BAD CASE OF THE HEEBIE-DJIBYS: USOC UNDERDOGS NIPPED AT NIPPERT

FC CINCINNATI_ 2

LOUISVILLE CITY FC__ 1

6-12-19

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<MKOSANA⚽️

RASMUSSEN

<OWNBY <MATSOSO <MCCABE

DELPICCOLO

JIMENEZ CRAIG SOAHY PEAY

HUBBARD

SUBS: DAVIS IV SPENCER TOTSCH JANE

UNUSED: DEE MCMAHON DOBROWOLSKI

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On a sprinkly though mild night across the Ohio state line, Louisville City FC reached the end of their 2019 US Open Cup run, falling to despised Dirty River Derby rival FC Cincinnati in overtime by a scoreline of 2-1.

Like a brief rekindling of a dead end romance ‘The Boys In (Alternative) Silver’ showed a passing interest in reconnection, only to eventually return home realizing they had not been missing too much.

The home club were hurting, not only from several Gold Cup defections but also a clutch of injuries, although it was able to field a reasonably recognizable lineup with only 3 changes from its most recent MLS match vs San Jose.

John Hackworth threw out a mouthwatering unit, starting Paco Craig, Brian Ownby, Magnus Rasmussen and Lucky Mkosana for the first time in 2019 Open Cup play.

It was the jilted former boyfriend who would begin the brightest with Il Capitano Paolo DelPiccolo getting away a soft shot, Niall McCabe ripping over a drive, and Taylor Peay on the overlap having a probing cross into the area intercepted, all within a short period during the first 10 minutes.

The hosts responded and Oscar Jimenez, handed the tough assignment of covering experienced lefty Manu Ledesma, turned off as the Argentine checked in behind him to receive a throw and from a narrow angle forced a low save by Cup ‘keeper Chris Hubbard to his right.

In minute 16, a long ball forward by outstanding center back Forrest Lasso saw Chris get an arm in first as center forward Fanendo Adi was simultaneously flagged offside.

At the other end, Paolo quickly set Niall for a 22 yard strike that rose above the crossbar of normal backup goalkeeper Przemyslaw – thankfully, only have to attempt to spell this the once – Tytoń

As the first half neared its halfway point, City had looked comfortable but the old rivals shocked them, taking the lead with an opportunistic play by Fanendo Adi as the Nigerian instinctually followed up on a routine Frankie Amaya clip up the line. The ball fell for Paco who appeared to have a good deal of time to choose an outlet option, however at the critical instant he took his eye off the ball and it dribbled behind him. In spite of the back pass being still available, he reacted too slowly to the impending danger and Adi struck and sunk in his teeth in cobra-like fashion, bundling the hapless defender off the ball, turning toward goal and firing his shot between the legs of Chris and into the back of the Louisville net.

It was a cruel reversal for City just as they were establishing themselves, and a lesson in not taking anything or anyone lightly, Including Adi who had not netted for FCC since September of last year in the USL.

However, as we well know, The Boys In Purple are made of stern stuff and within 7 minutes they would rally and return fire on the Orange and Blue.

Paolo foraged forward, causing all sorts of chaos in the Cincy defense which, similarly to City, made a hash of the clearance and Victor Ulloa, facing his goal and under pressure from Lucky, lost control and stabbed at the ball letting Magnus in behind. No. 7 twisted and delivered right into Lucky’s wheelhouse and the canny striker voraciously cleaned up smacking the ball by Tytoń for the equalizer.

It was a classic Lucky goal and precisely what he is in the team to do.

Only two more chances presented themselves in the half, in the 35th when Ledesma crossed for Adi whose 12 yard effort this time had no teeth and was easily taken by Chris, and a Brian won free kick 20 yards out that Magnus unexpectedly ballooned over the top.

Any doubt whether or not Los Morados could hang with their latter day MLS foes had been properly put to rest after a metrically virtually dead even first half.

However, Cincy very nearly went ahead in the opening minutes of the second half after Alexis fouled Adi 30 yards out and Ledesma landed his free kick right on the head of Forrest Lasso but the outstanding holdover from USL days could only power his far post, close range and free header off the right-hand upright, Taylor having somehow got lost in the mix and missed the assignment.

City countered and Niall received a cross from Brian and won a right wing corner off Amaya. Oscar took it and chose one of his favorite go-to’s, Paco meeting it the near post and his flick only barely cleared the framework.

A Mathieu Deplagne cross/shot was managed by Chris low to his right and Oscar made a critical clear from a dangerous ball into the middle after Taylor was beaten down the right.

