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USL Louisville City FC

MLS Foes Highlight LouCity's Preseason Schedule

March 4, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release


Louisville City FC will tune up for its 2021 campaign with preseason games against opponents ranging up and down the professional ladder, including multiple matchups with Major League Soccer competition, it was announced Thursday.

The schedule opens March 13 at FC Cincinnati as the boys in purple prepare for a 32-game USL Championship regular season kicking off around May 1. LouCity will also play at Nashville SC (March 20), at Austin FC (March 25), at Houston Dynamo FC (March 28) and again at FC Cincinnati (April 7).

All MLS exhibitions will be closed to the public as clubs follow COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. However, LouCity is expected to play at least one preseason game in front of fans.

The National Independent Soccer Association's Chattanooga FC will host LouCity on Saturday, April 3, with tickets going on sale March 23 at cfctix.com . Additionally, the boys in purple will host the USL Championship's Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Friday, April 16, in a game that will be ticketed pending approval from state and local officials; further details will be announced later.

LouCity's other preseason game, against USL League One member Greenville Triumph SC, will be closed to the public and played at a neutral site.

"We've assembled a highly competitive preseason lineup that will prepare us well for the USL Championship's regular season," said LouCity's head coach and sporting director, John Hackworth. "With the majority of our roster back from last year, we're looking forward to finding our rhythm again and working in our new players in the coming weeks."

The former USL Championship member Nashville SC is fresh off a successful debut MLS season. Nashville qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinal before bowing out against eventual league champion Columbus Crew SC.

FC Cincinnati is a familiar foe from its USL Championship days, too. Former bitter rivals have in recent seasons found common ground with goalkeeper Ben Lundt loaned to Louisville in 2019 and 2020. The reigning USL Goalkeeper of the Year will get his shot at the MLS level this season.

There's a noted connection between LouCity and Austin FC, the 2021 MLS expansion club next up on the schedule. Austin's director of operations, Andrew DiLallo, worked with Hackworth both at U.S. Soccer and LouCity as the club's former vice president of soccer operations.

The longer-tenured Houston Dynamo, making up the second leg of LouCity's Texas swing, have a pair of familiar names on their roster. Forward Tyler Pasher previously starred for the Indy Eleven, while goalkeeper Kyle Morton was a standout between the posts last year at Saint Louis FC.

Chattanooga FC, which plays home games at 20,412 capacity Finley Stadium, ranks among the most successful lower-division clubs in the country. In recent years, it transitioned from an amateur side that produced LouCity midfielder Niall McCabe to a professional outfit.

Greenville is led by reigning League One Coach of the Year John Harkes, the former U.S. National Teamer and FC Cincinnati manager. The Triumph are a formidable side having been one win away from a title in their inaugural 2019 season before securing the championship in 2020.

As for Pittsburgh, LouCity met the Riverhounds twice last season. They spoiled Lynn Family Stadium's debut, a 3-1 final, before the boys in purple got their revenge with a 2-0 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal win.

Louisville City FC preseason schedule

March 13 at FC Cincinnati

March 20 at Nashville SC

March 25 at Austin FC

March 28 at Houston Dynamo

April 3 at Chattanooga FC

April 7 at FC Cincinnati

April 11 vs. Greenville Triumph SC

April 16 vs. Pittsburgh

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