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Louisville Left Frustrated as Attack Draws Blank

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/20/16, 10:09AM EDT

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City suffers third defeat in past six games as decision-making in final third comes up short


Photo courtesy New York Red Bulls II

HARRISON, N.J. – After its 1-0 defeat on Friday night to the New York Red Bulls II, which saw the side slip three points behind the Eastern Conference leader in the process, Louisville City FC was left to rue its missed opportunities as the side’s recent struggles in the attacking third continued to manifest themselves.

“I thought we tried really hard, I think our decision-making in the final third needed to be a lot better,” said Louisville Coach James O’Connor following the game. “I think we got into some really good areas, Kyle’s first half chance he got into a really good area, but his decision-making when he got in there at the end, Kadeem’s decision-making, but our guys didn’t deserve that.”

Louisville certainly appeared to have the better of the first half. A close-range finish by Chandler Hoffman was ruled out for offside in the 15th minute, and the visitors finished the half with three shots on goal to New York’s one, but the team’s best opportunities – such as the one that sprang Kyle Smith down the right side, only for the final pass cross to be picked off, were indicative of the way things have gone of late for the side.

City has gone 1-3-2 in its last six games, with the one victory the lone game in which it took victory, a 2-1 win against Pittsburgh on August 5 that saw the side need to rally back from a halftime deficit. While the side opened the game more strongly than in its last three outings, the final product didn’t materialize against a Red Bulls II team that remains tied for the fewest goals conceded in the USL’s Eastern Conference.

“All teams go through little ruts, and we’re going through that right now. We’ve just got to produce on our chances,” said Louisville captain Aodhan Quinn. “It comes down to decision making because we’re getting into the right spots, and sometimes it comes down to picking out the right pass or right shot and where to place it.”

New York improved in the second half, and took its fourth win in four meetings between the two sides thanks to Brandon Allen’s penalty kick with 16 minutes to go after the Video Assistant Referee was called into play to help decide whether a foul on Junior Flemmings had occurred inside or outside the penalty area. Quinn gave credit to the Red Bulls II for their performance, as the hosts became the first side to clinch a place in the 2016 USL Playoffs with the win.

“They’re a talented group, they have very talented players, going forward especially,” Quinn said. “I think it’s always a good game when we play them, I think they get up for it, we get up for it, so it’s always a good tight game, and I think if we get them again in the playoffs it’ll be a little different, I think.”

That rematch is certainly a possibility, and Louisville could have its place in the postseason prior to its outing next Saturday when it hosts Bethlehem Steel FC at Slugger Field should both the Steel and Wilmington Hammerheads FC fail to take victory in their games this weekend. With five games to go in the regular season, Quinn was adamant the side would keep working to find a solution to its recent downturn in form.

“We’re working so hard every day, every week in training and on the games, and sometimes it’s not down to us, so we feel like that’s where the frustration comes, but we’re going to keep fighting,” Quinn said. “We’re not going to give up, we’re going to keep fighting and try to get as many wins as possible and hopefully do well in the playoffs.”

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