LOUISVILLE CITY FC 3

READING UNITED AC_ 0

5-15-19

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THIAM

DAVIS MATSOSO JANE MCCABE

DEE

FRANCIS TOTSCH PEAY PAT MC.

HUBBARD

SUBS: BALLARD JIMENEZ WYNDER

UNUSED: HOLT MKOSANA SOAHY

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Goals from Abdou Thiam, George Davis IV and Sunny Jane took care of challengers Reading United AC of USL League 2 as Louisville City moved with little trouble to the 3rd round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday evening.

Dr Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium with its Cup-friendly/legal dimensions was the venue, as it will be for all remaining home fixtures in the competition.

Predictably, John Hackworth fielded a squad that rested overseas members due to the 5 foreign player max rule for Lamar Hunt Cup rosters and included several who had managed only limited playing time so far in the season.

Chris Hubbard, Geoffrey Dee and 16 years and 66 days old Elijah Wynder – surely the youngest ever to pull on a City uniform – all got to celebrate their first team debuts, and Richie Ballard appeared for the first time in 2019.

Reading very nearly drew first blood when Jeremy Rafanello, the two goal hero in round one versus Philadelphia Lone Star, found a seam and by rights should have taken the shot but was perhaps too unselfish in appearing to check for a supporting teammate. By the time he calculated his best option Taylor Peay had closed and broken up the chance.

But City were on the ball quickly and won a 3rd minute corner that saw Shaun Francis play low and diagonal for Niall McCabe to fire toward the top of the net. But it was easily kept out by goalkeeper Tor Erik Larsen, the play a channeling of corner taking god Oscar Jimenez who had been named on the bench for this game.

After the match Niall’s marker, Reading left back Richie Schlentz, would say that in their preparation they had been made fully aware of the Irishman’s prowess. But Niall is a tricky customer at the best of times.

The home club continued calling the shots and inside 12 minutes they had the ball in the visitors’ net.

A left to right movement across the top of the Reading area from Geoffrey Dee through Napo Matsoso and Sunny arrived to Niall just outside the corner. With the defense overloaded he had time to measure a low drive to Napo, racing through to the six. The Mosotho from Lesotho got a toe on it, but it was Abdou backing up who sharply turned the ball in at the far post for a rousing 1-0 lead for Louisville.

Abdou might have doubled his pleasure in the 16th when Napo sliced into the Reading area and dropped to Sunny who did some beguiling jinking before laying it back for Taylor. His ball back into the area to George was instantly redirected to Abdou who twirled and wriggled between defenders and found himself 8 yards from goal with only Larsen to beat. But his drive was too straight and the Norwegian parried away at point blank range.

Sean Totsch had been guilty of a momentary lapse, picking up a yellow card as he allowed Rafanello in behind him as he hesitated on the tackle. When it finally did come the center back, known to some as ‘Hulk’, could only bring the striker down, and he was fortunate since if the scene had a been a little clearer ahead of Rafanello it would have meant a mandatory red.

But Morados were not hanging about and once more flooded forward, and in the 19th they added to their opener.

Abdou played a neat give-and-go with Sunny at the top of the area and then knifed it to George who appeared to have few avenues with right back Oakley Hanger closing down options to cross. However, with masterful sleight of foot the wing mid rounded Hanger and held his composure. As Larsen advanced off his post to meet him George bounced a shot off his legs, then squeezed the rebound in-between and the ball dribbled behind and across the line.

The finish for 2-0 was not pretty, yet it was an enterprising play from the canny veteran and well set up for him by two of the ambitious African contingent.

Niall received an Abdou pass in the 33rd minute and from the right crossed first time for George. No. 22 rose above Hanger to send his 15 yard header in on goal but Larsen was there to clean things up.

Credit to the young Reading United side in that they had kept their heads after their early setbacks and had stuck with their intention to play positive football. Leading up to the encounter, Coach Alan McCann had announced that there would be no long ball and clearing plays to nowhere from his team and they would honor their skill set and endeavor to play a good ground game, although knowing they were up against a strong possession side.

And indeed Sunny was drawn into preventing a breakout as he flew in with a tackle to cleanly dispossess an opponent but the boot was elevated and the Reading player sold contact, and the risky challenge was unfortunate to elicit a yellow card.

In minute 42, Napo drove forward again, broke a tackle and for an instant was clear through on Larsen, but current Louisville Cards senior defender Lamine Conte produced a terrific effort to succeed with a last ditch recovery tackle.

As halftime drew near Gonçalo Garcia got the best of right back Pat McMahon and slipped past him on the byline but wasted his chance to pull it back into traffic and the chance to go in only 2-1 down was spurned.

Reading had one more look as Gabriel Machado drove safely over from outside and City were in the driver’s seat going into the second stanza.

