Louisville City closed out its 2020 preseason with a 2-1 win over the University of Kentucky Saturday night at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. The Boys in Purple got free-kick goals from Cameron Lancaster and Niall McCabe for the win.
“We keep telling those guys it’s your turn, it’s your turn – and they do it in practice a lot,” Louisville City coach John Hackworth said of Lancaster and McCabe’s free kicks. “They consistently hit those kinds of shots in practice – Maggie (Rasmussen) too, Oscar (Jimenez) and Paolo (DelPiccolo) as well. We have a number of guys who are excellent at free kicks.”
Louisville City had to come from behind after giving up an early goal to Kentucky. In the second half, Hackworth brought in an extra forward and shifted to a 3-man back line.
“I didn’t really think we were playing with the energy and intensity that we needed to until the last 30 minutes of that game,” Hackworth said. “Once we did that you could see it kind of flip a little bit. We need to learn a lesson. In this game in particular, in this sport, you can’t take anything for granted. We needed to play at a high tempo from the first whistle until the last, and that’s something we need to improve.”
Louisville City started the match with Chris Hubbard in goal, Oscar Jimenez, Jimmy Ockford, Alexis Souahy, and Pat McMahon on the back line with Paolo DelPiccolo, Speedy Williams and Corben Bone in the middle. Brian Ownby, Cameron Lancaster, and Abdou Thiam started at forward.
Louisville City fell behind in the 15′ when Khalil Elmedkhar picked off a pass in LouCity’s defensive third which led to a two-on-one situation with two UK players – ElMedkhar and Eythor Bjoygolsson – and LouCity goalkeeper Hubbard.
Trailing 0-1 at the half, Louisville City made a few lineup changes at half and several more during the second half, including the move to a three-man back line as City searched for the equalizer.
Louisville City’s best shot to score in the early second half was a series of passes that led to a free shot for Cameron Lancaster in the 52′. Antoine Hoppenot’s pass into the box found Lancaster who turned and sent a shot just outside the frame.
In the 68′ Hoppenot sprinted down the right side and sent a cross to Brian Ownby in the box, but Ownby’s shot was caught by UK’s Ryan Troutman.
A set of Louisville City players came on in the 68′: Luke Spencer, Naill McCabe, Napo Matsoso and Akil Watts. That move seemed to spark Louisville City and led to the comeback win.
A foul just outside the box in the 79′ gave Louisville City a free kick from 20 yards out. Cameron Lancaster lined up and sent a shot over the wall and into the right side of the goal.
A foul just outside the box set up Louisville City’s second goal on the free kick by McCabe. Setting up 20 yards out, Niall sent a laser over the left side of the wall and into the upper-V for the game-winner.
USL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Louisville City will open its USL Championship play on the road, facing North Carolina FC on March 7. The club will play its first four matches on the road before returning home to open Lynn Family Stadium on April 11.
NEXT HOME MATCH
Louisville City’s first U.S. Open Cup game will be April 7 at 7 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium. Louisville City will host the winner of Nashville United and Cleveland SC (NPSL). LouCity will open its USL Championship slate on Saturday, April 11 vs. Birmingham Legion.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE :
Feb. 6 vs. DC United DiMaggio Complex, Clearwater, Fla. 0-1
Feb. 9 vs. Nashville SC IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. 1-4
Feb. 16 vs. Switchbacks FC Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah 3-0
Feb. 19 vs. Union Omaha Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah 1-1
Feb. 22 vs. Real Monarchs Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah 3-1
Feb. 25 vs. Forward Madison Louisville, Ky. 4-0
Feb. 29 vs. Univ. of Kentucky Bell Soccer Complex 2-1
