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USL Louisville City FC

Preview: What to Watch for with LouCity vs. Indy Eleven

August 25, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release


Louisville City FC midfielder Corben Bone (center) vs. Indy Eleven
Louisville City FC midfielder Corben Bone (center) vs. Indy Eleven
(Louisville City FC)

Wednesday's 8 p.m. meeting between Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven could very well set the tone for the second half of the season.

With a victory at Lynn Family Stadium, the boys in purple (4-3-1, 13 points) would pull within three points of the USL Championship's Group E lead with a game in hand. But should Indy Eleven (6-2-1, 19 points) register the road win, Wednesday's visitors would have a stronger hold on an early established lead.

This year's shortened USL regular season consists of 16 games through the first weekend of October. The top-two clubs from each group advance to the playoffs with LouCity one point out of second place. Only nine points separate first from last with Saint Louis FC and Sporting KC II others in the pod.

LouCity and Indy Eleven played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting of the year back on Aug 8. After Wednesday, the Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest rivals are also scheduled to play twice more at Lucas Oil Stadium - primarily home to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts - on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 5.

The boys in purple began a three-game unbeaten streak against Indy. Meanwhile, the Eleven have played sparingly since then, with a bye week following their Aug. 15 victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

LouCity coach John Hackworth says...

"They're almost like playoff games at the end of the season. This is a six-point game for us against Indy because if we do our job and win this game, we're literally in a position with a game in hand where we could be even on points. If we go to Saint Louis and look at that game on the Saturday, it's the same way. It will either separate us and give us a cushion or it will put us behind or put us significantly behind. We look at these two matchups as six-point contests, and it sets up a lot of where all three of us will be going into the latter part of the season."

Key players

LouCity: The boys in purple didn't lack scoring chances this season, just goals, until a 4-1 breakthrough win last week over Sporting KC II. That scoreline was much thanks to midfielder Corben Bone, the former Major League Soccer midfielder who buried his first two LouCity goals. His club had been without production from the 10 spot and desperately needed it with last season's leading scorer, Magnus Rasmussen, remaining home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indy Eleven: A 50th-minute Ayoze Garcia red card the last time Indy saw the pitch means the Eleven will be without their all-league defender and frequent chance creator Wednesday. In should step Conner Antley, who joins a back line that has conceded just seven times this season. Antley, USL League One's Defender of the Year in 2019, registered six goals, six assists and 34 chances created with Georgia's Tormenta FC before moving to Indiana.

Follow along

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc on Twitter and Louisville City FC on Facebook . Also find us at louisvillecityfc on Instagram .

On the WBKI (The CW)/ESPN+ streaming call: Mike Watts (play by play) and Devon Kerr (color).

And for AM 790 WKRD on the radio: Clay Ables (play by play) and Jeff Greer (color).

Notes to know

Late bloomers: Since coach John Hackworth's hire was announced Aug. 2, 2018, the month has served LouCity well. In 2018, the boys in purple went 3-1-3 on their way to a second straight USL title. In 2019, they were 4-1-0 while turning around a season that ended with another trip to the final. This month, they're riding a three-game unbeaten streak into Wednesday, evidencing consistent late-season improvement under Hackworth's direction.

Upping the offense: LouCity went six games into the season without scoring more than one goal in a contest. The attack increased recently, however, in a 2-0 win over Loudoun United FC and 4-1 victory over Sporting KC II. What changed? In part, how much the boys in purple made the opposing goalkeeper work. LouCity's nine shots attempted against Sporting KC II were a season low, but six of them were on target.

Stat stuffer: LouCity's unbeaten run has coincided with a new role for Napo Matsoso, who shifted from the central midfield to right wing to rave reviews. The University of Kentucky product has racked up two goals and just as many assists in his last three games. Last time out against Sporting KC II, he split defenders before delivering an ideal ball to Corben Bone for a first half goal. In the second, a deflection goal made the lead 4-1 LouCity.

Top strikers: Whenever LouCity and Indy Eleven meet, attention will be demanded up top. Indy's Tyler Pasher ranks second in the USL Championship with eight goals scored, while LouCity's Cameron Lancaster, on loan from MLS' Nashville SC, is tied for third with five goals. Pasher's a speedster who makes room with his run, whereas Lancaster has produced goals form the run of play, via a header and a free kick already this year.

JoGo's a regular: Youth international Jonathan Gomez, who has represented both the United States and Mexico, has appeared in five games with a pair of starts in 2020. The 16-year-old outside back has also signaled an especially bright future, leading LouCity with 11 crosses Aug. 15 against Loudoun while completing 81.8% of his passes in the opponent's half of the field, close to a team high. Gomez is in Louisville on a professional contract after international appearances for the U.S. (U-16, U-17) and Mexico (U-17).

Wynder sees the field: Midfielder Elijah Wynder, a local 17-year-old star on an academy deal, made his USL debut a successful one earlier this month against Loudoun. In 23 minutes on the pitch, the rising high school senior had five touches on the ball. Three were completed passes, one a shot and another a key corner won late in the going that allowed LouCity to hold possession while nursing a 2-0 lead.

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Images from this story

Louisville City FC midfielder Corben Bone (center) vs. Indy Eleven
Louisville City FC midfielder Corben Bone (center) vs. Indy Eleven
   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 25, 2020


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