LOUISVILLE CITY FC 2

LOUDOUN UNITED FC _ 1

6-8-19

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<SPENCER

RASMUSSEN

DAVIS IV MATSOSO <MCCABE

<DELPICCOLO

JIMENEZ PEAY

TOTSCH SOAHY

LUNDT

SUBS: MKOSANA> DEE> JANE>

UNUSED: BALLARD HUBBARD

DOBROWOLSKI WYNDER

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On a night that started out so promisingly and ended somewhat more nervously Louisville City FC allowed yet another young expansion opponent to play them tough before coming away with a hard earned 3 points.

Missing several regulars through suspension, injury and international duty, John Hackworth’s now higher flying remainers managed to make do and overcome a spirited 2nd half comeback effort from their fledgling challengers.

Brand new Loudoun United boss Ryan Martin started a 5 man(?) midfield amazingly consisting of three 16-year-olds (Moses Nyeman, Bryang Kayo, Griffin Yow), a 20-year old (Connor Presley), and senior citizen Antonio Bustamante at the grand old age of 21.

The match began in heavily overcast conditions and Los Morados apparently decided they did not want to let any equalizer such as an impending rainstorm play any part.

Indeed, right on 60 seconds in they were ahead after a sequence from kickoff to goal of 20 passes interrupted only by a couple of one-touch half clearances by Loudoun. Every Morados outfield player touched the ball at least once as eventually Niall McCabe sent full back Taylor Peay up right wing and he cut back his low cross directly into the wheelhouse of Magnus Rasmussen. The dashing Dane received deftly in stride and placed his 7 yard shot across local Leesburg goalkeeper Calle Brown and into the far side netting for his 6th tally of the season and the first from his customarily lesser utilized right boot.

The midfielder almost doubled his pleasure 5 minutes on when a triangle play on the left among Oscar Jimenez, Paolo DelPiccolo

and George Davis IV put the latter away up the line and his central delivery dropped perfectly to Magnus who, with Luke Spencer drawing most of the attention, had again arrived into the box unmarked but there was not enough angle or potency off his head to beat Brown for a second time.

City were piling on the pressure and immediately Paolo and Niall put Taylor up the right wing but this time his low center was grabbed by Brown just ahead of the fast incoming Luke.

Loudoun, on an expedition into enemy territory managed a corner through winger Presley off of Oscar but glimpses of Ben Lundt’s goal would be scarce over the course of the 1st half.

Nyeman, the Liberian born midfielder, just 16 years and 158 days old, was making his debut start and may have been showing understandable nerves as he was intercepted by Niall in midfield and the indubitable Dubliner’s first time ball to Luke saw No. 9 force his way forward into the penalty area, outpacing the central defense of Collin Verfurth and Harri Hawkins in the process, and, with a better than half-chance, fire a left footer which went directly into the clutches of a grateful Brown.

The game wasn’t yet 15 minutes old when Sean Totsch, in for suspended center D man Paco Craig, cannily switched stations with Oscar and, with the help of George IV and Magnus, made it up the left wing and all the way to the Loudoun byline. From here he cut a ball back for Niall at the top of the area but his one-time left foot effort was again driven directly at Calle Brown.

Replacing Richie Williams who jumped ship last month for the assistant’s job in New England, new head coach Martin has been in the job less than a fortnight and his experimental lineup was leaving Magnus enjoying acres of space into which Oscar now switched the play. No. 7 delayed long enough for Taylor to slide inside and take over possession and his far post chip dropped perfectly for Niall but the header was mistimed and drifted wide of the right-hand upright.

In the 18th, Sean received a ball played back by Magnus and sent it up to Oscar who found himself with room up over the halfway line. El Mago cut inside, drew defenders and slipped the ball on for Niall who settled it and appeared to have the time to find a way past Brown, but instead of placing the effort à la Magnus he cracked his 13 yarder cleanly over Brown’s crossbar.

3 minutes later, Ben collected a cross and immediately launched a counter, throwing out to Niall. He relayed on to Magnus who evaded Nyeman on halfway and played wide left for George Davis IV to run onto. No. 22 found Magnus inside the area with the return ball and he turned and fed back inside and to the edge of the area for the approaching Napo. Alas underfoot was the fearsome ‘Turf Monster’ and the carnivorous green carpet, appearing not partial to goals being scored on it, seemed to will the ball over the bar. We’ve seen this many times already this season.

