Sports stats



USL Louisville City FC

LouCity's Comeback Stifled by Late Equalizer in Draw with North Carolina FC

June 23, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release


Louisville City FC will return to Louisville with a point in hand following the team's 2-2 draw with North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC on Saturday night. The result extends City's unbeaten run to eight games across all competitions and leaves them in second place in the Eastern Conference on 25 points with 13 games played, five points behind FC Cincinnati (30 pts) on 15 games played.

Defender Paco Craig scored City's equalizer from a set piece after NC forward Daniel Rios initially put the hosts in front in the first half. Near the hour mark, it was City's turn to go ahead via a goal from forward Ilija Ilic, before a late equalizer, again from Rios, secured a point for both sides.

What Happened?

LouCity head coach James O'Connor made three changes to the team that beat Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup midweek, opting for the return of goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh in league play with defender Alexis Souahy and midfielder Niall McCabe also sliding in the lineup.

A slow start saw NCFC test Ranjitsingh a few times in the opening minutes, with midfielder Steven Miller getting the first solid look on goal just five minutes in. Eventually firing off a short one-two with a teammate, Miller watched as his right-footed effort clipped the outside of the post and away from goal. However, six minutes later, NCFC found their first goal of the evening. Breaking into the middle, forward Daniel Rios nodded home a pass by Kyle Bekker from close range to go in front.

City were quick to work their way back into the match, though, with a chance coming almost immediately after conceding. Fifteen minutes in, captain Paolo DelPiccolo slipped a gorgeous pass into the box for defender Oscar Jimenez to chase, but despite his best efforts the chance would go missing.

In the 36th minute, City forward Ilija Ilic would put the ball in the back of the net after some pinball around the top of the penalty area, but the flag went up on the near side for interference as the ricocheted effort off an NCFC defender was ruled out. Not relenting, though, City broke through just three minutes later.

With 39 minutes gone, Jimenez delivered a perfect ball in from a corner that landed squarely on the head of defender Paco Craig and bounced into the back of the net. The goal was Craig's second of the season in all competitions and the first in the USL regular season. An onslaught of chances came for City at the end of the first half but they could not capitalize on late pressure and went level into the halftime break.

Coming out the aggressors again, City pushed forward and midfielder Brian Ownby nearly unlocked the NCFC defense just ten minutes into the second half. Collecting a pass from 20 yards out, Ownby settled before unleashing a blast that came right back off the crossbar before NCFC were able to get it away. However, again finding success off pressuring the defense, City found themselves in front three minutes after Ownby's effort smacked the bar.

Just before the hour mark, an attacking move from City looked like it had broken down before the ball somehow fell loosely to Ilic in the box. Turning around a few defenders, Ilic pulled himself away from goal and produced a clever finish at the back post to give his side the lead.

As NCFC continued to pile bodies forward, reinforcements for City in the form of Shaun Francis, Cameron Lancaster, and Pat McMahon were brought on. The home side kept knocking on goal as time ticked on, and in the 87th minute, the game's final goal came in the form of an NCFC equalizer. Substitute midfielder Tiyi Shipalane found Rios again and again the forward produced, beating Ranjitsingh for the second time on the evening.

Despite an incredible effort in coming back from down a goal, City could not secure all three points and instead keeps an important point on the road in returning home.

O'Connor's side sees a quick turnaround with two home matches inside four days as they welcome Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., and New York Red Bulls II on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., both at Slugger Field. Tickets for both contests are available for as low as $12 at LouisvilleCityFC.com.

The Key Points:

NCFC forward Daniel Rios put his side in front after 11 minutes

City thought they found an equalizer in the 36th minute only for the flag to go up for offside

City defender Paco Craig would not be denied as he equalized off an Oscar Jimenez corner

City forward Ilija Ilic scored his fifth goal of the regular season when he put his team up, 2-1, just before the hour mark

An equalizer from Rios gifted his side a point in the 87th minute

Injury Report

OUT - Luke Spencer (knee)

OUT - Richard Ballard (stress fracture)

North Carolina FC FC 2 : 2 Louisville City FC

WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, NC

Saturday, June 23, 2018

88 degrees / sunny

Scoring Summary:

NC - Daniel Rios (Kyle Bekker) 11'

LOU - Paco Craig (Oscar Jimenez) 39'

LOU - Ilija Ilic 59'

NC - Daniel Rios (Tiyi Shipalane) 87'

Disciplinary Summary:

LOU - Daniel Rios 47'

LOU - Niall McCabe 72'

NC - Marcel Kandziora 90+3'

Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Greg Ranjitsingh (GK); Oscar Jimenez, Sean Totsch (Pat McMahon 83'), Paco Craig, Alexis Souahy; Paolo DelPiccolo; Kyle Smith, Devon "Speedy" Williams, Brian Ownby (Shaun Francis 58'), Niall McCabe; Ilija Ilic (Cameron Lancaster 70')

Bench: Chris Hubbard, Tim Dobrowolski, George Davis IV, Magnus Rasmussen

Check out the Louisville City FC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 23, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central