LOUISVILLE CITY FC 2

MEMPHIS 901 FC 1

4-30-19

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Louisville City’s John Hackworth in the postgame media room repeated a phrase he has used before after such single goal victories.

“Yeahhh, um … not exactly the way we would draw it up”, mused the head coach after a closer-than-it-should-have-been 2-1 defeat of USL expansion Memphis 901 FC at Slugger Field on Tuesday evening.

Although the two sides were not as close as the scoreline may suggest, it was a result that would have left Hack and his Purple Heroes realizing there is still work to be done to reach the lofty levels of expectation now associated with the club.

Events began much as expected with an unchanged City Eleven taking the reins early versus the Championship cellar dwellers and Tim McQueen’s men falling back into a wait-and-break formation.

Fresh new signing (from NY Cosmos) and former Rowdies striker Jochen Graf (actually a Texan) was up front as a lone striker, and as early as the 6th minute was welcomed back to the Championship courtesy of a clattering tackle by Paco Craig, a foul that earned the robust defender a yellow card.

From Cameron Lindley’s resulting free kick, Trinidad & Tobago international Dwayne Muckette beat all defenders to the ball and headed wide, but it was a continuation of a recent trend of Los Morados having difficulty dealing with balls delivered into the central defensive area.

A Niall McCabe delivery from well outside cleared the City strikers and nearly also debutant goalkeeper Scott Levene before sneaking over the crossbar, and NYFC loanee left back Abdi Mohammed was well wide from outside at the other end.

Niall then skied a 14th minute free kick before coming close again two minutes later when he received a ball from Shaun Francis and fired in a shot that cleared Levene’s crossbar by a couple of feet.

City’s No. 11 was again prominent, connecting with Abdou Thiam who set up Speedy Williams for a shot that was blocked up top by Lindley.

The City defense was holding steady, and tracking back superbly across his own six yard area Shaun made an important tackle to deny an opportunity on goal and concede a corner. Sean Totsch did similarly and 901 FC were enjoying a brief phase of dominance.

The Morados snatched back the initiative but with nothing much stretching Levene in goal Memphis were mostly comfortable.

Taylor Peay has been generally taking care of his area since wresting the start in central defense, but in the 26th minute he misjudged a punt by Levene and all of a sudden Graf was in behind him, but any blushes were saved by a timely offside flag.

City were now spurred into being more adventurous, and Speedy played to Magnus Rasmussen whose difficult cross was fingertipped over by Levene, just ahead of Abdou’s challenge.

After the corner was cleared, Oscar Jimenez crossed for Taylor who nodded back across the area for a Magnus chance but he could only direct his header several feet wide.

The purple jerseys continued to push deep into 901 territory, and Shaun, receiving from Speedy wide on the left, hit a deep cross to Lucky which was cleared away for a corner.

As would occurred several times, with Memphis appearing oblivious, Oscar’s and Niall’s specialty duet play – first (twice!) successfully rolled out in last season’s 1st round playoff versus Indy Eleven – was now deployed.

With the visitors dropping into the area en masse No. 19 cut his right wing corner kick diagonally back for Niall to run onto. Consistent with his efforts to this point, however, the Irishman’s right-foot drive soundly cleared the crossbar.

Finally, in the 33rd minute, City would break through.

Sean clipped a ball to Niall, suddenly appearing out on left wing, and he sent it firmly into the near area looking for Magnus. Central defender Todd Pratzner attempted to block but was thrown off by No. 7’s play to corral the drive, and his sudden change in balance caused the 2018 Riverhound to catastrophically slip on the all-devouring Slugger “Turf Monster”. The ball hopped up and caromed off the falling Pratzner’s chest, right to the feet of the delighted Dane who slapped it home past a flat-footed Levene for his second goal of the season and the 1-0 lead.

Once again patience and persistence had paid off for the Boys In Purple.

Following an adjudged foul on Fire loanee Elliot Collier (who notched one against City in their 2018 US Open Cup tie), Lindley’s free kick found Wesley Charpie slipping away from Sean beyond the far post, but again the offside flag appeared at a useful moment.

