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Enlivened Louisville Downs Rowdies

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/15/17, 10:46PM EDT

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Crowd of 9,074 sees City hand Tampa Bay first loss of the season


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC handed the Tampa Bay Rowdies their first defeat of the season in front of a crowd of 9,074 fans at Slugger Field as goals by George Davis IV and Cameron Lancaster earned the side its third consecutive win on Saturday night. Tampa Bay had the first big chance of the game, only for Georgi Hristov to curl a finish over the crossbar from the left side of the penalty area in the 19th minute. Two minutes later Louisville took the lead as Brian Ownby found Luke Spencer on the left, and his pass found George Davis IV in the center of the penalty area, and allowed Davis to take a touch and finish low to the left corner. The Rowdies tried to bounce back in the second half, and both Neill Collins and Deshorn Brown had chances in the second half. Louisville also continued to threaten, but Tampa Bay’s Darwin Jones went close with eight minutes to go as his shot was deflected agonizingly wide, and off the ensuing corner Brown hit the right post. Louisville doubled its lead with three minutes to go as Cameron Lancaster’s finished with a fine chipped finish on a breakaway, and set up a big finish that saw Martin Paterson pull back a goal two minutes later for Tampa Bay, but the hosts held on in stoppage time to take a big victory.

Scoring: 
21’ – LOU – George Davis IV (Luke Spencer)
87’ – LOU – Cameron Lancaster (Paolo DelPiccolo)
89’ – TBR – Martin Paterson (Deshorn Brown)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. George Davis IV’s third goal in as many game – the first Tampa Bay had conceded this season – highlighted another game where his play as the central piece of Louisville’s attacking quartet allowed the USL veteran to shine. Forward Luke Spencer, who was tight with his passing in the attacking third throughout the night in addition to setting up Davis’ goal and the wing play from Brian Ownby and Niall McCabe was also a major positive, but Davis linked it all together to earn Louisville its third consecutive win.

  • 2. The Rowdies fell for the first time in the season, and will be wondering what might have been if one of their late chances before Cameron Lancaster doubled Louisville’s lead had found the net. Darwin Jones had some excellent moments after coming on as a substitute and was denied by a slight deflection by City’s Oscar Jimenez, while Deshorn Brown almost notched his second goal of the season as he hit the post. Martin Paterson’s 89th-minute goal renewed some home, but now the Rowdies will head to Cincinnati for Wednesday’s game looking for a response.

  • 3. Louisville’s victory in front of a crowd of 9,074 at Slugger Field capped an outstanding week for the club which included the announcement of plans for a soccer-specific season, another move that has made the club now in its third season one of the leaders in the USL both on the field and in the stands. The fans led by the Louisville Coopers brought a vibrant atmosphere that provided an outstanding backdrop to a riveting contest between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and ended with another home victory.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

George Davis IV, Louisville City FC – Davis’ third goal in as many games paved the way for Louisville’s third consecutive victory in front of a standout crowd at Slugger Field. 

Upcoming Games:
Louisville City FC
at FC Cincinnati – April 22, 7 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium
Tampa Bay Rowdies at FC Cincinnati – April 19, 7 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium (ESPN3)

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