July 16, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Louisville City FC News Release
The Louisville City FC forward – in perhaps the best form of a professional career showing no sign of slowing down – scored twice in the final 20 minutes Saturday to earn his side a momentous 2-1 win over host Memphis 901 FC at AutoZone Park.
It marked a second brace in as many weeks for Ownby, who helped City prevail in what was just the fifth meeting between the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the standings during the USL Championship’s conference era. The boys in purple improved to 13-3-3 to sit three points clear atop the Eastern Conference table.
“I think he’s embraced the different roles he’s had to play,” coach Danny Cruz said of Ownby, who as of late has shifted from his regular wide position to center forward as strikers Cameron Lancaster and Wilson Harris deal with injuries.
“…He’s in really good form. He’s certainly working hard every single day. It’s not easy to ask a player to play a position he hasn’t played in a long time, but we obviously need him at the moment.”
Until Ownby’s heroics, LouCity could consider itself letdown by the game’s circumstances.
Appeals for a handball in the 24th minute weren’t met when a City shot caromed off a Memphis defender’s elbow in the box. Meanwhile, it wasn’t until the 37th minute that Memphis so much as attempted a shot, and the hosts saw Patrick Seagrist sent off for a second yellow card in first half stoppage time.
But in an eventful second half, defender Amadou Dia also saw red for a 62nd-minute tackle that evened the sides at 10 men. Memphis’ Phillip Goodrum scored the opener four minutes later on a slicing corner kick redirected off the back post and in.
“I talked to them at halftime about staying out of all the (stuff),” Cruz said. “Memphis is the team that’s constantly talking. They’re trying to get in our players’ heads.”
“I think the mentality was very important from us tonight,” added midfielder Niall McCabe. “…I think the key for us was just worrying about ourselves.”
With the sides even on players, play opened back up, and Ownby got to work. A free kick drawn at the edge of the box led to a grounded McCabe set piece one-touched into the back of the net in the 72nd minute to equalize. Ownby then flicked a no-look header in from a cheeky Ray Serrano ball over the top to win it in the 81st minute.
The theatrics weren’t over until late as Memphis goalkeeper Trey Muse – a Louisville native – received a red card for a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Outdoor Soccer News…