August 9, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release
“The Fortress” could have a different feel to it Saturday night when first-place Louisville City FC hosts Sacramento Republic FC.
This matchup of traditional USL Championship powers will play out on ESPN2 with kickoff at Lynn Family Stadium set for 9 p.m. – the latest opening whistle yet for LouCity at its Butchertown neighborhood home.
It comes amid a defining stretch of the season for LouCity, which enters at 15-4-2. Forty-seven points are good for one clear atop the league.
Last Saturday, LouCity traveled to defeat Western Conference leader New Mexico United. Sacramento sits second on the West table. And next weekend, Charleston, which the boys in purple have dueled for first place in the Eastern Conference all season, visits Lynn Family Stadium.
Emerge from this gauntlet with the right amount of points, and LouCity could start dreaming about a Players’ Shield. City has raised two league trophies and secured four Eastern Conference titles. But the silverware for best regular season record – and the No. 1 playoffs seed that comes with it – has proven elusive over the club’s 10-year history.
Coach Danny Cruz often reiterates that his team is taking things one game at a time. As far as what’s ahead Saturday, LouCity and its league-leading 53 goals will square off against a Sacramento side that has conceded a league-fewest 16 of them.
Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello’s 10 clean sheets lead the USL Championship, and Sacramento has gone 11 straight away games without a loss – one short of tying the USL Championship record. The Republic also affirmed their class when advancing to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup’s Quarterfinal Round this summer two years after making it all the way to the final.
Follow along
– The game will air live on ESPN2 and ESPN Louisville’s AM 680/FM 105.7.
– 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
Sam Gleadle (out)
Jorge Gonzalez (out)
Brian Ownby (out)
Adrien Perez (questionable)
Story lines…
Added motivation: LouCity this week signed 15-year-old Ethan Wright to a one-game contract in partnership with Norton Children’s. Wright, who was diagnosed last year with Type 1 diabetes, continues to play high school and club soccer while managing the condition. The sophomore will be close to the team Saturday on Norton Children’s Super Kid…
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