By Andrew Bell
Louisville City FC defeated Miami FC by a 2-1 score Saturday night in a gritty win for the boys in purple both amid a packed schedule and over another less-than-ideal playing surface away from Lynn Family Stadium.
In the 31st minute, LouCity forward Sam Gleadle received the ball on the endline and played it back to Adrian Perez. Perez then curled an inswinging cross into the box, where City midfielder Elijah Wynder made a near post run. Wynder nodded Perez’s perfect cross toward the far goal post, netting LouCity’s opener.
Miami FC equalized in a similar move. In the 61st minute, Miami defender Nicolás Cardona swung a perfect cross toward LouCity’s box. Miami forward Frank Lopez rose between City defenders to head it past goalkeeper Damian Las.
In the 81st minute, when the game seemed to be inching toward another frustrating draw away from home for the boys in purple, Jorge Gonzalez crossed the ball to forward Ray Serrano, who was tripped up on his way to meet the ball, drawing a penalty kick. LouCity stalwart Sean Totsch cooly converted his spot kick into the top-right corner in the 84th minute to grab a late win for his team on the road.
City survived a huge chance for Miami at the death when an opposing shot ricocheted off the underside of LouCity’s crossbar in the 96th minute, ending the game 2-1 for City.
“I thought the first half was pretty good,” head coach Danny Cruz said about his team’s performance on the night. “In the second half, it was pretty clear that we fatigued and tired out. We grinded, we fought, we defended the box. We made some mistakes, yes, but there’s a lot to be proud of with everything these players have been through over the last month. I don’t think the schedule’s been kind to us, but we’ve come out of it and I’m really proud of how the players handled tonight and continued to fight until the end.”
The win positioned LouCity atop the USL Championship ‘s Eastern Conference standings, where the boys in purple also have the most points in the entire league (29) and a game in hand on the Charleston Battery, which sit second in the east with 28 points. The win also means LouCity escaped a third straight draw away from home after the team tied Rhode Island FC 0-0 two weeks ago and played to a 2-2 draw against Las Vegas a week prior to that. LouCity is now unbeaten in seven straight games, its longest stretch since a run of 10 games from June to August of 2022.
Bend not break
LouCity are now unbeaten in their last 10 USL Championship matches when leading at halftime and haven’t lost at all this season when in that position. Against Miami on Saturday, City didn’t break under shaky moments. In the first 15 minutes of the match, Miami controlled the game well inside LouCity’s half. Although Miami came into the game last in the Eastern Conference, LouCity respected its opponent’s ability and stayed patient on defense. After three of the first four shots of the game were taken by Miami, Las made a great low save in the 24th minute to kickstart a lightning quick counterattack where LouCity was able to hit back with shots of its own.
A travel-weary LouCity team found its opening goal on Saturday against the run of play. And, when Miami came out swinging early in the second half, City controlled the pressure well, fending off six shots from Miami before the equalizer came from an inch-perfect cross between LouCity defenders.
When City looked to be letting Miami into the game more and more, Cruz brought on three substitutes: striker Tola Showunmi, Serrano and midfielder Taylor Davila. This allowed the boys in purple to continue to fight even harder after Miami’s goal. From the Miami FC equalizer in the 61st minute to the 75th minute of the match, City forced 45% of the game to be played in Miami’s own defensive third. In that 15-minute stretch, LouCity created three shots, and its offensive pressure likely led to LouCity being in position to force the penalty out of a weary Miami defender.
Contributing heavily to its team’s ability to bend but not break was LouCity’s backline of Wes Charpie, Totsch, and Arturo Ordoñez. Together, the trio won 7 of 9 aerial duels, 4 interceptions and 3 tackles. Academy product Elijah Wynder has slotted nicely into a box-to-box midfielder role, where he can get forward to score, as he did on Saturday, and play deeper to help out on defense. On the night, along with his header goal, Wynder tallied 2 tackles, 9 duels won and 3 aerial duels won.
Dangerous all over
Over LouCity’s 12 matches this season, 12 players have scored at least one goal for the team. Even with subpar playing conditions, a recent travel-heavy schedule and the squad rotation that comes with it, LouCity showed that it can still threaten teams from any position and from any player on the pitch.
With City talisman Wilson Harris resting on Saturday after scoring a brace against Detroit on Wednesday, LouCity stepped up from other positions. On Saturday, Wynder and Totsch, a midfielder and defender, both converted their chances. On the season, non-forwards are responsible for 14 out of LouCity’s 35 goals scored.
City’s immense squad depth has also been on display as the boys in purple have ridden recent schedule congestion.
“Sixteen of the last 28 days on the road, six games, these players have been through it this month, no question about it,” Cruz said about his team’s intense itinerary this past month.
Gonzalez, who hasn’t always been a first choice this season, has stepped up big recently, including the cross to Serrano to draw the late penalty kick against Miami.
Outside back Aiden McFadden, who’s on loan to LouCity from Atlanta United, has also been crucial to Cruz’s rotation. In the 25-year-old’s five starts and nine total games for City, he’s contributed 9 key passes, 23 crosses, and a goal. On Saturday against Miami, McFadden had four crosses, 2/2 successful dribbles, and four chances created — the most out of any player on the night.
LouCity will welcome North Carolina FC, which sits eighth in the Eastern Conference, next Saturday to Lynn Family Stadium, which has been a fortress for the boys in purple. City haven’t lost at home this season and will look to continue their home dominance, keeping hold of the top spot in the East.
