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Philadelphia Union II

Nine-man Steel draw against defending champions

May 26, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release


CHESTER, Pa. - A brace from Chavany Willis was enough to earn a nine-man Bethlehem Steel FC side an impressive come-from-behind draw against reigning USL Cup Champion Louisville City FC Sunday afternoon. Louisville finished with ten on the pitch after Napo Matsoso and Faris were show red cards in the 37th minute of the match.

Steel FC came out unafraid of the visiting two-time defending champs and determined to show well at home. The club started the game on the front foot and had two really good chances, with one resulting in Jamoi Topey heading the ball off the crossbar. However, Louisville FC responded with the first goal of the game, picking up a turnover deep in Steel territory and burying the chance.

The game was extremely physical all throughout, but they went got out of hand in the 37th minute when Louisville City FC's Napo Matsoso and Steel FC's Faris were shown straight red cards following an altercation between the two players. LouCity grabbed one right out of the halftime break, with some fancy footwork from George Davis IV and a cross into the area. The Steel comeback was on and Philadelphia Union forward Michee Ngalina was brought down in the box, earning a penalty kick. Chavany Willis stepped up to take it and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ben Lundt.

A little over five minutes later, Chavanay Willis earned his first ever USL brace with a powerful strike from outside the box that flew across the face of the net and past Lundt. The Steel saw themselves go down to nine men in the final minutes of the game when Ben Ofeimu received a second caution for a dangerous foul, with his first being due to time wasting. In the end Steel FC was able to hold on and walk out with a point.

Bethlehem Steel FC next travels to New York Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park on Friday, May 31. (7:00 PM ET | MSU Soccer Park | Montclair, N.J. | ESPN+)

RECAP:

Bethlehem Steel FC 2 - Louisville City FC 2

Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, Pa.)

Sunday, May 26, 2019

TODAY'S MATCH INFO:

Venue: Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, Pa.)

Referee: Kevin Broadley

Assistant Referees: Jonah Kind, Ben Pilgrim

Fourth Official: Ariel Raban

Weather: 87 degrees and sunny

Attendance: 219

GOALS/ASSISTS

LOU - Luke Spencer (Unassisted) 26'

LOU - Lucky Mkosana (George Davis IV) 46'

BST - Chavany Willis (Penalty Kick) 51'

BST - Chavany Willis (Unassisted) 57'

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

LOU - Paco Craig (caution) 30'

BST - Olivier Mbaizo (caution) 31'

LOU - Napo Matsoso (ejection) 37'

BST - Faris (ejection) 37'

LOU - Magnus Rasmussen (caution) 56'

LOU - Abdou Mbacke Thiam (caution) 87'

BST - Jamoi Topey (caution) 87'

BST - Ben Ofeimu (caution) 89'

BST - Ben Ofeimu (second caution; ejection) 90 + 1'

LINEUP

Bethlehem Steel FC: Tomás Romero; Walter Cortés, Ben Ofeimu, Jamoi Topey, Olivier Mbaizo (Nathan Harriel 45'); James Chambers ©, Issa Rayyan (Yomi Scintu 64'), Anthony Fontana, Chavany Willis; Michee Ngalina, Faris

Substitutes not used: Kris Shakes; Patrick Bohui, Shanyder Borgelin

Louisville City FC: Ben Lundt; Shaun Francis, Paco Craig, Alexis Souahy, Oscar Jimenez; Devon Williams, Napo Matsoso, Magnus Rasmussen; George Davis IV (Sean Totsch 68'), Lucky Mkosana (Sunny Jane 90'), Luke Spencer © (Abdou Mbacke Thiam 75')

Substitutes not used: Chris Hubbard; Richard Ballard, Paolo Delpiccolo, Pat McMahon

TEAM NOTES

Midfielder Chavany Willis brings his USL Championship regular-season tally to three goals with his brace tonight, his first-ever brace for Steel FC.

Philadelphia Union Academy goalkeeper Tomás Romero returned to the starting and made six saves in the match, the highest for either goalkeeper.

Midfielder and team captain James Chambers lead the team with 66 total touches and completed 79.2% of his passes.

Chavany Willis not only led the team in scoring, but also in tackles, making four in today's match.

Philadelphia Union forward Michee Ngalina earned a team high four fouls, including the penalty kick which brought the Steel back to within one goal of leveling.

Bethlehem Steel FC plays next against New York Red Bulls II at MSU Soccer Park on Friday, May 31. (7:00 PM ET | MSU Soccer Park | Montclair, N.J. | ESPN+).

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