USL Game Report

Saturday, July 11, 2015

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville City FC flipped the script on the Charlotte Independence as a first-half goal by Magnus Rasmussen earned a 1-0 victory for the hosts at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday night. A crowd of 7,649 fans saw Louisville (8-3-5, 29 pts) reverse its defeat to the Independence (4-6-6, 18pts) earlier this season in their only previous meeting.

The first half saw chances from both sides early on, but neither team could find the breakthrough until a handball in the box by Charlotte’s Patrick Slogic resulted in a penalty kick for Louisville. Magnus Rasmussen got the better of Matt Lampson with a stinging shot from the penalty spot that went into the lower corner of the net, and City led 1-0 in the 33rd minute.

In the second half, both teams had good chances, but excellent defending and goalkeeping kept the score in Louisville’s favor. Scott Goodwin, in a second straight Man of the Match performance, made a few spectacular saves as Charlotte upped the attack in search of an equalizer in the closing minutes.

In the 81st minute, Enrique Montano risked bodily harm and got in the way of a Ryan Finley shot that would have been a goal had the 22-year-old rookie not intervened. The visiting Independence pleaded with referee Aaron Hernandez for a handball and a penalty, but to no avail.

After four minutes of stoppage time and a couple of key clearances by Conor Shanosky on Charlotte chances, City saw the 1-0 game out for the victory.