Louisville City FC Brings Home Three Points in Dominating Performance in Ottawa
Total effort sees City down Ottawa on the road.
Louisville City FC commanded a 3-0 win on the road against eighth-ranked Ottawa Fury FC in its first shutout since June 9. City’s three-goal run saw player-coach Paolo DelPiccolo, Paco Craig and Devon “Speedy” Williams on the scoring sheet.
What Happened?
A mid-day kickoff saw the Boys in Purple take on Eastern Conference playoff contender Ottawa Fury FC in it’s fourth road game in the month of July. Though Louisville City’s 32 points entering the day were good for fourth in the conference, just five points separated City and eighth-ranked Ottawa.
Louisville City started the game testing the Fury FC backline but the hosts would refuse to concede. After five minutes of play, Ottawa had the first scoring opportunity but came up empty after the hosts’ free kick was halted by goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh. Just eight minutes later, Louisville City’s first set-piece proved useful when Oscar Jimenez’s corner found captain Paolo DelPiccolo in the box to open the match’s scoring.
With the one-nil lead heading into the break, City continued its pressure on the Ottawa defense and found themselves with another chance just two minutes into the half. Again, it was Oscar Jimenez’s set piece in the 47th minute that found defender Paco Craig after a series of deflections, doubling City’s lead.
More efforts from the Ottawa attack came up short-handed with City’s stingy backline unwilling to concede. Just ten minutes following the strike from Craig, it was Devon “Speedy” Williams who closed the scoring sheet for the Boys in Purple after an Ottawa defender’s attempt at a clearance fell at Williams’s feet and eventually found the back of the net.
Louisville City FC will head into August at second in the Eastern Conference standings. The club returns to action on Sunday, August 5 for a 5:00 p.m. ET kickoff at Slugger Field as they host Indy Eleven. Tickets are available for as low as $16 by calling (502) 384-8799, option 2, or online at www.loucity.com.
The Key Points:
- Greg Ranjitsingh’s 5th minute save prevented Ottawa from taking the early lead
- Oscar Jimenez displayed fantastic passing ability as he added two more assists to his season toal
- Player-coach Paolo DelPiccolo found the back of the net for the third time in 2018
- Defender Paco Craig used his size in the box off a set piece to tally his third goal on the season
- City’s stingy backline held the hosts scoreless for its first clean sheet since July 9
Luke Spencer’s post-Ottawa press conference
On if there is any concern regarding Alexis Souahy’s red card:
“Yeah, anytime you get a red card there’s a concern because you’re leaving your guys a man down. It’s been a focus of ours to be more disciplined. I think Alexis [Souahy] was a little unlucky for that, but at the same time we have to be above it.”
On the team’s discipline on the pitch late in the match:
“Ottawa made it difficult. They are a very direct, athletic team. But I thought our guys played really well and won a lot of their challenge, won a lot of balls and did a lot of unselfish work for each other.”
On any changes heading into the half before the quick strikes in the second 45 minutes:
“Just to keep going. I think at times when you score one goal and you come into halftime, you think your job is done. But for us it’s about sticking to it and pushing through it and two more goals came from it.”
Injury Report:
OUT – Richard Ballard (stress fracture)
OUT – Luke Spencer (knee)
Ottawa Fury FC 0 : 3 Louisville City FC
Saturday, July 28, 2018
TD Place Stadium| Ottawa, CN
75 degrees / overcast
Scoring Summary:
LOU – Paolo DelPiccolo (Oscar Jimenez) 13’
LOU – Paco Craig (Oscar Jimenez) 47’
LOU – Devon “Speedy” Williams 57’
Disciplinary Summary:
LOU – Alexis Souahy, red card (77’)
LOU – Greg Ranjitsingh, yellow card (79’)
Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Greg Ranjitsingh (GK); Alexis Souahy, Paco Craig, Magnus Rasmussen; Paolo DelPiccolo; Brian Ownby (Shaun Francis, 90’), Oscar Jimenez, George Davis IV, Kyle Smith, Devon “Speedy” Williams (Sean Totsch, 79’); Ilija Ilic (Cameron Lancaster, 72’)
Bench: Chris Hubbard, Tim Dobrowolski, Pat McMahon, Magnus Rasmussen, Niall McCabe
