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Late Letdown Uncharacteristic for Louisville

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/24/18, 5:14PM EDT

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O’Connor even-keeled after end to four-game winning streak vs. ATL UTD 2


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Given Louisville City FC’s regular ability to maintain a lead over the course of last season, its late concession to ATL UTD 2 on Saturday night provided a mild shock to the system as the defending USL Cup champion’s perfect start to the season came to an end.

With that in mind, there was an even-keeled approach for Louisville Head Coach James O’Connor after the 1-1 draw at Coolray Field that saw Atlanta’s Andrew Carleton level on a penalty kick after an uncharacteristic Louisville defensive breakdown allowed the U.S. U20 international to find space and break into the penalty area and be brought down in the 90th minute, causing the referee to point to the spot.

“The easy thing to do is … show an emotional response based on what’s happened,” said O’Connor on Monday. “I think that’s something we try not to do. We try to be very analytical and break it down and look at why, to look at it from a non-emotional aspect.

“We don’t make decisions or react in an emotional aspect. When you look at the performance, we speak to our guys who have been able to go through it and explain some aspects that we’ve been really, really pleased with, and also some aspects we can be a little bit sharper on.”

Louisville had occasions in 2017 when it conceded late, but those tallies almost always proved only a consolation to its opponents. The latest in a game the side conceded a goal that changed the state of the game from Louisville holding a winning position was in a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati on April 22, 2017 when Aodhan Quinn scored with 12 minutes to go.

Following that contest at Nippert Stadium, City recorded nine one-goal victories over the remainder of the season, including its 1-0 win against the Swope Park Rangers in the 2017 USL Cup that saw Cameron Lancaster come through with the winner with two minutes to go.

The side Louisville defeated to begin its run to the championship a season ago is its next visitor to Slugger Field, with Bethlehem Steel FC arriving for Saturday’s game on a four-game winless streak that has seen the side take five points from its first five games this season. O’Connor is wary of that record, though, recognizing the talent that Steel FC can bring to the table.

“They’ve been unlucky in games,” said O’Connor. “They’ve got some really good players, some exciting players, some good young players that have been involved in both squads, whether MLS or USL, so for us it’s being respectful of what they do, and then equally making sure that our training load is on point and our understanding of where we want to be is in place.”


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

With City having taken three wins from three to start the season at Slugger Field, O’Connor is hopeful the side can produce another strong display to maintain its edge at the top of the Eastern Conference standings before a two-game road trip that sees City visit Indy Eleven and Nashville SC.

“The great thing about playing in front of our supporters is the passion that they bring and the noise,” said O’Connor. “We feel privileged that we’re able to play in front of such passionate supporters and we want to give our best and make the city proud, and we continually try to do that.”

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