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Louisville Looks to Ride Wave as Indy Visits

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/04/18, 9:39AM EDT

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Back-to-back victories have seen defending USL Cup champions return to form


Louisville City FC's Paolo DelPiccolo battles with Indy Eleven's Zach Steinberger in the first league meeting between the two regional rivals. | Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The identity of Louisville City FC’s new Head Coach was revealed this week, but between the introduction of current U.S. U17 National Team Head Coach John Hackworth on Thursday and his official arrival at the club on August 13 the defending USL Cup champions face a pair of games that will be crucial in their pursuit of FC Cincinnati at the top of the USL’s Eastern Conference standings.

The first of those arrives on Sunday evening as Louisville welcomes regional rival Indy Eleven to Slugger Field (5 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+) looking to build on back-to-back victories in the past two week that have steadied the ship for the side.

With a nine-point gap to make up on the conference-leaders with two games in hand, and a visit to the New York Red Bulls II next Friday night to follow, player-coach Luke Spencer is aiming for the side to avoid complacency after two impressive performances.

“That’s the danger about winning,” said Spencer. “Sometimes when you win a few you can forget about what got you there and got you that win, so we try to really focus on those things and stay disciplined to make sure that unselfish work is promoted.”

Still, with the side racking up seven goals in the past two games – all of which came through different scorers – Louisville is looking close to its best again. A 3-0 victory on the road against Ottawa Fury FC last Saturday stands as the Canadian side’s only defeat in its last four games, a measure of how comprehensively Louisville performed at TD Place.

Louisville is looking to carry that performance into its game against Indy, which took a 1-0 victory when the teams met for the first time this season at Lucas Oil Stadium on a late Ayoze penalty kick. The added edge that comes from facing a regional rival – say nothing of a side that handed Louisville one of its four defeats this season – adds a little to the rematch on Sunday.

“Anytime you play a team in your region the fans, the supporters, they really get behind it, try to amp up the game,” said player-coach George Davis IV. “For us, we approach it like we do every game, three points on the line and we want to get a win.”

Indy is coming off a positive result of its own, taking a 1-0 victory on the road against Bethlehem Steel FC to bolster its playoff credentials as Jack McInerney scored a late winner to move the side to sixth in the conference standings on July 26.

The victory was Indy’s fifth away from home this season, setting a single-season club record, and with the side having had more than a week off before it and a large contingent of fans head to Louisville, Head Coach Martin Rennie is hopeful the way the side has managed its road success will continue.

“Our team is a good soccer team and we play quite good soccer. We like to pass the ball and we like to connect,” said Rennie. “I think on the road, we’ve been able to find a good rhythm and we’ve managed the games quite well.”


Indy Eleven's Jack McInerney scored the winner in his side's most recent outing, a 1-0 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC. | Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

That will be important against a Louisville side that has one of the more impressive home records in the league. Since the start of the 2016 season Louisville has won 28 home games, with only the Swope Park Rangers (30) having claimed more home success across the regular season and USL Cup Playoffs.

After falling in the first league meeting between the clubs, Louisville is hoping that homefield advantage will see it gain an important three points in the rematch.

“Revenge is definitely in mind,” said Davis. “It’s a shame we didn’t get more from the game up there in Indy, but credit to them, they capitalized on an opportunity so now we get them at home we have to make sure we’re sharp, focused and ready to play.”

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