After visiting Loudoun United FC managed to clear a Louisville City FC corner kick off the line Saturday, Cameron Lancaster knocked in the rebound at the back post. As is often the case this season for the boys in purple, one goal proved enough.
LouCity held its USL Championship-leading ninth clean sheet of the year while defeating Loudoun by a 1-0 score at Lynn Family Stadium, where the clubs waited out an hour-long lightning delay ahead of the opening whistle.
“I’m happy with the three points, but I don’t think it was anywhere near the performance that we expect of the group,” said coach Danny Cruz, who subbed twice in the first half and again at halftime while trying to spark his side.
“I’m proud of the shutout, but ultimately, we have to start the game better, no question about it. I thought we were overrun there for probably the entire first half. We missed a few chances we probably need to finish, but I thought their energy and mentality were a level ahead of ours.”
Now fourth on the Eastern Conference table, City (8-4-5, 29 points) found enough to extended its unbeaten streak to four games at the season’s halfway point. It was also a third straight shutout, continuing a run of 315 minutes without conceding a goal.
Loudoun United (6-13-1, 19 points) entered the weekend on the playoff cut line but slipped to ninth in the East with a loss. That’s after the visitors nearly capitalized on a half chance in the game’s opening minute, and LouCity goalkeeper Oliver Semmle made a diving, eighth-minute save.
“How we started wasn’t what we talked about all week,” said midfielder Niall McCabe. “We talked about starting fast — starting strong on the front foot. And we didn’t do that at all. We gave them too much room to play, and they exploited the space we gave up, really.”
LouCity could have moved in front early as well, with Elijah Wynder stealing a 14th-minute Loudoun pass at the back. His ensuing chance soared over the bar, and City had another opportunity bounce wide right off a 34th-minute corner.
“We didn’t have a good first half at all,” said goalkeeper Oliver Semmle. “Halftime came at the right time so we could speak together, fix problems and talk about issues. The second half, it was a little bit better — still not to our standards, but we scored a goal and won the game.”
The moment came in the 53rd minute. Carlos Moguel Jr. — one of City’s first half subs — got in behind the defense and rifled a near-post shot parried out for a corner kick. Loudoun blocked an initial attempt by Wes Charpie, and the ball landed to Lancaster.
The veteran striker registered his second goal of the season and 76th in USL Championship play, good for third on the all-time list.
“He puts himself in the right place at the right time,” Cruz said of Lancaster. “…Really happy for him. He’s battled injuries again this year, but he’s worked hard. He got his chance, and he took it.”
Cruz said what’s next for LouCity is “mostly about recovery.” Saturday’s game marked the first of five LouCity games in 15 days, with the boys in purple back on Wednesday to host Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC before Mexico’s Atlante FC visits over the weekend for the club’s second-ever international friendly.
Game Summary: Louisville City FC vs. Loudoun United FC
Date: July 8, 2023
Venue: Lynn Family Stadium
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: 72 degrees, scattered showers
Attendance: 9,709
Scoring
Louisville City FC (0, 1, 1)
Loudoun United FC (0, 0, 0)
Goals
Louisville City FC:
53’ Cameron Lancaster
Lineups
Louisville City FC: 28 — Oliver Semmle, 13 — Amadou Dia, 4 — Sean Totsch, 6 — Wes Charpie, 19 — Oscar Jimenez (46’ 15 — Manny Perez), 12 — Tyler Gibson (32’ 8 — Carlos Moguel Jr.), 11 — Niall McCabe (84’ 36 — Paolo DelPiccolo), 23 — Elijah Wynder, 77 — Enoch Mushagalusa, 5 — Rasmus Thellufsen (32’ 7 — Ray Serrano), 17 — Cameron Lancaster (76’ 14 — Wilson Harris)
Subs not used: 18 — Danny Faundez, 22 — Dylan Mares
Head coach: Danny Cruz
Loudoun United FC: 1 — Dane Jacomen, 3 — Jake Morris (62’ 23 — Kalil ElMedkhar), 16 — Cole Turner (46’ 20 — Daniel Chica), 5 — Yanis Leerman, 2 — Koa Santos, 12 — Jackson Hopkins, 19 — Houssou Landry, 11 — Jeremy Garay (85’ 36 — Jace Clark), 7 — Abdoul Zanne (85’ 31 — Graham Jones), 28 — Zach Ryan, 9 — Tommy Williamson (62’ 14 — Wesley Leggett)
Subs not used: 30 — Hugo Fauroux, 8 — Abdoul Koanda
Head coach: Ryan Martin
Stats Summary: Louisville City FC / Loudoun United FC
Shots: 13 / 11
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Possession: 46.4% / 53.6%
Fouls: 12 / 17
Offside: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Discipline Summary
Louisville City FC:
79’ Niall McCabe (yellow)
90’+4 Amadou Dia (yellow)
90’+6 Paolo DelPiccolo (yellow)
Loudoun United FC:
49’ Jake Morris (yellow)
71’ Yanis Leerman (yellow)
81’ Jackson Hopkins (yellow)
90’ Daniel Chica (yellow)
Referee: John Matto
