September 5, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release
Louisville City FC returns to Lynn Family Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, hosting Loudoun United FC in a game that carries bigger-picture implications.
With a win or draw, LouCity would become the first team to clinch its spot in the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs. Should the boys in purple lose Friday, a loss or draw by North Carolina FC on Saturday would also lock them into the postseason.
City is bidding to become just the second club in USL Championship history to make the playoffs for a 10th straight season following the Charleston Battery from 2011 to 2020.
The league champion in 2017 and 2018, LouCity (18-5-2, 56 points) also enters the weekend with a three-point lead over Charleston in the race for its first Players’ Shield awarded to the club with the best regular season record. The Players’ Shield winner receives a trophy and the No. 1 overall playoff seed, guaranteeing home field advantage throughout postseason.
Coach Danny Cruz returns from a one-game red card suspension, as will Adrien Perez, when City meets Loudoun (9-9-7, 34 points) in the return game of a 1-0 away victory back on April 20. Last out the boys in purple were part of a wild, 6-4 victory at North Carolina FC, where they trailed at three points before pulling away over the game’s final half hour.
Friday also marks College Night at Lynn Family Stadium. Student tickets are just $8 online or at the box office with student ID. In addition to a pregame happy hour opening at 6 p.m., alcohol sales will continue after the final whistle in the BlueOval SK Fan Zone with a free silent disco and other entertainment on offer.
Follow along
– The game will air live locally on MyTV 58 and ESPN Louisville’s 93.9 The Ville.
– 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
Wes Charpie (out)
Sam Gleadle (out)
Jorge Gonzalez (out)
Carlos Moguel Jr. (questionable)
Brian Ownby (out)
Adrien Perez (questionable)
Jansen Wilson (out)
Story lines…
Scoreboard watching: LouCity’s a full win ahead of Charleston atop the Eastern Conference table, plus holds a pair of games in hand on the Battery, who host…