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Louisville, Steel FC Clash in Playoff Opener

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/17/17, 5:34PM EDT

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City aims to maintain perfect home playoff record vs. playoff newcomer


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2017 USL Cup Playoffs kick off on Friday night at Slugger Field when No. 1-seed Louisville City FC plays host to No. 8-seed Bethlehem Steel FC at Slugger Field in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. A matchup of playoff experience against a first-time arrival, #LOUvBST kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be seen live on the USL Match Center.

@LouCityFC is the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time after finishing second in the conference standings in its first two seasons. The side has never lost in the playoffs on home turf, going 3-0-0 and recording three shutouts in its previous postseason outings at Slugger Field. Coming off back-to-back victories to end the regular season, Louisville is aiming to open its bid for a first trip to the USL Cup with a strong performance.

@BSteelFC makes its first USL Cup Playoffs appearance after an up-and-down season that saw the side come through when it needed to, particularly on the road. Bethlehem went 6-7-3 away from Goodman Stadium, including getting a 2-2 draw in its last trip to Louisville on September 15. Cory Burke and Santi Moar scored that night for Steel FC, and the side’s young attack that also features Adam Najem and Seku Conneh should provide a threat to Louisville’s spotless home playoff record.

Opta Says

  • 70 – Louisville City FC’s Oscar Jimenez led the league with 70 chances created in the regular season as Louisville led the USL with 375 chances created overall as a team.

  • 9 – Bethlehem Steel FC scored nine goals from penalty kicks in the 2017 USL regular season, more than any other side in the league.

Projected Lineups

  • Louisville (3-4-3) – GK: Greg Ranjitsingh; D: Sean Totsch, Sean Reynolds, Tarek Morad; M: Kyle Smith, Speedy Williams, Paolo DelPiccolo, Oscar Jimenez; F: George Davis IV, Luke Spencer, Brian Ownby

  • Bethlehem (4-2-3-1) – GK: Jake McGuire; D: Aaron Jones, Hugh Roberts, Auston Trusty, Matt Real; DM: James Chambers, Derrick Jones; AM: Santi Moar, Adam Najem, Cory Burke; F: Seku Conneh

Discipline

  • Louisville – None

  • Bethlehem – None

Officials

  • REF: MARCOS DEOLIVEIRA

  • AR1: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein 

  • AR2: Johann Pedolzky 

  • 4TH: Aaron Hernandez

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