Louisville City FC coach Danny Cruz termed competition for starting spots “pretty open” leading into Saturday’s return home against Hartford Athletic. As a result, LouCity will take the pitch at 7:30 p.m. inside Lynn Family Stadium with four changes dating back to last weekend’s shutout loss at New Mexico United.
That includes the return of midfielder Niall McCabe, who has missed most of the last month to tend to a personal matter back home in Europe.
LouCity appears ready to field a 4-3-3 formation in front of goalkeeper Oliver Semmle. The back four consists of Oscar Jimenez, Sean Totsch, Wes Charpie and Manny Perez.
Tyler Gibson, McCabe and Dylan Mares make up an entirely new midfield from last weekend, while the front three consists of Rasmus Thellufsen, Wilson Harris and Brian Ownby.
City, level on points with fourth-place Memphis 901 FC, trails in tiebreaker scenarios. The boys in purple have two games — Saturday, plus next weekend’s regular season finale against the Tampa Bay Rowdies — to improve upon their seeding and secure a top-four finish, which ensures a home opener to the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs.
LouCity-Hartford will air locally on WBKI/The CW and ESPN Louisville’s 680/105.7. USL Championship games also stream live on ESPN+.
Team Sheet vs. Hartford Athletic
28 — Oliver Semmle
19 — Oscar Jimenez
4 — Sean Totsch
6 — Wes Charpie
15 — Manny Perez
12 — Tyler Gibson
11 — Niall McCabe (C)
22 — Dylan Mares
5 — Rasmus Thellufsen
10 — Brian Ownby
14 — Wilson Harris
Substitutes: 18 — Danny Faundez, 32 — Kyle Adams, 8 — Carlos Moguel Jr., 36 — Paolo DelPiccolo, 23 — Elijah Wynder, 7 — Ray Serrano, 90 — Maarten Pouwels
