February 11, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Louisville City FC News Release
Louisville City FC defender Josh Wynder
(Louisville City FC, Credit: Zac Cahill/LouCity)
Louisville City FC lost a preseason game Saturday for the first time in 2023, but the boys in purple figure to be better for it after dueling with one of Major League Soccer’s toughest squads.
Austin FC prevailed by a 3-1 score at its St. David’s Performance Center in Texas, where the sides played a standard 90-minute game followed by an extra 30-minute scrimmage.
“It was a really good exercise for us against a difficult opponent,” said LouCity’s head coach, Danny Cruz. “I wasn’t happy with how we conceded the first two goals. We made some adjustments at halftime that I thought the players did a good job of executing. All in all, we come out of it with no injuries and a good amount of minutes under our belt, so it was a good experience.”
U.S. international Gyasi Zardes put the hosts on the board in the 17th minute, and Sebastián Driussi – MLS’ second-leading scorer last season – doubled the lead in the 24th minute. Diego Fagundez scored Austin FC’s last goal within the 90 minutes in the 51st.
LouCity, however, offered a stunning response when 17-year-old defender Josh Wynder blasted in a 64th-minute shot from distance.
“It was amazing,” Cruz said. “He stepped into the pocket, was 1 v. 1 with Gyasi Zardes, wins the ball, the ball pops back out to him, and he strikes it from probably about 40 yards out. It was pretty far out.”
Austin FC waited until the 72nd minute to substitute, now only a couple of weeks from starting its regular season. LouCity rotated more liberally as it prepares for a March 11 opener, making two changes at the break and swapping all but its goalkeeper by midway through the second half.
Austin FC – which finished second in MLS’ Western Conference last year – presented City’s toughest preseason test to date. In addition to the well-known Zardes and Driussi, the Verde and Black started Brad Stover (Goalkeeper of the Year nominee), Julio Cascante (Defender of the Year nominee) and Dani Pereira (Young Player of the Year nominee).
There was no stopping Wynder’s strike, while City made Stuver work on other occasions. Brian Ownby forced a save at the near post in the 43rd minute, and LouCity Academy standout Issac Cano put a shot on frame in the 86th.
Saturday’s game marked the final leg of LouCity’s preseason trip out west. Previously, the boys in purple drew…