Misc Soccer News

What to Watch for When LouCity Hosts Birmingham Legion FC

LouCity Sets Preseason Schedule against MLS, USL Foes

March 29, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release

Louisville City FC huddle
Louisville City FC huddle
(Louisville City FC, Credit: Connor Cunningham)

Danny Cruz understands that in the same way his own squad looks forward to games at Lynn Family Stadium, away teams are itching to play in the USL Championship’s nicest venue. The Louisville City FC coach just doesn’t want opponents to leave quite as happy as they arrived.

LouCity hosts Birmingham Legion FC at 4 p.m. Saturday in the second of three straight home games for the boys in purple. It’s a crucial stretch that could signal Lynn Family Stadium’s days as a stronghold have returned.

Entering the 2023 season, City was 24-4-2 with a +45 goal differential in 100% capacity games at the Butchertown neighborhood fortress, which opened amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the club went 8-6-3 in last year’s home games.

“Teams want to come here to play because it’s Lynn Family Stadium,” Cruz said, “but I want them to leave here not wanting to come back, and that’s a big thing. I think we have a group that has the ability to do that, and it’s about making sure we perform well.”

LouCity is off to a 2-0 start to the season, winning at El Paso Locomotive FC before last weekend’s home opener. City cruised to a 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in a very pre-2023 sort of day at Lynn Family Stadium.

The Birmingham game is billed as Family Day with an afternoon kickoff and halftime Easter egg hunt in the BlueOval SK Fan Zone. Next weekend, the boys in purple will host rival Indy Eleven on CBS in the USL Championship’s first network-televised game.

Should City sweep its home stand, the club would equal 2018 – when going on to win a second straight league title – for its best-ever start.

Follow along

– The game will air live locally on WBKI/The CW and ESPN Louisville’s AM 680/FM 105.7.

– If streaming, download the free WDRB+ app to watch the local feed in Louisville. ESPN+ or Golazo Network also streams the home feed of all USL Championship games not selected for national TV.

– For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @loucityfc on Twitter. Also find the club at louisvillecityfc on Instagram and Louisville City FC on Facebook.

Player availability report

Brian Ownby (out)

Story lines…

Top of the table: LouCity didn’t play in Week 1 of the regular season but still finds itself atop the Eastern Conference standings ahead of multiple clubs that have already numbered three games. Detroit City and Hartford…

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