Taylor won a foul in the 24th and Niall’s short free kick to Magnus was sliced well wide when one might have been expecting Brown to be severely tested.

A minute later a field-long move started by Ben and involving Oscar, Luke, Paolo and Napo ended in a nasty collision when George IV tried to leap Brown as the ‘keeper tried to regather a parried drive from Magnus. The veteran winger’s knee caught Brown on the way through and after a delay of 7 1/2 minutes the woozy Leesburg, VA native slowly left the field to be replaced as play resumed by debutant backup Colin Miller.

Chances had been few and very far between for the visitors but after the lengthy pause the Morados seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal and Kayo took upon it himself to embark on a great individual effort as he accelerated from the edge of his own 10 yard circle and powered his way through midfield all the way to the City penalty area, with Magnus in tow and the right of way given by Paolo who was slow to react to the danger. Minor contact by the Dane gifted Kayo a foul as his way became congested and he dropped to the floor and Bustamante’s free kick edged over the wall but was easily tracked and gathered by Big Ben Lundt.

As George crowded Verdurth into sending the ball over his own goal line, City won only their first corner of the match after 38 minutes but they made the most of it with a perfectly drawn up trick play. Oscar shaped to tap a short one for Niall and, realizing full well this repetitive tactic would have been well scouted by teams by now, with Presley drawing out to address the possibility, Oscar changed up and suddenly swung the ball in to the near post (where Presley was supposed to have been patrolling) and Sean Totsch, milling about around the center of the 6 yard line, darted across to turn it in past Miller for the 2-0 lead. In celebration the man who had notched a US Open Cup game winner just 10 days earlier proudly made as if to tuck in his jersey, his renowned fashion style of choice on the team.

At this point, it felt as though City would go on to win by a hatful, however in the 43rd Bustamante caused all sorts of havoc with a probing run across the City penalty area. Finding no way through the tight defensive cordon he knocked it out to Peabo Doue and the full back delivered back inside for captain and lone striker Kyle Murphy who, adhered to closely by Alexis, was unable to get any force on his header.

Taylor received a caution for a nasty challenge on left back Adam Lundegard and Niall simultaneously went into the book for dissent, both quite unnecessary actions.

Now in stoppage time George IV latched onto a loose ball in the Loudoun area and laid it back for Oscar whose drive from above the corner of the area rose a couple of yards above Miller’s crossbar.

A minute later and Loudoun almost pulled a goal back as Niall, with Taylor edging forward, misplayed a casual pass for Magnus leaving the back right quadrant exposed as Yow pounced and pierced his way into the zone. Again, egregiously, offensive midfielder Magnus was called upon for double duty but he was no match for Yow as the youngster had the head start and from the angle he turned his hips and drove for the near stick with his sturdier right foot but Ben was down to comfortably reject the effort.

Napo won a corner after fine work involving George and Niall and the ball was only partially cleared as Napo returned it wide left to Paolo. The Captain’s path to Magnus was obstructed for a split second and he was forced to choose Alexis whose deflection from 12 yards Miller was able to save low to his right.

Halftime arrived with The Boys In Purple well on top, having enjoyed a large chunk of the possession and a massive shot advantage, and so Lundegard made way for offensive midfielder/striker Andrew Lubahn, Martin realizing more muscle needed to be supplied to aid Murphy up front.

As the precipitation set in the home side began the 2nd stanza looking to build carefully in order to add to their lead but Martin’s men had clearly received a tongue-lashing at the break and were now playing with a renewed sense of purpose.

Barely 3 1/2 minutes in, Alexis had time to make a play at halfway but his hesitation and all-too-cute improvisation allowed the fleet-footed Yow in to summarily strip him of the ball. The Frenchman stayed the course as young Yow – who had been in the USYNT youth pool when Hack was in charge of the U/18’s – toyed with him and then unleashed an absolute howitzer of a right-foot strike up and into Ben’s left upper V. The outstretched keeper never got near it and just like that the visitors were right back in the contest, 2-1.

