In a week highlighted by a stadium site announcement, renderings and some sleek black jerseys, Louisville City FC’s game didn’t disappoint either.
A crowd of 9,074 came out to support the boys against a loaded Tampa Bay Rowdies squad that, heading into Saturday, had yet to concede a goal. Then they faced LouCity.
Goals from George Davis IV and Cameron Lancaster boosted LouCity to a 2-1 win. Here’s what stuck out in the victory:
• Davis IV, named the Modelo Man of the Match, snatched his third goal in as many games, continuing a hot start to the season. Davis IV scored five goals in all of 2016 — plus one in the playoffs — to finish as the club’s co-second-leading scorer.
• Davis IV’s theatrics came from his familiar post along the left wing. He swapped positions Saturday with former Richmond Kickers teammate Brian Ownby, who moved to the No. 10 spot in the attacking midfield. Niall McCabe played on the right and went the full 90 minutes. Notably, Saturday marked the first game of the season in which Louisville native Richard Ballard didn’t come on.
• After relieving Ownby halfway through the second half, Forward Cameron Lancaster scored his second goal early this season — also his second from the run of play. In 2016, most of Lancaster’s production came from set pieces. He chipped the goalkeeper in the 87th minute, which came in handy due to a late response from Tampa Bay.
• Midfielder Devon “Speedy” Williams called for a substitution after knocked down in the 67th minute. In came Guy Abend to finish the game for the holding midfielder. Coach James O’Connor said he didn’t know of Williams’ status immediately after the game.
• A win moved LouCity into a tie for first place atop the USL Eastern Conference table. Both LouCity and Tampa Bay’s next games are in Cincininnati, with the Rowdies facing a midweek test before the boys in purple take on their rival. FC Cincinnati posted a 4-0 win Saturday over Saint Louis FC; all six of the club’s goals this season have been scored by Senegalese striker Djiby Fall.
