Louisville City FC’s international friendly Tuesday against Cancún FC is all about opportunity, particularly for academy defender Brandon Dayes.
The 15-year-old St. Xavier High School sophomore will make his debut as a starter at Lynn Family Stadium alongside a number of professionals who are pushing for more minutes in USL Championship play.
Dayes, son of University of Louisville women’s soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, is also a varsity basketball player at St. X. He figures to have a bright future in athletics — whichever sport he chooses.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., when Dayes will feature on a back line also featuring Arturo Ordóñez and Amadou Dia. The trio will play in front of regular starting goalkeeper Damian Las, who returns after missing last weekend’s league win over Loudoun United FC with an excused personal absence.
Jake Morris (left) and Manny Perez (right) have the assignment at wingback, where Perez will make his first appearance since recently re-joining LouCity on a new contract. Perez had left last offseason on a European transfer.
In the midfield, Niall McCabe takes the captain’s armband next to Carlos Moguel Jr., who is set to return to the pitch for the first time since picking up an injury in July.
Phillip Goodrum will lead the LouCity attack in his first start in purple. He’ll be flanked by Sam Gleadle and Adrien Perez, who are both working their way back from injury.
City has an expanded bench for this game also including from the academy forward Ibrahim Piracha and defender Hayden Stamps.
ESPN+ will carry national streaming coverage of LouCity-Cancún.
Team Sheet vs. Cancún FC
18 – Damian Las
15 – Manny Perez
83 – Brandon Dayes
5 – Arturo Ordóñez
13 – Amadou Dia
3 – Jake Morris
8 – Carlos Moguel Jr.
11 – Niall McCabe (C)
20 – Sam Gleadle
16 – Adrien Perez
9 – Phillip Goodrum
Substitutes: 30 – Ryan Troutman, 2 – Aiden McFadden, 4 – Sean Totsch, 25 – Jansen Wilson, 32 – Kyle Adams, 80 – Hayden Stamps, 22 – Dylan Mares, 27 – Evan Davila, 7 – Ray Serrano, 14 – Wilson Harris, 84 – Ibrahim Piracha
