Williams header from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Napo Matsoso with a cross following a sliding challenge.

Indy Eleven: 59’- Tyler Pasher left-footed shot from close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andrew Carleton with a cross.

Lineups

Louisville City FC: 39- Ben Lundt, 15- Pat McMahon, 6- Wes Charpie, 4- Sean Totsch,19- Oscar Jimenez, 13- Corben Bone, 36- Paolo DelPiccolo (70’ 77- Jason Johnson), 80- Devon “Speedy” Williams, 10- Brian Ownby 27- Napo Matsoso (85’ 29- Antoine Hoppenot), 17- Cameron Lancaster (85’ 9- Luke Spencer)

Subs not used: 1- Chris Hubbard, 8- Akil Watts, 42- Jonathan Gomez, 3- Alexis Souahy 

Head Coach: John Hackworth

Indy Eleven: 1- Evan Newton, 29- Patrick Barrett, 15- Neveal Hackshaw, 20- Karl Ouimette, 7- Ayoze Garcia, 2- William Conner Antley, 6- Drew Conner, 4- Tyler Gibson, 30- Andrew Carleton (73’ 8- Matt Watson), 14- Iljia Ilic (73’ 17- Nick Moon), 23- Tyler Pasher

Subs not used: 0- Jordan Farr, 5- Mitch Osmond, 16- Felicien Dumas, 18- Jeremy Rafanello, 22- Cameron Lindley

Head Coach: Martin Rennie

Discipline: 

Louisville City FC: 77’ Devon “Speedy” Williams- yellow card

Indy Eleven: 43’ Neveal Hackshaw- yellow card, 55’ Patrick Barrett- yellow card

Stats Summary: Louisville/Indy Eleven

Shots: 22/10

Shots on Goal: 3/4

Saves: 3/2

Corner Kicks: 4/2

Fouls: 11/12

Offside: 3/3

Ahead of a massive matchup for Louisville City FC, which hosts Indy Eleven at 8 p.m. Saturday, the Soccer City radio show — presented by Kentuckiana Toyota Dealers — covered the rivalry from all angles.

That includes history, which featured on the “Beat the Beard” trivia show segment matching wits between LouCity’s director of community development, Evan Floyd, and a supporter angling to end Floyd’s unbeaten record.

Hosts Lance McGarvey, Casey Whitfield and Kevin Kernen also analyzed what has ailed LouCity as of late, with the boys in purple 1-3 since the USL Championship restarted last month.

Catch Soccer City live from 9-10 a.m. each Saturday on AM 790 WKRD or via the iHeartRadio app. Saturday’s edition can be heard below:

There’s been a growing sense of urgency this week in training, Louisville City FC coach John Hackworth says, as the boys in purple prepare to host rival Indy Eleven.

“We’re in a position that, if we do what we’re capable of doing this Saturday night, we’re right back in the thick of things,” Hackworth said.

As those in the locker room express a concern transitioning their competitiveness from the training grounds to Lynn Family Stadium on game day, the boys in purple have a new weapon on their roster.

Forward Jason Johnson’s addition was announced July 27. The former Phoenix Rising standout said he’s looking to “add my little spice” to a club that has won two USL titles in the last three years.

What’s the recipe? Said Johnson: “electric play, one verses one ability, taking on players, and just helping my team offensively and defensively overall.”

The striker from Happy News, Jamaica, is a former MLS SuperDraft selection who scored nine goals for Phoenix in 2018, when the season ended with a loss to LouCity in the USL’s championship game.

Following an injury-riddled 2019 campaign, however, Johnson didn’t find his way on to a roster before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down play. A bleak outlook turned brighter upon the USL restart, when Johnson connected with LouCity’s coaching staff.

“I say it’s good timing,” he said. “Definitely the pandemic had a huge part to play on that, but even in a situation like that there are still positives to look at. One of the big ones is me being here.”

LouCity, at 2-3 overall and good for 6 points, sits fourth in the USL’s “Group E” from which the top-two finishers make the playoffs.

Off since July 29, the boys in purple haven’t lost much ground thanks to other results around the pod. Previously unbeaten Indy Eleven (15 points) has lost two of three, while Saint Louis FC (10 points) and Sporting KC (7 points) played to a draw Wednesday night in the latest group game.

Johnson’s available beginning Saturday to help with LouCity’s climb back up the ladder.

“I think it’s just football,” he said of recent results. “Looking from the outside and looking from the inside I think is the same perspective. It’s just trophies and it’s a team that wins and they’re looking to bounce back this week again.

“This year the league has been a bit shortened obviously, because of the pandemic, and that has hastened teams to be a little bit more consistent early on with their performances. I’m sure this week will be a different result.”