skip navigation

Louisville Proud of ‘Resiliance’ vs. Steel FC

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/16/17, 9:58AM EDT

Share

Rallied twice to earn point as playoff position edged closer


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It certainly wasn’t the type of performance that Louisville City FC Head Coach James O’Connor was hoping for, but the fortitude his side showed in front of 8,303 fans at Slugger Field in a 2-2 draw against Bethlehem Steel FC provided a silver lining on a night when the side wasn’t at its best.

“All-in-all when you look at it and how the game went, I think the way the supporters kept going and kept cheering and kept pushing us, the way the players kept going, I think you have to be very proud of the whole football club, not just the players,” said O’Connor.

Fighting for a playoff berth itself, Bethlehem certainly provided the challenge that Louisville was expecting from the contest. Steel FC was smart in its application of pressure up the field which caused disruption in the center of the park for Louisville’s midfielders. As a team, City completed only 317 of its 444 passes on the night as Steel FC recorded 22 interceptions and recorded 17 tackles to break up the hosts’ rhythm in the first half.

One of those losses of possession led to the opening goal for the visitors as Cory Burke and Adam Najem combined to release Santi Moar into the left side of the penalty area, where he was adjudged to have been brought down by Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh as they vied for the ball. Burke converted to the left corner to give Bethlehem a halftime lead. 

After a sharper start to the second half had produced a penalty for Louisville that Kyle Smith converted, Bethlehem retook the lead as Moar knocked home the rebound after Ranjitsingh was unable to control a shot by Burke. While Louisville had a sizeable advantage in attacking pressure, Steel FC made the most of it chances.

“You have to give them credit,” said O’Connor. “They were very clinical with the chance there that they did get [on Moar’s goal]. Good save from Greg [Ranjitsingh], and then they switched off and he taps it in. So unfortunate from our standpoint – sloppy. But credit to them because they tried to run real attacks they can have.”

With another big crowd at Slugger Field roaring them on, though, the hosts took control over the final 20 minutes. The equalizer came from Oscar Jimenez’s excellent free kick with 14 minutes to go, a low shot that bent around the wall and tucked inside the right post past the dive of Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire, and from there Louisville had chances to claim all three points and its place in the USL Cup Playoffs.

“I thought we could’ve pushed for a third,” said Jimenez. “Things just didn’t fall, but the guys worked really hard, and I’m proud of everybody. We all left it all out there, so we can’t fault anyone there.”


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

Unable to claim a place with a win, Louisville could still see itself earn a playoff spot on Saturday night as a draw or defeat for either FC Cincinnati or Orlando City B would be enough to put City into the postseason for a third successive season.

With a quick turnaround to Wednesday night’s clash with the third-place Rochester Rhinos the focus for the team will be an improved performance to ensure a first-place finish at the end of the season.

But the resilience the side showed against Bethlehem is something Louisville will carry forward when the postseason finally arrives.

“If this happens in the playoffs, we have to make sure that we just stick to what we know,” said Smith. “Just stick to the process and do the things that coach tells us to do. And make sure that we never lose fight, never give up, and if we go down 2-0, 3-0, we can always come back. We can score five goals in a game. Just to make sure we never give up.”

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos