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Louisville Rallies, Held by Steel FC

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/15/17, 9:34PM EDT

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Jimenez earns hosts point after Bethlehem twice led in front of 8,303


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bethlehem Steel FC twice took the lead, but Louisville City FC rallied on each occasion to earn a 2-2 draw in front of 8,303 fans at Slugger Field on Friday night. The draw moved Louisville one point from clinching a place in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs, while Steel FC remained in ninth place, one point out of the playoff positions. Louisville had the first big chance of the game when Mark-Anthony Kaye slid Kyle Smith into the right side of the penalty area, but the wing back’s shot flashed just wide of the far post. Bethlehem got the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 21st minute when Santi Moar was brought down in the area, and Cory Burke shot low into the left corner to convert. Louisville almost answered three minutes later only for Luke Spencer’s header to be denied by Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire, but Steel FC held the lead until the halftime break. Louisville was awarded a penalty kick of its own 10 minutes into the second half, however, as Spencer was brought down and Smith converted to level the score. Smith had a big chance to put the hosts ahead three minutes later, only to shoot wide from Brian Ownby’s cut-back from the left, and in the 61st minute Steel FC regained its advantage as Moar put home a big rebound off an initial shot by Burke. Louisville hit back again with 14 minutes to go as Oscar Jimenez curled a low free kick from 25 yards into the right corner of the net, but the hosts were unable to find a winner despite late pressure as Steel FC walked away with a valuable road point.

Scoring:
21’ – BST – Cory Burke (penalty)
55’ – LOU – Kyle Smith (penalty)
61’ – BST – Santi Moar
76’ – LOU – Oscar Jimenez

Three Things That Matter:

1. Steel FC effectively handed Louisville a taste of its own medicine regularly in the second half with a game plan that saw the visitors press effectively to win possession and take the hosts out of their rhythm through the midfield as the half went on. Bethlehem was selective in when it pushed players forward, but the likes of holding midfielders James Chambers and Derrick Jones first won possession and quickly got the ball forward into attack. Steel FC’s opening goal came from the penalty spot, but it was its sharp midfield play that allowed it to stand.

2. Louisville emerged from halftime with a much sharper intent, and it paid off as the side leveled after a strong spell of pressure that resulted in Kyle Smith’s equalizer from the penalty spot. As much as Steel FC made life difficult for City in the first half, the visitors were unable to connect many passes to clear the pressure Louisville put it under, which has been a hallmark of Louisville’s play this season as its front four players act as the first line of defense.

3. Unable to hold either of its leads in the game Bethlehem didn’t return to the top eight in the USL Eastern Conference on Friday night, but it will likely be happy to take a point from one of the toughest places to play in the league. Still holding a game in hand on both seventh-place FC Cincinnati and eighth-place Orlando City B with six games to go in its regular season slate, Steel FC will return home still in control of its playoff fate as it welcomes the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to Goodman Stadium on Sept. 24 in a crucial contest for both teams in the playoff race.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Derrick Jones, Bethlehem Steel FC – Jones acted as a bulwark against Louisville’s attack, winning 9 of 11 duels for the contest, winning four tackles and creating two scoring chances in the center of midfield for Steel FC.

Upcoming Games:
Louisville City FC
vs. Rochester Rhinos – September 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, Slugger Field
Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds – September 24, 3 p.m. ET, Goodman Stadium

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