Nyeman picked up a caution for a foul on his doppelgänger Napo, Niall won a corner, then Lubahn crossed low for Murphy who could not set himself and the game appeared to have opened up, as had the heavens above Slugger Field.

Taylor Peay was risking a 2nd caution as he took out Kayo who was looking better and better and City were now less commanding in the midfield and consequently getting stretched at the back.

However, over the next 10 minutes Los Morados bravos would battle their way back into ascendency and in the 54th, with Yow and Doue each having been temporarily debilitated by knocks, Oscar picked up a loose ball and laid back for Sean who turned it back upfield for Magnus checking toward him. The nifty No. 7 180’ed, lined it up and sent a rising 30 yarder not far over the frame of Miller’s.

In the 57th, Niall picked up the pieces of a blocked attempted shot of George IV’s and slid a narrow ball through for Taylor, overlapping and approaching the Loudoun area. Doue got a foot in on the attempted cross and the ball spun free for Luke who turned and got the better of Hawkins and laid it off to Magnus who once again had ghosted in to a pocket at the top of the area. And once again he was close, fizzing an effort past Miller, only also a hair wide of his right upright.

City had been possessing and knocking at the door but now they began vacating the midfield and on a counter Bustamante swung the ball wide for Presley who bent it in toward Lubahn attacking the near post, but Ben got down ahead of him to cancel out the chance.

Instantly, City returned fire as Magnus played a slick give-and-go with George, reached the end line and picked out Niall whose first time strike from 9 yards was urgently blocked point blank by Verfurth.

Costa Rican Orlando Sinclair subbed on for Nyeman and Martin had made his 3 changes before John Hackworth had even indulged, so now Luke was spelled and Lucky Mkosana entered the event.

A long clearance landed with Kyle Murphy who outstripped Alexis up the left and sent inside toward fresh strike partner Lubahn but Ben was out in a flash to make a vital play and cut off the supply line.

Yow had come into his own in the 2nd half and had become a constant fear for the City defense which was just about managing to hold him at bay, and now Paolo went down with cramp and was replaced by hard-nosed holding deputy Geoffrey Dee, Il Capitano’s preservation for Wednesday’s USOC clash with FC Cincinnati obviously of prime importance.

Niall had been involved positively all night and was so once again in the 70th as Ben threw short to George and he fed on to Magnus who had rounded him on the outside. Magnus is good for a gem of individual brilliance per night, and now he nutmegged Kayo, dragged him to the goal line and whisked away the cape (well, ball) as the young Marylander charged right by again. Lucky was bearing in on near post but the pass deflected off the inside leg of the crouching Verfurth and on through to Niall. The Irishman drilled the ball past Miller to his left but was mortified to see it crash off the post and back out. Geoffrey Dee following up hit the rebound off of the sliding Lubahn winning a corner.

This time, Oscar reverted to the short version, playing diagonally to Magnus to run onto the ball at the corner of the area, his strike taking a hop off Verfurth for a redo from the other side.

This time Miller collected and launched a counter via Hawkins and Bustamante to Yow who made ground up left wing, then turned at the line to change the angle and also to get it back onto his fabulous right foot. His delivery into Lubahn in front of goal was precise and with the defense out of shape Oscar had tracked all the way back after his corner and here made an underrated, yet a huge play in bodying Lubahn from aft. The adjunct striker lost his footing and along with it the chance of a strike on goal, the shrewdly measured contact not being sufficient to warrant a call.

In the 74th, George stepped up to intercept a Hawkins outlet ball, but despite Niall being all on his own on the right Magnus opted to take the ball off of George’s foot and feed Lucky out to his left. The cross inside for George again was picked off by Miller, however.

The Louisville boys were not letting go though, and Napo collected from Oscar and played a give-and-go with Magnus that put him in the clear on the left at the perpendicular. To freeze the defense, No. 27 stopped, turned and cut back for George IV whose was unmarked 16 yards out. But he could only skid his one-timer wide of the right upright when a conversion could so easily have iced the result.

Magnus then switched from the right to Oscar who checked inside but sliced high and wide from 30 yards.

