Louisville City FC fell by a 2-1 score Saturday to Seattle Sounders FC but gained some valuable experience against world-class competition in the process.
Sounders FC, who made this their final preseason tuneup before opening their Major League Soccer season, entered one game removed from the FIFA Club World Cup won by Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. Seattle became the first MLS club to ever compete in the prestigious tournament.
“We were playing a motivated opponent that starts its regular season next weekend, so we knew it would be a difficult test,” said LouCity’s coach, Danny Cruz. “I was really happy once we got to halftime and made some adjustments tactically. We created some good opportunities in the second half and had a chance late to tie it up that obviously would have changed the result.
“I thought we had the right intensity and mentality for 90 minutes. I spoke to the players about how we need to be a little sharper implementing the game plan. But I came away with a lot of positives.”
Brazil international Héber netted the sixth-minute opener from a corner kick at the far post before Cristian Roldan — who represented the U.S. at the 2022 FIFA World Cup — doubled the Sounders’ lead in the 21st minute on a second-chance look.
LouCity settled in from there as the teams played at Starfire Sports, Seattle’s training facility in Tukwila, Washington.
Seconds after City brought on five subs in the 70th minute, a trio of them combined to get the boys in purple on the board. Brian Ownby played a ball in that Enoch Mushagalusa set up for Dylan Mares, who scored on a rocketed shot from the edge of the box.
Mares made this his first goal in purple. The former University of Louisville standout signed in December after three seasons at El Paso Locomotive FC, where he scored a career-high 10 times in 2022.
“For him to score right after coming on is going to be really good for his confidence,” Cruz said of Mares.
LouCity, as a result, scored against three of four MLS clubs it faced in preseason play: Sporting KC, Austin FC and now Seattle. The only exception was a scoreless draw at Nashville SC.
“We feel these opponents and these moments are going to put us in a really good position come opening day,” Cruz said.
City’s starting lineup Saturday featured Oliver Semmle, a rookie goalkeeper announced as the club’s latest singing earlier this week, as well as Rasmus Thellufsen, a Danish midfielder who also joined this offseason. They were joined by nine returners — mainly veterans aside from LouCity Academy graduates Elijah and Josh Wynder.
Next up, LouCity hosts USL League One’s Knoxville SC in its lone local preseason game. A limited number of season ticket members have been contacted about winning a lottery to attend. City finishes the preseason March 4 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, a USL Championship rival, before the regular season opens March 11 at Orange County SC.
2023 LouCity preseason schedule
Monday, Jan. 30 at Nashville SC (D, 0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 4 vs. Sporting KC (D, 2-2)
Monday, Feb. 6 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC* (W, 3-0)
Thursday, Feb. 9 vs. New Mexico United* (D, 2-2)
Saturday, Feb. 11 at Austin FC (L, 3-1)
Saturday, Feb 18 at Seattle Sounders FC (L, 2-1)
Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. One Knoxville SC
Saturday, March 4 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* = game played as part of FC Tucson’s Desert Showcase
