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USL Louisville City FC

What to Watch for with LouCity vs. Indy Eleven

June 25, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release


Louisville City FC midfielder Niall McCabe
Louisville City FC midfielder Niall McCabe
(Louisville City FC, Credit: Connor Cunningham)

Louisville City FC will look to restore order in the Louisville Indiana Proximity Association Football Contest on Saturday as rival Indy Eleven returns to Lynn Family Stadium.

Kickoff for the clubs' second meeting of the season is set for 7:30 p.m., with the match also serving as LouCity's Pride Night.

For the first time in 10 meetings between the two sides, Indy Eleven emerged victorious in the latest LIPAFC, with a pair of penalties against LouCity in the second half deciding it.

The boys in purple, however, look like a different side some games later. They fell again to Atlanta United 2 the following weekend but have since started a three-game winning streak, netting eight goals while conceding no penalties.

Head coach Danny Cruz also boasts a much deeper roster these days. Young star defender Jonathan Gomez is back from international duty, winger Brian Ownby has ended a multi-game game suspension, and both defender Wes Charpie and midfielder Jorge Gonzalez are available for selection after being sidelined with injuries.

Indy will enter the match fresh off its first win since that last visit, a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City II. The Eleven have also lost to Memphis 901 FC, El Paso Locomotive FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The side will be led Saturday by interim head coach Max Rogers, new to the role after the club and former boss Martin Rennie mutually parted ways earlier this month.

Saturday's matchup is the last between LouCity and Indy Eleven this season at Lynn Family Stadium. The 2021 LIPAFC series concludes as the boys in purple travel to Carroll Stadium on Sept. 18 and Oct. 16.

Here's what to look for on Saturday...

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. Live stats can be found at LouCity.com/match-center.

- On the WBKI-TV (The CW)/ESPN+ streaming call: Mike Watts (play by play) and Thomas Rongen (color).

- And for ESPN 680/105.7 on the radio: Jeff Greer and Oscar Jimenez.

Notes to know

Climb to the top: LouCity began a run of three games in eight days on June 12 sitting fifth in the Central Division with just seven points to its name. Refusing to let the fatigue of its first midweek turnaround dampen their momentum, the boys in purple pieced together a string of dominant performances that resulted in three straight wins and nine points. The boys in purple started Week 10 atop the table, but now sit second after Birmingham won its midweek game, barely edging out LouCity for the first place spot.

Pride festivities: Outside the lines, LouCity will align Saturday with the LGBTQ+ community and fundraise for associated local nonprofits. Proceeds from all team Pride merchandise go toward the Louisville Pride Foundation. Additionally, supporter groups are actively participating in a Prideraiser, pledging to donate to the Louisville Youth Group for every goal scored in June. Fans in attendance will also be treated to a pregame National Anthem by Voices of Kentuckiana, a chorus that celebrates diversity. An official Pride Night after party will take place at PLAY Dance bar, with proof of game ticket serving as admission.

New on the sidelines: With Rennie out at Indy Eleven, the interim head coach Rogers, named to Indy's technical staff as an assistant in April 2021, had spent the previous three seasons at Saint Louis FC before the club's folding following the 2020 season. Rogers is 1-0 since taking over, posting a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City II on Sunday that snapped a three-game losing streak for Indiana's team.

A gritty win: After a fiery start to Saturday's game at FC Tulsa that included three goals scored inside the opening 10 minutes of play, LouCity was caught its back heel for the next 80 as the opposition did all it could to rally. For just the second time in eight games, LouCity failed to hold majority of possession, controlling the ball for just 43.2% of the game. The boys in purple also allowed Tulsa 13 shots - four on target - Saturday night, the most conceded so far this season.

Offense stays hot: After being shutout nearly a month ago in Atlanta, LouCity's offense has clicked with a trio of multi-goal games. That includes a pair of three-goal performances in wins June 12 over Memphis and last Saturday at Tulsa. The three goals in 10 minutes against FC Tulsa marked the first time since Aug. 11, 2019, that the club accomplished that feat as the boys in purple piled on late in a 5-1 victory over Atlanta.

National team : Gomez, the 17-year-old outside back, appears to have his pick of national teams when the time comes. Weeks after returning from a call up to train with the Mexican National Team, the Dallas native was named to the U.S. Men's National Team's preliminary Gold Cup roster - the only USL Championship player on a list of 60. Gomez has also registered his first professional goal and assist in LouCity's last two games.

From the spot: He just can't miss. LouCity's top striker, Cameron Lancaster, continued his scoring ways in Saturday night's victory at FC Tulsa. The Englishman - back with the club on a long-term contract - scored an eye-catching goal straight off a corner kick in the second minute. Eight minutes later, he converted a third penalty kick in as many games having also earned the try from the spot.

It's about time: Gonzalez - on loan from MLS side Portland Timbers - made his LouCity debut Saturday night at FC Tulsa as an 87th-minute substitute. He numbered eight touches, won a duel and completed two passes as the boys in purple held on to their 3-2 lead. Gonzalez arrived in Louisville in April and featured in two preseason matches before a fluke groin injury that required surgery.

Stat stuffers: Even as most other USL Championship clubs hold games in hand on LouCity, a trio of players in purple are at or near the top of the league in statistical categories. The 2020 First Team All-League defender Sean Totsch leads the Championship in total passes with 545, while midfielder Niall McCabe shares the top spot at 51 crosses with Indy's Gordon Wild. Midfielder Corben Bone is also tied for second in chances created at 21.

Between the posts: It's not been often this season that LouCity has had to rely on goalkeeper Chris Hubbard, whose 15 total saves tie him for 19th-most in the Championship. However, tired legs last Saturday as the club played its third game in eight days necessitated a busy day for the Louisville native, who made five of those saves in one night. Hubbard's three clean sheets this season are tied for the league lead.

Injury report

Oscar Jimenez (out)

Abdou Thiam (out)

Elijah Wynder (out)

Check out the Louisville City FC Statistics




Images from this story

Louisville City FC midfielder Niall McCabe
Louisville City FC midfielder Niall McCabe
(Connor Cunningham)		   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 25, 2021


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