The visitors initiated a period of creating several opportunities and near opportunities as Taylor advanced and set Niall from deep to deliver in for Lucky who had got the edge on marker Nick Hagglund in the middle of the box and the Zimbabwean’s header flew a mite wide of Tytoń’s left-hand upright.

A minute later Brian, who had struggled to make much impact up his left wing in the first half, took a fine ball from Paolo, outstripped Deplagne and crossed in to Niall on the far side and the ball back in generated a flurry in front of the Cincinnati goal involving from which Napo Matsoso was not able to force the ball through. But now a juicy rebound rolled out to Magnus, seemingly with the goal at his mercy, however his strike was blocked before it could trouble Tytoń, one of the most clear cut opportunities of the match but reaping no return for the hitherto, this season, lethal Dane.

Now a Napo effort was turned away and from the rebound Niall’s chip wide of the far post to the head of the streaking Oscar was close but just wide.

As Taylor blocked a Kekuta Manneh bid out for a corner both sides made substitutions attempting to tweak their offenses: Alashe for Ulloa/Luke Spencer for Lucky, and Luke was almost a victim immediately.

Ledesma’s inswinging corner kick was tracked by Chris but he was surprised to be outleapt by Lasso and the header back into the middle was met at point blank range by Deplagne, getting in ahead of Luke. Niall, who had been guarding near post was tracking the whole way and incredibly shifted across the goal line and contorted himself to save Deplagne’s header from 4 yards with his chest – and what is more managing to avoid using his arm.

This fantastic piece of defending from the offensive minded midfielder should have been inspirational although it was the orange and blue jerseys that would generate the next chance, Ledesma curling a free kick wide of Chris’ left post after himself drawing the foul by Magnus.

With 10 minutes of regulation left, Brian Ownby manufactured his best chance of the game when he received from Luke and turned on the jets, angling toward goal and leaving Deplagne in his wake. However, with Tytoń in goal fixing to offer his best effort, No. 10 underwent a split second of hesitation and Hagglund was able to enact a fine, desperate tackle, deflecting across the line for a corner.

Instead of being the nail in the coffin for Cincy it may have been so for Brian as he was withdrawn shortly afterward for George Davis IV.

In the 85th, the City rearguard very nearly shot itself in the foot when Alexis’ wayward back pass under pressure was chased by Chris, but in sliding to keep it from crossing the line for the corner he mistimed and gave up the ball to Adi. The big front man had a sight of goal from the angle but Paco Craig, atoning somewhat for his earlier indiscretion, was back to prevent the effort from cracking the Louisville threshold and the game remained deadlocked with no further significant activity before the whistle blew to send the absorbing cup tie into overtime.

City strode positively into the first extra period as Luke fired over after good setup play by Paco and George IV, and the latter went even closer when he was fed in the area by Niall, only for his blazing effort to be tipped over by the capable Tytoń.

Paolo DelPiccolo dived in attempting to capitalize as George IV turned the corner kick toward goal but Tytoń stayed strong and it was the swan song for the inspirational leader who had played a major role in his side’s performance, Sean Totsch now entering in relief.

Ironically, just seconds later would arrive the decisive moment in this intriguing Lamar Hunt Cup encounter when Tytoń sent what at first appeared a manageable clearing chip deep into the Louisville half. Paco was beneath it but Ledesma appeared too and somehow won a header he ought never to have. The ball fell in behind Paco and Oscar, who had tracked back all the way from his actual mark at halfway, now took over the responsibility of buffering Ledesma. But the defender bought the tricky winger’s shimmy right, allowing the much feared left-footed cross Ledesma had also deployed against the same player to assist on Corben Bone’s winner last September at Slugger.

This time, as Taylor fatally diverted himself into the center in a bid to aid Alexis with Adi, Ledesma played a perfect ball behind the right back and right into the path of Manneh steaming in at the back post, and the Gambian made no mistake with a bullet header that gave Chris zero chance of prevention. Manneh threw off his shirt in the corner in celebration, gladly taking the yellow card for his display of elation.

In response to the goal, Paco was pushed forward into a partnership with Luke and, after Napo was floored by Fatai Alashe, he got his head on Oscar’s free kick but was wide of Tytoń’s goal.

The teams switched for the final 15 minute period with Hack playing his last card bringing in Sunny Jane for his compatriot Napo.

Last season’s aforementioned game winning hero Corben Bone had entered as a sub and brought out a save from Chris low beside his goal post.