A Shaun Francis cross barely eluded Levene and also Lucky, and then on a free kick right of the penalty area Niall once again received that reverse diagonal ball from Oscar, and once again skied his effort, this time as it reared on him a little off the Monster.

Sean’s try a minute later met a similar fate and screwed away wide, and halftime arrived with City well on top on the balance of play, though only by a hair on the scoreboard.

Early in the second, Sean and Magnus scotched each other as they jumped for the same ball and as it dropped in behind them

Graf attempted to capitalize, but he hit his effort wide.

Sean was quick to redeem at the other end by forcing a corner, and Oscar’s ball was headed wide by his second favorite target, a near post checking Paco Craig.

Graf was doing his best to assert himself but was often isolated as New Zealand “All White” and futsal international Collier seemed largely marginalized and taken care of by Shaun Francis.

In the 58th, City moved the ball side to side and nearly found an opening when Shaun’s switch over to Oscar was whipped in onto the head of Lucky and the Zimbabwean did well to edge out Pratzner, but his powerful effort from the six slid narrowly wide.

However, No. 77 did not have to wait long for his next opportunity and this time he would relish it and capitalize.

In minute 61, Magnus, finding himself deep in his own half, chipped up the left wing toward Abdou. Pratzner was there for the interception but again failed to cut the play out properly and the ball dropped behind him for Abdou who was off to the races. The talented Senegalese rookie paced his approach to the byline perfectly then pulled back a sumptuous low ball for Lucky who was in like a Zimbabwean Flynn to crash the ball inside Levene’s near post from the six.

2-0, and the two protagonists celebrated at the corner with an appropriate high-stepping African folk dance.

A few minutes later an Oscar corner zeroed in on Niall at the far post and his header back across barely eluded Paco seeking to turn it in and skidded wide.

The dashing Dubliner got another chance after fine buildup play as Abdou chipped from the middle out to the overlapping Shaun who deftly took the ball out of the air and crossed low toward the penalty spot. Niall met it ideally first-time with his left, but his strike was well saved as Levene got down rapidly at his right-hand post.

Then Speedy, latched onto a clearance from Oscar’s corner and from 19 yards fired inches too high.

A minute later, Oscar himself collected from Lucky and tried his luck. His shot was deflected for a corner from which he again played a ball diagonally back only to see Niall yet one more time fire over the top, the feisty midfielder simply not having on his shooting boots this particular day.

901 FC had brought on size in the forms of former Tulsa Roughneck Josh Morton and FCC loanee Rashawn Dally, and after City’s forceful swell they now began to turn the tide.

Dally quickly got into the action, getting in behind Shaun Francis and crossing for Morgan Hackworth who till this point had been chasing the play and having a quiet evening. The “first son’s” shot was blocked and the ball fell out to Muckette, however he ballooned his effort, and after 70 minutes City’s 2-0 lead held – but for moments only.

Sean Totsch, finding himself facing his goal and under pressure, tried to play back to Ben Lundt who had his first minor shock of the day as the misdirected sphere squeaked just outside his left-hand upright.

Respite for the tall ex Hertha Berliner lasted mere seconds however as Lindley’s right wing corner was perfectly placed for Morton who banged in a header from 8 yards. Ben was in position right in front the effort, but instead of flicking it over he parried back into traffic and Hackworth Jr., fading away with Sean breathing down his neck, directed it back toward goal. Abdou, 3 yards in front of his goal line, shaped to volley the ball to safety, however he only succeeded in looping the ball back behind himself and over the head of his hapless ‘keeper for a bizarre own goal.

Coach Tim Mulqueen and his Memphis men were not complaining as this was their first goal registered in 367 minutes of USL football.

Minutes later, an unfortunate phase for Abdou was completed as he took a knock to the knee and was unable to continue, being replaced by Luke Spencer. Thankfully, after the game however he reported feeling no lasting effects.

With a quarter hour remaining Los Morados knew the score was too close for any laurels to be rested upon, and Oscar from Speedy won a right wing corner from which he found Sean and the City No. 4 went close, shaving the top of Levene’s crossbar with his header.

