March 1, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Louisville City FC News Release
Louisville City FC in preseason action against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(Louisville City FC, Credit: EM Dash Photography)
Louisville City FC on Friday got the expected close, physical game it’s used to when meeting Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC during preseason play.
While a 1-0 loss marked LouCity’s first defeat of the year, coach Danny Cruz called the 90-minute friendly a “good exercise.” It was one the boys in purple got to play in front of a select group of season ticket members who braved cold and rain at Thurman-Hutchins Park.
“It was a battle, as it always is with Pitt,” Cruz said. “I thought we were really poor in transition on that side of the ball, and we need to finish our chances. We’ve talked about that in the past, but we’ve scored a lot of goals this preseason. We needed some more quality in the final third.
“Then in the second half, they had one chance and they scored, and that’s the USL in a nutshell. So we have to make sure we take our chances and do a better job in transition, because that’s where the goal came from.”
In terms of those LouCity opportunities, major looks came in the 27th minute, when Elijah Wynder headed a shot on goal, and in the 82nd minute as Adrien Perez fired a shot the Riverhounds keeper deflected off the post. Earlier in the second half, Perez was also fouled on the edge of the box, but appeals for a penalty kick were denied.
Pittsburgh converted in the 54th minute after a cross grazed a LouCity defender and the Riverhounds flicked in a goal at the near post.
“This is our first poor result of the preseason, and you learn a lot about a group through adversity,” Cruz said. “We’ll see how the guys respond, and I’m confident when they come back in next week they’ll be ready to go.”
LouCity’s final preseason game will be played at Lynn Family Stadium as the boys in purple host USL League One’s Knoxville SC at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9. All tickets are $10 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday at LouCity.com or (502) LOU-CITY.
City opens its regular season March 16 at El Paso Locomotive FC before seeing Pittsburgh again at its March 23 home opener.
2024 Louisville City FC Preseason Schedule
Feb. 3 at Austin FC (D, 2-2)
Feb. 7 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (W, 2-0)
Feb. 11 vs. Sacramento Republic FC (W, 3-2)
Feb. 15 at St. Louis CITY SC (W, 2-1)
Feb. 18 vs. Lexington SC (D, 0-0)
March 1 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (L, 1-0)
March 9 vs. One Knoxville…