NORTH CAROLINA FC 4

LOUISVILLE CITY FC 1

3-9-19

The possession and the run of play told one tale but the figures on the scoreboard at the end told another as City matched their worst USL defeat in all of 2018 and had their 11 match unbeaten streak halted by Coach Hackworth’s former USMNT cohort Dave Sarachan and his new-look North Carolina side.

On paper at least, NCFC looked to have diminished a little from last season – marquee duo Daniel Rios and Kyle Bekker relocating to Nashville SC and Forge FC (CPL) respectively – but they more than compensated by capitalizing on their counterattacking opportunities, converting 4 of their 5 attempts on net.

City, for all their statistical dominance, barely tested ‘keeper Alex Tambakis, amassing a paltry 2 shots on goal over the 90 minutes.

The Boys In Purple started off the new campaign brightly, moving the ball well around the midfield during the early going while looking organized and competing well when the home team had the ball. For the first half hour they appeared smooth and cohesive as if they were in mid-season form.

Kyle Smith’s overlapping talents will be difficult to replace, but it was initially encouraging to see Sean Totsch willing to push forward up the right and deliver balls into the area, albeit from a little deeper than where Kyle enjoyed to delve.

After the departures of Cam Lancaster and Illy Ilic, who were famed for their nifty footwork in close quarters, newly minted no.9 Luke Spencer was eager to receive the ball aerially, but as often occurs with lone “tall tree” strikers it was difficult when outnumbered for him to find space and to outleap capable central defenders, particularly New Zealand international centre-back Sam Brotherton.

As always, Oscar Jimenez out on the left was challenging the NC defense with a steady stream of crosses from set pieces and general play, though for much of the match he struggled to find his range. The confidence is undoubtedly there, but consistency is always the key with Oscar.

George Davis lV plied his trade strenuously on right wing and was presented a genuine chance by Brian Ownby in the 11th minute but ended up side-footing his effort tamely at Tambakis.

Niall McCabe made early forays into the area however, lacking the touch of those erstwhile front runners, slipped back to try his luck in deeper climes. As changes were made in the second half he moved wider to the right wing and unfortunately drifted out of the game somewhat, although he managed a useful cross which Brian on a one-timer turned over the bar, and, from a Sunny Jane pass, a sizzler of his own which only barely cleared the woodwork.

Meanwhile, Brian was looking quick and dangerous, following on from when he was finally able to regain full fitness near the end of last season, and was occasionally able to produce incisive key passes, and went close himself on the odd half-chance, notably in the 39th when he hit the outside of the cage under close attention.

Speedy Williams, so comfortable and competent when playing a holding position alongside Paulo Del Piccolo, under Hack is finding himself compelled to play an advanced linking role which will in turn requires him to be more creative offensively and reprise the incredible shooting power he displayed sporadically in 2018.

Per usual, the Captain himself was the midfield anchor and a crucial conduit for play out of the backfield, and once again this season his contribution will be vital to the rhythm and cohesiveness of the football team.

Unfortunately, the oft-vaunted core of the City defense was not at its best by a long shot in this game, due to Paco Craig and Alexis Souahy – as well as utility central D-man Sean Totsch – too often lapsing on marking assignments and tardy in responding to dangerous circumstances which contributed directly to all four NCFC goals.

Aside from an effort Steven Miller thumped over the bar under duress from Paco after Oscar had failed to clear, City were making all the play and new generation no.1 Tim Dobrowolski had enjoyed a worry-free opening half hour. It would have been to his and the team’s shock then when the navy blues, literally out of the blue, nabbed the lead in the 34th minute.

Sean was caught upfield as Donovan Ewolo located new signing Mario Lomis in far too much space at the top of the area. Using a teammate arriving on his left as a decoy, to whom Alexis owed some attention, he shifted laterally right, skirting both Alexis and Paco before twisting against the grain and firing a drive to Tim’s right and inside the post.

Lomis is hardly blessed with Olympian speed but should not have been afforded the time and space he was – the Netherlander must have felt like he’d landed in Greenland – nevertheless it was an excellent conversion on his part.

Predictably, City looked unfazed and came out after half-time playing with purpose – yet, once more NCFC would turn the tables, this time striking twice inside 3 1/2 minutes.

Ex-Indy Elevener Ben Speas, from wide right, looped a ball to a lurking Lomis at the far post, again with an embarrassing abundance of real estate as Sean somehow found himself shoulder to shoulder with Alexis. The recent Creighton grad headed back across Tim who was temporarily bailed by the upright, but Thomas McCabe was arriving unchallenged to side-foot the deflection home, with Paco having sagged back toward the goal line.

As if that wasn’t enough, a further bolt from the blue fell in the 53rd when from the byeline DJ Taylor cut back an Austin da Luz through-ball and again the Louisville central D was sagging. This time Ewolo was the grateful beneficiary, and now it was figurative cats and dogs.

