Louisville City FC coach Danny Cruz didn’t like the result last weekend when his club drew last-place Hartford Athletic. But he did compliment the overall performance that saw LouCity dominate while needing to finish more of its chances.
That’s reflected in Saturday’s lineup against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The only change — Wes Charpie out, Kyle Adams in along the back line — is a result of Charpie’s one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation throughout the year.
City kicks off against the Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. inside Lynn Family Stadium in a game that will finalize the hosts’ USL Championship Playoffs seeding. With a win, it’s up to fourth, and the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal round will be played at home.
Adams will pair with Sean Totsch in central defense as part of Cruz’s 4-3-3 formation, which features Oscar Jimenez (left) and Manny Perez (right) out wide. They line up in front of goalkeeper Oliver Semmle, who with 12 clean sheets on the season is one short of tying the club record of 13 set last year by Kyle Morton.
Tyler Gibson, Niall McCabe and Dylan Mares featured against Hartford as an entirely new midfield. They all return versus Tampa Bay after McCabe made a return from a monthlong absence to register an assist last weekend.
Up top, Wilson Harris maintains his starting striker role while Brian Ownby and Rasmus Thellufsen return on the left and right, respectively. Thellufsen will be looking to add to his goal tally after scoring for the first time for the club in the Hartford game.
Cruz also enters Saturday’s game with two notable names on the bench. Enoch Mushagalusa, back from his loan to San Diego Loyal SC, is available for selection for City for the first time since July. Cameron Lancaster is also listed, eligible to make his return following an excused absence over the last month to tend to a personal matter.
LouCity-Tampa Bay will air locally on MyTB 58 and ESPN Louisville’s 680/105.7. USL Championship games also stream live on ESPN+
Team Sheet vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
28 — Oliver Semmle
19 — Oscar Jimenez
32 — Kyle Adams
4 — Sean Totsch
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, 67 — Owen Damm, 8 — Carlos Moguel Jr., 36 — Paolo DelPiccolo, 77 — Enoch Mushagalusa, 90 — Maarten Pouwels, 17 — Cameron Lancaster