For a squad that had been together less than two weeks and were playing just their third competitive match of the season Reading had done themselves no shame. Richie Schlentz confesses they were nervous early in the game, but as they realized they could play on somewhat of a level with their opponents the anxiety dissipated and their confidence grew.

And in fact barely 1 minute after the resumption Garcia was wired a pass by Aaron Molloy – nicknamed apparently ‘the Irish Messi’ at Penn State – and Garcia backed Pat off, broached the penalty area and curled in a shot that just climbed over Chris Hubbard’s bar.

8 minutes into the half Machado got himself into the clear and with just Chris in front of him managed to side-foot the ball wide of the far upright when all that was needed was a little curl on the ball.

In the 62nd, Garcia chipped into the area to the head of Rafanello who nodded back in and Sean Totsch was in just in time to block an incoming header.

Soon after City were back on the move and the dual talents and chemistry of Napo and Sunny worked the ball along to Geoffrey Dee. The Cards alum pushed it wide to Niall who played back inside for Sunny and his expertly executed give-and-go reception back from Napo had him inside the area and facing down Conte. A sharp deke to the left froze the center back and Sunny bombed in an effort that Larsen got behind again and the difference between the teams remained at two.

The Pennsylvanians had given a good account of themselves in the 2nd half but the later chances fell to Morados. They were almost in when Molloy took a risky outlet ball from Brandon Hackenberg and, under pressure from Abdou, tried to play it back whence it came. Niall was prowling and he intercepted, and delayed long enough for Abdou to enter the area and take a neat through ball. However, Larsen was off his line smartly to save with his feet. The ball looped to the top of the arc and with Niall underneath it the hardworking but tiring Molloy bundled in and knocked him to the floor.

Sunny Jane stepped up and in fine style swept the ball inches over the wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was a majestic that brought back the glory days of the dearly departed king of the free kick Cameron Lancaster and was the perfect cherry on top of a second straight 3-0 victory for The Boys In Purple.

An intriguing 3rd round draw brings Birmingham Legion, winners over West Chester United, back to the Derby City for a rematch on May 29th … which presumably will not end up with a weather reschedule to a frigid Sunday morning.

Vamos Morados!

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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:

Chris Hubbard: 7

Well looked after, facing a single shot on goal in official City debut for the 24-year-old former Notre Dame ‘keeper. Like Jagger, might be hoping for a little more action on his next time rolling out.

Sean Francis: 8

Not overly tested but could hardly be faulted as everything around him panned out nicely on the night.

Sean Totsch: 7 1/2

Tidy return to his favored central defensive role, aside from a sluggish mistimed tackle which earned him a caution early on.

Taylor Peay: 8

Supplied sound and efficient defense in a center unit that gave little away and kept their goalkeeper more than comfortable all evening.

Pat McMahon: 7 1/2

Solid stay-at-home display at right back, making the most of his first full 90 minutes in nearly 8 months.

Geoffrey Dee: 8

Totally satisfying City debut in a return to his old stomping ground at Lynn. Fitted in nicely as nominal holding mid, though often stepping up to join the four man line.

George Davis IV: 8

Fans choice Player of the Game. Captained by example and employed patience and persistence to will in the 2nd goal. First sub out, likely being rested for the weekend.

Napo Matsoso: 8

That’s 2 mighty displays in 2 games for the nevertheless diminutive Wildcat grad. Earned another start after impressing in Birmingham and didn’t miss a beat, showing more of his fine work rate and skilled touches.

Niall McCabe: 8

Went the full 90 after missing the Birmingham match through suspension. Assisted Abdou on the first goal and won the free kick converted by Sunny (as he did for Magnus Rasmussen’s @ SPR). Not always consistent service wise though nothing too much to worry about either.

Abdou Mbacke Thiam: 8

After two lean outings back to getting himself into prime scoring areas and right on the spot for his well taken goal, though with sharper finishing and a little luck might have even had a hatrick. Settled for adding a smart assist on the 2nd goal.

Richie Ballard: 7

After only 4 appearances in 2018 looked fresh and ready in his 30 odd minutes on a welcome return to the fold.

Oscar Jimenez: 7

Wisely quiet, conservative showing as a sub midway through the 2nd as he continues a stretch, along with Sean Totsch, of having appeared in every single game this season.

Elijah Wynder: N/A

Few touches in a cup of coffee debut for the inaugural academy signing though already looks to have plenty of height and pace on him. Likely will feature again as the Cup campaign progresses.

“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ SUNNY JANE ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8 1/2

Eager to impress in only his 3rd start for The Purples and indeed reveled as the leader and outstanding member of a high functioning Louisville City midfield. Showed mobility and poise as well as class on the ball throughout. In general a strong presence, marred only by a debatable yellow card for a shuddering tackle in the 1st half. Sunny adds yet a further dimension to an already brimming central corps for John Hackworth.