In a tactical change Lucky Mkosana and Sunny Jane replaced Sean and George lV, playing as twin point men, causing Luke to play deeper and wider, with both men at times bringing NCFC defenders concern inside their area though Sunny especially was guilty of some soft shooting.

Paco didn’t connect well enough on an Oscar free kick and headed wide. That ball was ideal although the long deliveries, particularly from Oscar, tended to be under- or overhit for most of the evening.

At the other end, Lomis almost took advantage of soft marking again when Miller outdid Niall on the left and put him in, but he flashed his strike over the crossbar, a late Paco slide perhaps a distraction.

Luke departed for the specialist Magnus Rasmussen who always shows some nice peripheral touches, but at the same time will need to adjust his style to fit the cut and thrust of the USL – or somehow ascend to heir apparent after the yet possibly painful loss of Ilija Ilic.

In the 83rd minute the local side iced the game with a move right out of the James Sands / Luke Spencer historical playbook.

Speas, breaking out of defense, slide-ruled a long ball splitting Paco and Paolo asunder. Substitute Robert Kristo timed his run perfectly, broke in behind and scooped his finish by an advancing Dobro and in for a stunning 4th goal against the champions.

The morose Morados’ sole consolation came in the final minute of added time as Brian made mincemeat of right back Taylor and crossed delightfully for Lucky. Neither he nor the two defenders he had drawn were able to get a head to the ball which then fell at the feet of the unmarked Sunny who had time to switch to his left and lash past Tambakis to rob him of his clean sheet.

Louisville finished 19 points and 7 places ahead of North Carolina in 2018, winning at Slugger and drawing in Cary, and would have been expecting to widen the gap this season.

But it is possible that, after the ascension to MLS of FC Cincinnati and a significant redistribution of player personnel, this season’s USL Championship Group A (East) will be tighter at the top than some had anticipated.

The concerns? As Hack has been on the record suspecting, there is certainly some work to be done in order to bring this squad up to speed.

The good news? There are a whole 33 matches left in which to do just that.

Friday night, down in Gwinnett County, GA will be the clash with ATLUTD2 who, after a 2-0 victory over Hartford Athletic, are already 3 points to the good.

Let’s go!

LOU CITY KIWI’S ARBITRARY LOU CITY FC PLAYER RATINGS (10 being sublime – feel free to @ me):

Dobro: 6 1/2

“Baptism of fire” for the lad. Harsh to criticize him excessively for this one, though you’d wish to see a super save injected here or there.

A.S.A.Y: 5

Peut-être the Parisien’s least impressive game in a Louisville uniform? France is a champion and so is A.S.A.Y.. Must, can, and will do better.

Paco: 4 1/2

Much, MUCH more is expected in terms of the organizational AND the practical.

Obliged always to be a leader and an example back there. Also began last season shakily, only to become a USL All-Star and the rock that underpinned the Louisville D by the end.

Totschy: 5

Perhaps a mite casual considering the pace he possesses, and positional play needs to be up to snuff.

Serious questions to be asked regarding sending him forward due to capacity to recover. Kyle was not a natural defender and sometimes suffered for it – Sean is, although this outing suggests he may be better suited to a stricter central role.

Il Capitano: 7

Dependable in the pilot seat for the most part, though must share the blame for the 4th goal.

Mago: 6

Did not earn his nick for nothing, owning a pair of wonderful feet, but needs to find consistency with his deliveries. Also defensive play perennially requires development.

Speedy: 6

Not especially keen on an advanced role (is this the reason he dithered on re-signing?) but possesses the talent to step up and flourish.

Niall: 6

Showed flashes of his brilliance at times, but tired and faded as the game wore on.

Cuatro: 6

Toiled away, but also tired and faded as the game wore on.

Luke: 6

Isolated and bottled up for most of the evening. Also suffered at times from a lack of quality service.

Lucky: 5 1/2

Looked more like he did in his 2nd game against us last season than the 1st … Should benefit when he becomes more familiar with his teammates and hopefully forges an effective partnership with Luke.

Sunny: 6 1/2

Got himself into some handy positions in the NC box. One or two nice touches, but woefully subpar in finishing … until the goal!

MagRam: 5 1/2

Usually doesn’t do a lot wrong though needs to do a lot more right, i.e. be more impactful.

“ LOUISVILLE CITY No. 1 ⭐️ “

*** OWNBY *** : 7 1/2

Looked strong and a threat throughout. Shooting will sharpen up as the season progresses, and barring injury (touch wood) will rack up the G’s & A’s and finish high up in several USL categories. Fabulous cross to assist on Sunny’s goal.

[ Check out the last one on the list at http://louisvillecoopers.com/songs/ ]