June 22, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release
In its third match over an eight-day span, Louisville City FC found itself on the wrong end of fortune Saturday at Lynn Family Stadium, falling to Rhode Island FC by a 5-2 score.
LouCity created 26 chances to RIFC’s seven and attempted a season-high 29 shots. But the club failed to capitalize on enough opportunities en route to dropping its first home game in eight tries this year.
At 11-3-2, City remains atop the USL Championship table with 35 points as the 2024 campaign nears the halfway mark.
“There is obviously a lot of frustration in the result,” said coach Danny Cruz. “I felt we certainly created a lot of opportunities. I know that it obviously looks ugly at 5-2, but at the end of the day, I take responsibility. When we were down the way that we were down, I pushed, I changed the tactics to throw everything we could at them. I genuinely believed we would come back and win this game up until the final whistle blew.
“…It’s one you take on the chin for sure. There were things that were not in our control. There was a lot against us on the night.”
LouCity started strong, manufacturing at least four quality opportunities before Rhode Island’s opener. Sam Gleadle tallied three shots in the first 23 minutes, one of which was blocked from close range.
Against the run of play, RIFC’s Clay Holdstad smashed a shot from distance off the post and in in the 30th minute – and again City continued pouring on pressure to no avail, trying seven shots in the following 10 minutes.
Jojea Kwizera doubled the away side’s lead into first half stoppage time, taking a pass from right back Stephen Turnbull before darting at the City defense and firing the ball through a narrow window.
The second half was more of the same. Jake Morris, substituted on at half, made his presence known immediately by producing a pair of quick chances, one of which set up Gleadle for a shot in the box.
In the 67th minute, however, Rhode Island’s JJ Williams extended the lead to three, catching City off guard with a purposeful counter attack.
That’s when LouCity threw numbers forward. Dylan Mares cut the deficit to two with his first goal of the season, only to see Noah Fuson convert another RIFC counter.
City rippled the back of the net once again in stoppage time thanks to a Jake Morris free kick straight into the bottom corner. But Rhode Island punished City with its fifth and final goal coming from Isaac…