Not for the first time this year, Louisville City FC rescued a win from the jaws of defeat.
Luke Spencer’s penalty kick goal Wednesday night gave Louisville City all three points in a game against the Rochester Rhinos that in previous years would likely have finished a 1-1 draw.
Louisville City has had a knack for coming up with timely goals and big plays this season, something that was missing on a more consistent basis in the past.
In fact, this is the latest into a season (through 27 out of 32 games) that LouCity has been in first place. Each of the last two years, the club finished in second place, always chasing another team for the top spot.
“I think we’re obviously thrilled we won the game,” Louisville City coach James O’Connor said after beating Rochester, 2-1. “…I think we almost just accepted the way the game was going and I think they were maybe looking for a draw and they were content to get a draw. We were trying, but almost fear of failure creeps in a little bit where we have what we hold. You just go and try to win the game. Every game we want to go and win. I think that’s something we spoke with after the game.”
Louisville City has, for the most part this season, been consistent in taking its chances in front of goal. In a dour scoreless draw earlier in the season, George Davis IV scored a penalty kick in the 81st minute to give Louisville City the win, despite a pretty even game throughout.
Six weeks later, Louisville City battled back to earn a point in a 4-4 draw in hot and humid Charleston, a feat they completed again on September 15, coming back to draw the Bethlehem Steel.
In the 100+ degree fahrenheit heat of Fenton, Missouri, in July Louisville City emerged as the fitter and more motivated side. Up a man, though it was just a forward sent off, Louisville City exploded for four second half goals to overcome a first half deficit and record a confidence-boosting win.
In between the comeback victories and draws have been convincing wins over conference opponents, 3-0 bashings of the New York Red Bulls II and Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 5-0 thrashings over FC Cincinnati and the Harrisburg City Islanders, and closer results, 2-1 over the Tampa Bay Rowdies and 1-0 over the Charleston Battery.
It’s the kind of consistency we haven’t seen from O’Connor’s side. Losses turned into draws and draws turned into wins.
Wednesday’s game against Rochester was no different. Facing another disappointing home result, lady luck shined on Louisville City, with the boys in purple winning a second half stoppage time penalty kick after Oscar Jimenez’s free kick was knocked down by an arm above the shoulder.
Spencer stepped up and after a long delay, sent Rhinos goalkeeper Thomas Gomez the wrong way to give Louisville City the win. His exhilarating roar after scoring was met by cheers from the stands.
“It just says we have belief,” Spencer said of rescuing the win. “No matter what minute it is in the game, no matter what the score is, we have belief in each other, in ourselves. And just in the entire club in general. We can get a result, we just have to believe in each other and in ourselves.”
That belief has lifted Louisville City into first place, and the way things are going, the club may earn home field advantage for the entirety of the playoffs.
Opinions expressed in this piece were not subject to club approval. For more insights on LouCity, follow former Courier-Journal reporter Dan Karell on Twitter: @DanKarellPreps.