Speedy dragged a long shot wide on a handy reciprocal pass from Oscar, and shortly after Lucky received a badly misplaced clearance kick by Levene though curiously sacrificed a good look at goal to set up Luke. The understandably rusty replacement striker was well wide with his effort.

Lucky and Memphis captain Matt Burch picked up cards each after a needless tit-for-tat exchange at a 901 free kick, and Dally fired well over after receiving from regular playmaker Adam Najem. The New Jersey born Afghan international was a late substitute, presumably rested after going the full 90 minutes 3 days earlier against Charleston.

Lucky and Magnus each received due curtain calls, being replaced in the dying minutes by Alexis and George Davis IV, also making his return from a monthlong injury.

The final play of interest late was when Oscar tried a decent speculative strike from inside his own half of the field which ended up drifting a little wide, and that was all she wrote.

Fan nominated ‘Man of the Match’ Magnus Rasmussen described his team’s victory as “massive” and noted how pleasing it was to see the return of Luke and George IV to match action.

When asked about his goal he was humble, relating, “It’s very instinct, I don’t think too much … you’ve just got to finish that. We need all the goals that we can get … you don’t get anything for free in this league. You’ve got to grind and when you get your opportunities you’ve got to finish …”

After expressing appreciation for the approach and preparation of his squad leading up to the game Coach Hack commented on the number of chances created – likely with thought toward the relatively few goals going in for his team currently.

“They’re going to come … They’re going to come when we have that kind of service and the kind of commitment we have from those guys”

On a lighter note, he also addressed a cheeky nutmeg that Oscar had executed on son Morgan, quipping, “I might have to suspend Oscar for doing that move on Morgan. That was nasty.”

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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:

Ben Lundt: 7 1/2

Again not overly worked, though shoulders a portion of the blame on the goal for not pushing the initial header on goal back over his bar. But for the odd communication issue, mostly a source of confidence between the sticks for The Purples.

Shaun Francis: 7 1/2

Threatening when going forward with his cultured left-foot crosses, while settling in as a steady fixture at left back.

Paco Craig: 8

Sound defending in general play and a constant worry for the Memphis defense in dead ball situations.

Taylor Peay: 8

Continues to establish a foothold with another surefooted display as a partner to Paco in the heart of the defense.

Oscar Jimenez: 7 1/2

Far and away the crossing king in the league so far and top in the East for key passes. Some accuracy in shooting could seriously enhance El Mago’s overall numbers.

Sean Totsch: 7 1/2

Generally dominant screening the back four in an area of the park that wasn’t the strongest for the 901.

Niall McCabe: 6 1/2

Taking the mantle passed on by Speedy of being the performer most likely to shoot but with the least likely chance of an outcome. Generated his usual share of action in and around the Memphis penalty area, helping to create the first goal. All that said, his best performances are behind him and in front of him this season.

Magnus Rasmussen: 8 1/2

Notched the important opening goal as well as playing a part in the second, and generally acquitted himself calmly and reliably in the middle of the park. Perhaps Morados most consistent performer of the season thus far.

Abdou Mbacke Thiam: 7

Unfortunate to concede the own goal that gave Memphis hope and turned his earlier precision setup for Lucky into the game winner. Will hope to get back and up his shot count in the next outing.

Lucky Mkosana: 7 1/2

Beginning to instill some fan belief with a 2nd straight game winning goal. Strengths and weaknesses becoming clear cut as in turn is his teammates’ understanding of how best to sync up with him.

Luke Spencer: 5 1/2

Low key 15 minute cameo as a sub for the fan favorite though appeared comfortable physically after his month away from action.

George Davis IV: N/A

As with Luke, highly encouraging to see him back in business, albeit given few minutes with which to impress.

Alexis Souahy: N/A

As with Cuatro, a late sub, so little time to make an impression.

“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”

⭐️⭐️⭐️Speedy Williams⭐️⭐️⭐️9

Most imperious display from the Jammin’ Jamaican, hardly putting a foot wrong all evening. Held the midfield tightly intact while keeping everything ticking smoothly: funneling the ball, timely and effectively through the channels. Without a doubt his finest performance of the season to date.

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