Playing another one of the top clubs in the Eastern Conference, Bethlehem Steel FC couldn’t overcome a pair of first half goals, falling to Louisville City FC, 3-1.

In a match that featured three goals off of set pieces, current USL Player of the Week Luke Spencer helped push Louisville to the victory, netting a first-half brace. Steel FC fought back with a set piece goal from Philadelphia Union defender Richie Marquez late in the opening frame, scoring on a free kick started by Aaron Jones. With Steel FC knocking on the door of an equalizer, Louisville found an insurance goal off the head of substitute Cameron Lancaster.

Today’s match featured the return of Philadelphia Union midfielder Maurice Edu to Steel FC, as the 31-year-old played his first minutes of 2017. Edu played 32 minutes, completing all 17 of his passes as he continues to work back from a left tibia stress fracture that has kept him off the field during the 2016 and 2017 MLS seasons.

Playing in their third match in a week, Steel FC showed no fatigue in the opening minutes of the match, nearly scoring in the eighth minute. Sparked by the play of rookies Santi Moar and Chris Nanco, Moar dribbled from the flank into the box and fired a centering pass to Nanco. The Canadian with a goal on his mind, saw the shot saved by Louisville keeper Greg Ranjitsingh. Off the rebound, forward Cory Burke rushed in but was denied on a headed chance.

Louisville made the most of its limited chances, turning a free kick into a goal in the 17th minute. Defender Oscar Jimenez provided the service, sending a soaring cross into the box that Spencer timed with his leap to beat Steel FC’s Tomas Romero. Nine minutes later, they doubled their lead, as Spencer collected a saved ball and tapped it into the net.

Trailing by a pair of goals, Steel FC turned to their own free kick magic and scored in the waning moments of the first half. After team captain James Chambers was fouled outside the box, Aaron Jones produced another free kick to put Steel FC on the scoreboard. With two goals in his pocket this season, Jones earned his first professional assist, whipping in a cross that Marquez headed home in the 41st minute of play.

The two sides continued to clash in the second half, with Steel FC nearly knotting it up in the 47th minute. Off yet another set piece, Chambers quickly found Moar unmarked outside the box. The Spaniard drove to the end line and fired toward the near post only to be denied by the keeper.

In search of an equalizer, Louisville ensured the three points with a goal in the 84th minute. Much like their opening strike, Jimenez connected with a Cameron Lancaster header off a set piece for the insurance goal. 

After a busy stretch of matches, Steel FC will have time to recover before returning to USL regular season action with a two-game road trip. The squad will head west to face off against rivals Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, August 26. Kickoff from Highmark Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

MATCH RECAP
Bethlehem Steel FC 1, Louisville City FC 3
Goodman Stadium
Bethlehem, PA.

MATCH STATS 
Shots: 12-11 (Louisville)
Shots On Goal: 7-6 (Louisville)
Corners: 6-3 (Louisville)
Saves: 6-3 (Louisville)

SCORING SUMMARY
LOU – 17’ Luke Spencer (Oscar Jimenez)
LOU – 26’ Luke Spencer
BST – 41’ Richie Marquez (Aaron Jones)
LOU – 84’ Cameron Lancaster (Oscar Jimenez)

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
BST – 60’ Anthony Fontana(Yellow Card)
LOU – 64’ Guy Abend (Yellow Card)
BST – 90’+4 Yosef Samuel (Yellow Card)
LOU – 90’+4  Kyle Smith (Red Card)

BETHLEHEM STEEL FC STARTING XITomas Romero; Matt Real, Auston Trusty, Richie Marquez, Aaron Jones; Maurice Edu (Anthony Fontana 32’), Derrick Jones, James Chambers; Santi Moar (
Seku Conneh 70’), Chris Nanco, Cory Burke (Yosef Samuel 88’).
Substitutes not used: Kristopher Shakes, Matthew Mahoney, Hugh Roberts, Josh Heard.

LOUISVILLE CITY FC STARTING XI
Greg Ranjitsingh; Kyle Smith, Paco Craig, Sean Reynolds, Sean Totsch, Oscar Jimenez; Guy Abend, Devon Williams, Niall McCabe (Richard Ballard 54’), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Paolo DelPiccolo 84’); Luke Spencer (Cameron Lancaster 61’).
Substitutes not used: Tim Dobrowolski, Ilija Ilic, George Davis IV.

MATCH OFFICIALS 
Luis Arroyo, Ryan Dos Reis (Assistant), Michael Grello (Assistant), Melvin Holmes II (Fourth Official)

LVHN TEAM NOTES

• Philadelphia Union midfielder Maurice Edu made his 2017 debut with Bethlehem Steel FC, playing 32 minutes and completing all 17 of his passes. It was Edu’s his first competitive action since September 18, 2016, when he played 59 minutes with Steel FC against Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
• Richie Marquez scored his first goal as a member of the Bethlehem Steel FC.
• On the Marquez goal, Aaron Jones tallied his first assist in professional soccer. All five points (two goals and an assist) have all come from free kicks.
• Bethlehem Steel FC remains in sixth place in the USL Eastern Conference, two points clear and a game in hand on Orlando City B, FC Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls II.