April 26, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Louisville City FC News Release
Louisville City FC’s Rasmus Thellufsen and Cameron Lancaster battles FC Cincinnati’s Ian Murphy and Stiven Jimenez
(Louisville City FC, Credit: EM Dash Photography)
Louisville City FC out-shot, out-possessed and generally got the better of chances in Wednesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup showdown with FC Cincinnati. But the hosts brought some world-class talents off the bench leading up to their game-winning goal.
Working in transition, highly regarded Argentina international Luciano Acosta slipped a ball through the LouCity defense, and Alvaro Barreal provided the one-touch assist to Arquímides Ordóñez. It amounted to a 1-0 LouCity defeat largely against the run of play at TQL Stadium.
“Really encouraging performance from the group,” said City coach Danny Cruz despite the result. “We created a ton of chances – certainly missed chances that we need to finish. But I know for a fact that my guys left everything on the field.”
From the USL Championship, LouCity peppered 15 shots on its Major League Soccer opponent, putting 5 of them on target in the first meeting since 2019 between the Dirty River Derby rivals.
Forward Cameron Lancaster impressed with a particularly flashy first half. He saw a 12th-minute flick turned away, and a clever back heel on the follow up grazed top netting. Lancaster also pressed to win back possession in the 27th minute, caught the goalkeeper off his line and saw a chipped shot from distance sail just wide.
“All in all, I was really proud of the football that we played,” Cruz said. “I thought we created a lot of opportunities, and I’m the first to say when it’s not good enough. I don’t usually ever walk in here and try to pretend it’s better than it is.”
Cruz made seven changes from the weekend, when LouCity drew at first-place Eastern Conference side Charleston Battery in league play. Wednesday’s Third Round result both ended LouCity’s run at U.S. Soccer’s annual national championship and represented the second of three games in eight days.
It’s a short turnaround to Saturday’s trip to play at Memphis 901 FC, but the boys in purple will travel again with confidence after a close call against MLS competition.
“There were a lot more positives to take out of tonight than negatives,” said defender Sean Totsch. “It’s obviously disappointing. We take this rivalry very seriously. It’s a game we come in expecting to get a result.
“They’re a good…