Play swung the other way again as the goal kick was not dealt with by either Oscar or Geoffrey and Murphy seized on the opportunity, carried forward and fired a scorcher from the arc which Ben was ready for again, getting quickly down to his right to parry. Yow followed up to prevent Taylor’s clearance, carried the ball across the area and reversed it back across Ben, and although the effort was tamely wide in the end the emerging starlet had done plenty to impress all observers, including Coach Hackworth who after the match would sing his praises and guarantee his future success in pro football ranks.

The play came right back at Los Morados as Hawkins headed clearance was flicked on by Sinclair over Geoffrey to Murphy who stoutly shrugged off Sean’s challenge, then cut inside Alexis and for a moment he appeared to have Ben and the Louisville goal at his mercy, 13 yards out and tight in front. However, instead of shooting Murphy tried to slip it to Yow only for the ball to go to Taylor and be able to be cleared.

Seconds later a short clearance by Sean fell to Napo who shifted ahead for Lucky and the foot he got to the ball was enough for Magnus to nod on and set off on a 50 yard forward raid. 30 yards out from goal he sent across a low diagonal ball for Niall but Miller dived bravely to fingertip away and over the far touchline.

Due to the distinct lack of experience through the two midfields, as well as both coaches’ desire to find the next goal, the 2nd half had turned into somewhat of a wild affair, and in transition play in the 80th minute Lucky under pressure was unable to hold onto George’s outlet ball, but Sinclair coughed it up right back to him, and suddenly the zippy Zimbabwe international was away with only Hawkins left at the back. A left-foot lead pass was what was required, however Lucky went with his right which set up a collision between Miller and a plainly disgruntled Niall who came off second best after being winded and needed to be withdrawn shortly after (for Sunny Jane) with what appeared to be mild abdominal discomfort

Right away City were back on a quick counter as Lucky received from Oscar and dashed up the left before checking in front of Verfurth and delivering a lateral ball to Sunny. Unfortunately, the man who last scored in the USL when he bagged City’s season opener had overrun and had to step back for the ball and now had lost momentum as he wheeled and pulled his left/footer yards wide.

Defensive midfield play by either side now appeared nigh nonexistent as in the 84th Bustamante in transition delivered to Presley wide right and his arcing cross cleared Taylor but was not met cleanly by Lubahn in behind and a major opportunity had gone begging for the desperate side in fire truck red.

The electric pace of the game was unrelenting and the entertainment value had been outstanding, if not always the sophistication of the football, as George IV collected a loose ball, played a nifty one-two with Taylor and was now away up the right wing. The ball was fed inside to Sunny in more or less the same spot as before, but this time No. 12 had enough room to settle it and take a couple of steps into his strike which he drove wide to the right of Miller, but, just as for Niall some minutes beforehand, the ball rebounded flush off the post.

Immediately, Hawkins lobbed a fine long ball up the left wing for Yow, and now Alexis was isolated again as the much more pacy Loudoun No. 15 rounded him and nudged the ball into the area. This could so easily have been a turning point in the game as No. 3 committed to contact as he clutched and padded at Yow who saw his opportunity and plummeted like the proverbial potatoes, but the referee did not bite and it might be considered this was a lucky let off for the Louisville denizens. Credit to Yow for not remonstrating – though he did so in retrospect upon being whistled barely 30 seconds later for probably equal or less contact, ironically on the very same opponent. The youngster’s plaintive claim was understandable.

The 90 minutes ticked over as George IV took down Kayo and Napo committed the cardinal (perhaps wildcat?) sin of generously returning the ball to Kayo who didn’t need a second invitation as he quickly set it down and played it out to Presley who sent in a wicked OJ style bender to Murphy out in front. With Sean in close attendance the striker only got a tickle on his volley attempt as the ball skipped through and out for the goal kick.

In an affair slightly reminiscent of the Hartford Athletic game at Slugger earlier in the season, Loudoun now engaged in a final furious flurry and, after Geoffrey’s takedown of Kayo, Yow cannoned his free kick off the wall for a last-ditch corner kick.

Bustamante’s service into the mixer was shouldered down by Taylor only as far as Lubahn and from just inside the area the halftime sub tried to slam a shot through the still assembled jam of traffic. The ball ricochetted back out to captain Kyle Murphy next door to him, but he could only lift it over Ben and above his bar and onto the roof of the net.

