LOUISVILLE CITY FC 0, FC CINCINNATI 1

It was an odd night indeed …

A night when as a fan, especially a fan of Louisville City, one couldn’t help feeling one was getting just a little shortchanged – for one reason by the circumstantially slashed timeclock, when a not-your-garden-variety Tuesday encounter begins on a goal kick and before there’s time for momentum to build and anything much of interest to occur … the whistle blasts for halftime!

So it really did not feel like a game at all – only a half a one.

The balance of the shortchanging, if you will, was the disappointing way in which the local heroes – needing to get the wagon back on the tracks at home after a pretty dire derailment of late – failed to deliver their (necessary) best performance or to make the most of the rare glimpses of goal they were given by an altogether composed and parsimonious FC Cincinnati unit.

No, you could not take a thing away from the visitors. Their task was well understood from Minute One – or in this case Minute 37 … and 43 seconds.

Cincinnati came, they saw, they stalemated. And that’s all they realistically needed to do, as they returned to town a goal to the good from the curtain-raiser three nights earlier.

For their part, City did not exactly come off the launch pad with all rockets firing as had been expected.

A nice diagonal cross by George lV, found Niall sneaking into space at the far post but the dashing Dubliner would have liked to get a decent connection on the ball and Spencer Richey’s goal was not threatened.

Cameron then drew a foul in his favorite spot, around 30 yards out and just to the left. He put a similar chance over on Saturday and this was another “loosener” that passed narrowly wide of the mark.

There was a scare when Paco gave up the ball on the left to the extremely dangerous Emmanuel Ledesma but Alexis was in good position to cut out the resulting cross.

As the minutes ticked rapidly down City were learning once more that pumping high balls anywhere near Paddy Barrett and Forrest Lasso in central defense was likely to be a fruitless exercise as the sizable duo continued their dominance in the air.

So, before you knew it it was halftime, with neither side having been able to put much of a dent in the other’s defense.

And that is how it would continue in the 2nd for the most part. In fact, between them the teams only managed to add a single shot on goal as City continued to search in vain for rare cracks in the Cincy rearguard, with the latter intent on ensuring the game would turn into a dour midfield battle.

That single official shot on frame came in the 52’ when a clearance from a corner kick landed on the right foot of Speedy who fired in from distance. Alexis, still posted in the penalty area, absorbed the force of the shot and the ball rolled to Cameron who, under close watch by Lasso, instinctively cracked a 15 yard left-footer low to Richey’s right but the Vancouver Whitecaps loanee was equal to the task and got down quickly to deflect out for another corner.

Oscar delivered in as Alexis rose well but Richey was well positioned at the far post.

But undoubtedly the best opportunity of the half, and indeed the game, for City would be presented to Speedy.

In the 59’ George IV sent in a difficult cross from the right that Richey was only able to parry down to No.80 who, from just 8 yards out and with the goal gaping, managed to balloon the ball high and over the crossbar.

DSW’s lone goal of the season, in Ottawa, did come from his less favored left foot but on this occasion he got his technique all wrong when he really ought to have equalized.

The visitors looked to capitalize on that let-off and 3 minutes later Guyanese international striker Emery Welshman got a good look when he received a short pass from Nazmi Albadawi, took a touch and launched a drive in-between Paco and Alexis that flew barely past Greg’s right-hand post.

City got one more fine opportunity in the 67’ when Oscar turned and was brought down by the otherwise outstanding U of L Card alum Kenney Walker just outside the area. On the resulting free kick, Cameron struck a beauty that whisked tantalizingly by a groping Richey’s left hand post.

Immediately, FCC fashioned a good look when winning goal scorer Corben Bone crossed from the left to Welshman who, with a deft first touch, put Fatai Alashe in on goal. The ex Earthquake might have done better than to stab it wide with his left though credit attentive late coverage from Alexis and Paco for the attempt being a little rushed.

Over the course of the half Oscar and Saturday’s goal provider Ledesma had essentially managed to cancel each other out though the prolific Argentine wide man did manage to find an opportunity when making a rare foray across the field in the 73’. After good holdup play by Welshman the man known as “Manu” flashed the ball across Greg but wide of the left post.

Coach Hackworth had been compelled to sub in some fresh legs, however Shaun Francis for Niall, and Luke for Ilija might have taken away some needed dynamism and close ball handling respectively, although Shaun did cause trouble with occasional services from his luscious left peg.

Richie Ballard for Alexis meant that Paolo was chiefly consigned to a deeper role for the crucial closing stages, though he did manage to get forward and onto a ball from Kyle but did not get everything on his effort from the edge of the area and directed the ball wide of the goal.

There was just time for a corner by Shaun which Luke, leaning at the near post, could only head over the bar.

In a game like this City could have really done with the availability off the bench of the unfortunately ailing Brian Ownby.

The Purples had enjoyed much the better of the shot opportunities (19-10, 5-1 on target) and corners (8-2) but were unable to overcome the nature of this split fixture and penetrate the fortress of the runaway USL leaders.

Aside from FCC’s lone shot on net of the game, Bone’s winning goal, City’s defensive play was a positive feature, however on its own it was not enough.

Yet once more in the friendly confines all the stats but for the vital one favored the luckless Louisville lads and once again they came up short.

Their record is a wilting 1-3-6 (9 points) over their last 10 matches at Slugger.

So, once again Los Morados go out on the road – Saturday, at Pittsburgh Riverhounds – trusting that their away form will carry them through to the playoffs after dropping to 4th place in the standings, behind Pittsburgh and Charleston, with a

resurgent Indy Eleven looming large in the rear mirror.

City now have their work cut out for the remaining 7 games of the stretch. As Hack has been quoted, “resolve and the ability to come back from setbacks” now become critically required qualities.

The ball is still very much in Lou City’s court but as opposed to the US Open they are going to have to strive for ways to hit a few more into the net.

~~~Fun Footnote~~~

After losing at home to Louisville on May 26th, FCC’s unbeaten streak now rises to 17 matches (13-4-0) spanning beyond each side of Memorial Day and Labor Day, and also since before their successful MLS bid was announced.