Totsch's Header Wins It for LouCity in Open Cup Clash with Lexington SC

April 5, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release

Louisville City FC on game night
(Louisville City FC, Credit: Chris Humphrey)

LouCity, from the second-division USL Championship, dominated most statistical categories against its third-division USL League One foe. But only one shot hit the back of the net, when Sean Totsch skied for a 69th-minute header off a Paolo DelPiccolo free kick from the right side.

The victory both ended City's two-game losing skid across all competitions and advanced the boys in purple to the Open Cup's April 25-26 Third Round, which sees Major League Soccer clubs enter the competition. The Third Round draw will air live at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on B/R Football's YouTube channel.

"First and foremost, you get a shutout on the night after the last couple of weeks we have had," said coach Danny Cruz. "The messaging over the course of the last couple days was to make sure we do a good job defensively, we're tight in our block and not running around all over the place.

"I'm really, really proud of the group. It was a result where we created a lot in the first half. We need to be better in the final third, but ultimately we're creating the chances and I'm confident (the goals) will come."

Going back to 2018, LouCity advanced as far as the Open Cup's Quarterfinal round. Last year under coach Danny Cruz the club made it to the Round of 16.

That City would move on from Wednesday's game only looked like a matter of time in a game where the hosts out-shot Lexington, 13-5, and didn't allow an opposing shot at all until the 48th minute when Terique Mohammed rifled a try from distance.

The goal came after shifty forward Ray Serrano earned a foul on the wing, a theme on the night as LouCity out-paced its opposition down the sides.

"It was a little bit of a relief," Totsch said of his game winner, "but we know what we're capable of. Even with it being a 1-0 game, there's a lot that we need to take away and do better still."

Only two games into its history, Lexington battled to the last kick of Wednesday's game. The visitors nearly equalized at the death on a free kick of their own, sending everyone forward for a 93rd-minute set piece. City defender Amadou Dia cleared the chance off the line to seal a win.

Going back to last Saturday's 5-0 defeat at Sacramento Republic FC - a club-record margin of defeat - LouCity made seven lineup changes, including in goal. Rookie Oliver Semmle registered a clean sheet, while forward Wilson Harris (concussion) and midfielder Dylan Mares (thumb) returned from injuries to make their first starts of the year.

Cruz will have decisions to make on another quick turnaround to Saturday, when LouCity welcomes USL Championship rival Detroit City FC in for a 3 p.m. league game at Lynn Family Stadium.

Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Lexington SC

Date: April 5, 2023

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Weather: 75 degrees, isolated storms

Scoring

Louisville City FC (0, 1, 1)

Lexington SC (0, 0, 0)

Goals

Louisville City FC:

69' Sean Totsch (Paolo DelPiccolo)

Lineups

Louisville City FC: 28 - Oliver Semmle, 13 - Amadou Dia, 51 - Ramzi Qawasmy, 4 - Sean Totsch, 15 - Manny Perez (60' 19 - Oscar Jimenez), 12 - Tyler Gibson, 22 - Dylan Mares (60' 9 - Jorge Gonzalez), 36 - Paolo DelPiccolo (79' 8 - Carlos Moguel Jr.), 77 - Enoch Mushagalusa (60' 10 - Brian Ownby), 7 - Ray Serrano, 14 - Wilson Harris (85' 23 - Elijah Wynder)

Subs not used: 1 - Kyle Morton, 67 - Owen Damm

Head coach: Danny Cruz

Lexington SC: 1 - Austin Causey, 5 - Kaelon Fox, 4 - Kimball Jackson (46' 3 - Owen Green), 57 - Terique Mohammed (74' 7 - Jalen James), 2 - Tate Robertson, 22 - Phil Dlamini (84' 26 - Cesar Murillo), 33 - Franky Martinez, 8 - Charlie Machell, 32 - Ates Diouf (46' 77 - Nico Brown), 9 - Will Baynham, 14 - Khalid Baloguin (70' 10 - Don Smart)

Subs not used: 13 - Amal Knight, 17 - Erick Ceja Gonzalez

Head coach: Sam Stockley

Stats Summary: Louisville City FC / Lexington SC

Shots: 13 / 5

Shots on Goal: 3 / 3

Possession: 57.3% / 42.7%

Fouls: 14 / 12

Offside: 2 / 1

Corner Kicks: 6 / 3

Discipline Summary

Louisville City FC:

71' Paolo DelPiccolo (yellow)

Lexington SC:

39' Phil Dliamini (yellow)

67' Terique Mohammed (yellow)

80' Jalen James (yellow)

90'+ Tate Robertson (yellow)

Referee: Nabil Bensalah

Louisville City FC on game night (Chris Humphrey)

United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 5, 2023

• Next Wave Powers OCSC to Five Star Open Cup Win Over Capo FC - Orange County SC
• OCSC Defeats Capo FC 5-0 in Round 2 Open Cup Match - Orange County SC
• SD Loyal Advances to U.S. Open Cup Third Round After 2-0 Win vs. Albion San Diego - San Diego Loyal
• Rising Advances to Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup with 1-0 Win vs. Greenville - Phoenix Rising FC
• Colorado Springs Falls to Northern Colorado in 2nd Round of U.S. Open Cup - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
• Monterey Bay F.C. Douses Central Valley Fuego FC with 3-1 Victory in the Second Round of U.S. Open Cup - Monterey Bay FC
• Sacramento Republic FC Edges Crossfire - Sacramento Republic FC
• Lights FC Advances to the Third Round of the US Open Cup - Las Vegas Lights FC
• Three Solomon Asante Assists Spark Comeback, Added Extra Time Victory in Second Round Affair at Carroll Stadium - Indy Eleven
• Totsch's Header Wins It for LouCity in Open Cup Clash with Lexington SC - Louisville City FC
• RGV FC Eliminated from U.S Open Cup - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
• Weather Delays Indy Eleven's U.S. Open Cup Match Until 8:00 p.m. ET - Indy Eleven
• Vargish's View: Switchbacks Take on Hailstorm F.C in Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
• Hounds Seal Deal with Defender Osumanu - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
• Riverhounds Seal Deal with Defender Osumanu - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
• Miami FC Secures Well-Deserved Victory Against Jacksonville Armada in Open Cup Second Round - Miami FC
• Game Day: LouCity vs. Lexington SC - Louisville City FC

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