The final event of the night was Hawkins taking a caution for wrestling Lucky down on the attempted breakout, but stoppage time ran out and City had escaped with their pride, and more critically the haul of all three points.

Few, perhaps none, will be looking ahead to next Sunday’s gargantuan league showdown at the ‘NY Baby Bulls’ since there is an even larger monster looming on Wednesday as the roadshow makes a stop at Nippert Stadium for a US Open Cup 4th round tie versus FC Cincinnati which has the potential to turn into Dirty River Derby folklore.

Los Morados are touted to be wearing their alternative silver kit as they take on the great Leviathan of the north under month-old interim head coach, the profane sounding “Yoann Damet”.

Fun fact: Monsieur Damet is 75 days the junior of our very own 29 year old assistant coach, Señor Daniel Arthur Quimby Cruz. It is true, I tell you.

Sacré Bleu!

(Let’s see if this one can skirt around the censor’s slightly bristly wire brush?!)

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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:

Ben Lundt:_7 1/2

Another evening requiring minimal actual shot stopping (credit to his defense in front) but reliable in all facets, and as usual no chance on the goal against. Distribution as excellent as ever.

Oscar Jimenez: 8

With Shaun Francis away on Gold Cup duty, back in his traditional left back slot and uncoincidentally perhaps his best defensive display of the season, generally keeping a cap on tricky wing man Presley. Nice combination work when going forward, but the highlight was his wicked, inch-perfect corner on the Totsch goal.

Sean Totsch:_8 1/2

Highly disciplined, steady performance coming in for suspended Paco Craig and doing nothing to make fans rue the enforced switch. Indeed scored the winning goal on a clinically executed training ground move.

Alexis Souahy:_7 1/2

Had his moments both successful and and not so, notably when one-on-one against the talented Yow, and particularly having to own the breakdown contributing to the Loudoun goal. Otherwise a component in a defensive line responsible for protecting Ben Lundt effectively for most of the night.

Taylor Peay:_8 1/2

Generally fine display in the less familiar wing back role. Overlapped frequently, earning an assist on Magnus’ goal, and fulfilled defensive duties most proficiently, including aerial duels. Noticed by few his fortune avoiding a second yellow and a red for a dodgy consequent foul.

Paolo Delpiccolo:_8

Still regaining full match fitness after his long injury layoff and then left the field late on after cramping. Before that played a key role in maintaining the rhythm in midfield and quarterbacking offensive plays, though defensively left wanting at times.

George Davis IV : 7 1/2

Useful body of work on both wings in complement to Niall, and also when checking into center of midfield.

Napo Matsoso:_7

Faded in and out of the game a little though unlucky with a pair of chances that could have led to a goal and an assist.

Niall McCabe: 8 1/2

Sparkling at times with his creativity, slightly less so in front of goal. Nevertheless, got himself into scoring positions often, on one occasion hitting an upright, and got through a ton of work in his 82 minutes on the pitch. Certainly one of the chief catalysts toward his side’s victory.

Luke Spencer:_7 1/2

Played well on the periphery without fully stamping his authority in the area that counts the most, in front of the opponent’s goal.

Lucky Mkosana:_7 1/2

Ball handling up and down a little per usual, however overall made a positive contribution coming on for Luke with 30 minutes remaining. Alternated usefully between left wing and a poaching center forward spot

Geoffrey Dee:_7

Thrust into the fray as a replacement for The Captain as play was beginning to come through his zone. Looked terrific out of the gate though up against it later whilst covering a difficult workload.

Sunny Jane:_7

Got in a decent 20 minutes in relief of Niall, taking up a more central position. Struggled to knit together a revamped midfield though registered 2 shots, one of which was most unlucky to encounter the woodwork.

“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”

⭐️⭐️⭐️MAGNUS RASMUSSEN⭐️⭐️⭐️: 9

Fan voting got it right.

Without doubt the classiest player on the entire pitch. A nightmare for Loudoun all game, enjoying yet another evening from which you could hardly ask for more from the lad. Comfortable in possession and always making himself available in the right places. Goals from midfield this season have been crucial with no emerging striking replacement for Cam Lancaster, his important opener in this one sublimely taken. Amazing to imagine that ‘Maggie’s’ ceiling is even higher should he turn in even more of the fine chances he conjures for himself.

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