With Paco up with Luke in advanced climes Los Morados were gambling on a tactic of lofting balls in for the heads of the ad hoc partners but FCC, led excellently in defense by Forrest Lasso, would dominate in this department and stand strong against the Louisville assault.

One half chance came the way of the plucky visitors when Oscar’s rebound was snatched by Sunny Jane but his curling effort from outside drifted over the top and new coach Yoann Damet’s boys held out for the victory and a Round of 16 visit to St Louis FC next Wednesday.

For John Hackworth and the several hundred traveling supporters it was at once an encouraging showing though decided by critical breakdowns leading to the goals against and the game could easily have swung the other way with an ounce of luck.

A relieved Coach Damet noted repeatedly that it was “not a pretty game” for his club but that it was a good win and a chance to turn their hitherto teetering season around.

For his part, Hack stated that he welcomed the unfriendly reception from Cincinnati fans and that his team expected such a battle from a desperate opponent. While noting his men showed their quality and created some good moments, he nevertheless expressed disappointment at the mode in which the goals against were conceded.

“I didn’t think we would lose this game on the two plays we lost it on.”

The Boys In Purple return to USL action (presumably in road whites) Sunday, 3 pm at New York Red Bulls Reserves.

A watch party is slated for:

The Alcove

246 Spring St

Jeffersonville, IN 47130

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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:

Chris Hubbard:_6 1/2

Had a couple of nice saves but also a couple of harrowing moments, both times being bailed out by timely clearances off the line by defenders. Nutmegged on the first goal, basically no chance on the second.

Oscar Jimenez: 6

Not able to get forward as much as he customarily likes. Made one huge defensive play to ward off a great Cincinnati chance but one too many lapses of attention to Ledesma allowed the winger the assist that led to the game winner.

Paco Craig:_5 1/2

Defended fine for the majority but his two fatal lapses in concentration, a missed header on the winner on top of a moment of sheer complacency that caused the first goal undid it all. Close on a flick from a corner and an always interesting addition to the attack, making the transition late in games when his team is behind.

Alexis Souahy:_7

Handled FCC point man Adi well all night and was generally fine though almost helped cost his team a goal with his shaky back pass to Chris in the 2nd half.

Taylor Peay:_6 1/2

Enjoyed some handy moments going forward though struggled at the back at times with pass selection and coverage and was heavily punished for the flawed decision to leave his position, an open invitation to Manneh on his winning goal.

Brian Ownby:_6

The oft game-changer showed glimpses but was well below his best for most of the evening. Tentative often and caught hesitating after working to carve out his best chance of the game in OT, the only return for his effort a pyrrhic corner.

Napo Matsoso:_7 1/2

Competitive effort and, while he couldn’t be expected to play to the level of, for example, a Speedy Williams, all in all one of the stauncher performers on the night.

Niall McCabe: 8

Drove hard per usual, giving the Cincy defense plenty to think about and chipping out close chances on several occasions, though his heroic chest save off the line was worth a goal on its own.

Magnus Rasmussen:_7 1/2

Strove the entire evening to maintain the central midfield efficacy. Superb assist on Lucky’s goal but should have put his team ahead in the 2nd when he failed to convert a ‘Grade A’ opportunity.

Lucky Mkosana:_7 1/2

Excellent work to finish on his goal, his presence in the box beforehand causing the error that brought about the chance. Could have done even better if he wasn’t in the midst of applying to the Guinness Book for record number of offsides in a season.

Luke Spencer:_7

Came in for Lucky as the strategy morphed toward raining aerial balls into the penalty area though was well taken care of by the dominance of Forrest Lasso and actually operated better with the ball at his feet.

George Davis IV:_7 1/2

Logged a reasonable 40 minutes after switching in for Brian. Functional around the field and elicited one very good save out of Tytoń in the OT.

Sean Totsch:_7 1/2

Tough job bringing his contrasting style after subbing on for The Captain in the overtime period but managed well.

Sunny Jane:_6

Got himself one decent look at goal but didn’t connect optimally.

Made little impact otherwise in his 15 minutes on as a sub.

“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”

⭐️⭐️⭐️Paolo DelPiccolo ⭐️⭐️⭐️: 8 1/2

Impressed greatly throughout the contest with his classy play, mostly holding intact the midfield as well as masterfully spreading the play around and generating counters.

Primarily, made it safely beyond 100 minutes in another major step back toward peak fitness as the club’s USL Championship campaign heats up.

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