Louisville, Ky. (Saturday, March 19) – The Miami Football Club lost to Louisville City FC 2-0 at Lynn Family Stadium in its second game of the 2022 USL Championship season.
Miami FC Manager Anthony Pulis deployed ten of the eleven players who started in the 2-0 win against New York Red Bulls II on Saturday, March 12. The only change came in the shape of goalkeeper Jake McGuire making his MFC debut, replacing Connor Sparrow due to injury.
Louisville City set the tone for the match early, maintaining 73% of possession in the opening thirty minutes. The home side produced three off-target shots before hitting their first on target, which ended in the back of the net. Captain Paolo DelPiccolo made the best of a loose ball in the box, kicking it past McGuire in the 36th-minute. McGuire responded with his first save of the game in the 40th minute.
The first half saw LouCity out-shoot Miami FC seven shots to one. Possession stats improved for Miami in the closing 15 minutes of the half, finishing with 35% of the ball.
Referee Gerald Flores issued five yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes. Miami’s midfielder Josh Peréz and right-back Junior Palacios were carded, and defender Amadou Dia and midfielders Tyler Gibson and DelPiccolo were Louisville’s infractors.
McGuire made a vital save in the opening five minutes of the second half to keep Miami in the game. He deflected a low-driven volley from forward Jorge Gonzalez with his right hand out for a corner. He made two straight-forward saves shortly after.
Louisville created a cut-clear chance in the 58th minute, with forward Brian Ownby meeting a second-post cross from DePiccolo. However, the volley clashed against the post despite being hit inside the six-yard box. Miami FC forward Kyle Murphy responded with a contested attempt inside the 18-yeard-box that drifted wide.
Pulis made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, hoping to add the spark that Miami lacked up to this point. Frenchman Florian Valot made his debut, coming on for Reggae Boy Romeo Parkes and Canadian international Adonijah Reid entering for Peréz.
The home side applied pressure again in the 68th minute, forcing Miami FC captain Paco Craig to make a save with his heel. Ownby headed a shot over the bar just a minute after. Nonetheless, the American forward avenged his missed chances earlier in the match, tucking the ball between McGuire’s legs and into the back of the net to double Louisville City FC’s lead in the 74th minute.
Forward Christian Sorto made his MFC debut after the goal, stepping onto the pitch for winger Pierre Da Silva.
Midfielder Devon “Speedy” Williams and Murphy each took a shot in the dying embers of the game, but Louisville goalkeeper Kyle Morton handled both.
LouCity claimed a 2-0 win in its home opening game, out-shooting Miami 16 shots to four. MFC had more of the ball in the second half, finishing with 44% possession of the ball. The referee blew his whistle 28 times for fouls throughout the 90 minutes, and he handed out nine yellow cards – six for Louisville and three for Miami. McGuire came up with three saves in his debut for the club.
Up next for Miami FC
The Miami Football Club will face Loudoun United at home in FIU Stadium on Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m. ET. Loudoun came off a 3-0 away win New York Red Bulls II, the same side Miami FC defeated on opening day 2-0.
