In his second start since winning the goalkeeping job back from Tim Dobrowolski, Louisville City FC’s Greg Ranjitsingh looked Sunday as if he’d never left between the posts.
Ranjitsingh recorded four saves during LouCity’s 3-1 win over Bethlehem Steel FC with a performance that earned him praise not just from teammates — but also the opposition.
“Greg was incredible,” said defender Oscar Jimenez. “This game, he had a few great saves. Even the other team, when they’d run past me and stuff, would be like, ‘This guy’s an animal. I can’t believe he saved that.’ And I’m like, ‘He does that every day.’”
Ranjitsingh and Dobrowolski have split time at goalkeeper this season, with coach James O’Connor saying both deserve to one day play at the Major League Soccer level. From Toronto, Canada, Ranjitsingh stated his case again Sunday.
An early save and subsequent punch-out started things, with LouCity and Bethlehem scoreless then. Then in stoppage time, Steel FC’s Santi Moar put a shot on frame that deserved to score. But diving the opposite way, Ranjitsingh reached for a one-handed stop.
Moar opened the second half with another great look, only to be denied once again on one of eight Bethlehem shots in the box.
“Sometimes we have the ball all the time, and he just needs to be connected with us,” Jimenez said of his goalkeeper. But it wasn’t that sort of day for LouCity, which controlled only 43 percent of possession. Added Jimenez: “He’s been there to back us up when we need it.”
Here’s more of what we learned from Sunday’s game:
• Maurice Edu, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and 46 times capped to the U.S. National Team, made a brief rehab appearance for Steel FC in the midfield for his first game back from injury. The former Philadelphia Union captain completed all 17 of his passes before substituted in the 32nd minute.
• Statistically, Luke Spencer’s brace moved him to a team-leading nine goals on the season. Cameron Lancaster, who also scored Sunday, sits at six. Jimenez delivered passes that led to each and nearly scored a goal himself, but the referee raised his flag on a 66th-minute strike that hit the back of the net.
• Coach James O’Connor elected for no changes from last week’s starting lineup, which posted a 5-0 win over rival FC Cincinnati. But there was a new name eligible for selection off the bench as George Davis IV traveled to Bethlehem. Davis hasn’t played since July 15 after tweaking his knee in training.
