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Louisville Garners Needed Win, Blanks Bethlehem

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 08/27/16, 9:30PM EDT

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Abend tally holds as City FC triumphs in front of 6,788 at Slugger


Photo courtesy of Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE – Louisville City FC’s Guy Abend headed home a first-half goal to lead the host side to a 1-0 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Saturday in front of a crowd of 6,788 at Slugger Field. Abend’s 15th-minute header off of an Aodhan Quinn free kick was a big boost for Louisville, which had posted only one win in its previous six matches. Louisville is now 14-4-8 (50 points) overall and 5-2-6 at home. Bethlehem lost its fifth consecutive road match, moving to 6-11-8 (26 points) overall and 2-7-4 on the road. Louisville and Bethlehem played to a scoreless draw on May 1 in their first meeting this season.

Scoring:
15’ – LOU – Guy Abend (Aodhan Quinn)

Three Things That Mattered:

  • 1. Guy Abend sacrificed his body with his score, so much so that it was his final effort of a shortened evening. With Ben Newnam serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, Louisville’s set piece options primarily went to Aodhan Quinn, who drove in a precision left-footed kick from the left side. Abend rose for the header and drove it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. However, in doing so, Abend collided with Bethlehem’s Derrick Jones. Both players were slow to get up. When they did, Abend had a massive welt over his right eye, and ultimately in the 19th minute was officially subbed out as Paolo DelPiccolo was called upon to replace him.

  • 2. With the win, Louisville moves to within three points of the New York Red Bulls II, who face third-place FC Cincinnati on Sunday. It was an important three points for Louisville to try and also create separate from Cincinnati. City FC also earned its first shutout since a 2-0 victory on July 4 against FC Montreal.

  • 3. Bethlehem, even with its struggles, had not been shut out in quite some time. This was the first time the Steel were held scoreless since a 1-0 loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders on July 21. Already sitting on the outside of the postseason picture, expansion Bethlehem is certainly going to need an impressive five-game stretch to try and stay in the picture.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Guy Abend, Louisville City FC –
Though his night was limited to only 15 minutes, he did the damage necessary to help Louisville earn a much-needed victory.

Upcoming Games:
Louisville City FC
at FC Montreal – Sept. 3, 3 p.m. ET, Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard
Bethlehem Steel FC at Harrisburg City Islanders – Aug. 30, 7 p.m. ET, FNB Field