Another hot week for Louisville City on another hot night in Miami, Florida. With the temperature in the upper 80s and humidity in the 70% range, Louisville City players were sure to be happy wearing their away whites. Miami FC looked on the prowl, rocking their “La Pantera” blue kit, a personal favorite kit of the season. Louisville City was coming off a decisive victory over second-place Charleston Battery, while Miami FC was looking for its first victory since June 19th, ironically enough, against the Charleston Battery.
Louisville City played their classic style of counter-attacking football, but this time with a twist. “Set plays” played a huge role in the first half for Louisville. I used quotes around the words set plays because the first two-half goals that Louisville scored were off of throw-ins. The first came in the 12th minute when Josh Jones rocketed the ball to the center of the box and Phillip Goodrum got a touch that was easily saved by the Uruguayan keeper Rodriguez. The save wasn't a good one, though. Rodriguez saved the ball but swatted it right at Goodrum's head, and the ball lightly drifted to the top left corner and in. Jones was not credited with his much-deserved assist. Louisville's midfield then lapsed and allowed Miami to steam down the left side, allowing Cristian Vasquez all the space he needed to cross the ball perfectly to Miami's prolific striker Melano. The ball powered past Las to equalize the game. Louisville, like the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, took the punch with stride and came right back in less two minutes later. The best throweriner (yes I know it's not a real word or position but it just felt right) Josh Jones served up another perfect pass, this time from the right side of the field to the center of the box, where Goodrum took a much cleaner touch on the ball and slotted it past the keeper to keep the momentum from shifting too strong Miami's way and also taking the lead in the USL Championship’s Golden Boot race with 12 goals on the season so far. Miami FC decided that they wanted to keep the momentum the way it was. Miami drove hard through the middle of the field, where Louisville City’s Davila got caught sneaking a foot into Vazques from Miami. This foul set up the perfect set piece from Miami, with Knutson slotting the ball into the bottom right corner at very close range. The quick feet of Las were just a step too slow.
Danny Cruz, Louisville City Head Coach, must have had an amazing speech to follow because this game was truly a tale of two halves. Louisville City was firing on all cylinders and stood strong defensively, and went back to their tried and true counter-attacking offense. In the 63rd minute, after some beautiful one-two passes in the midfield, Talor Davila found some space on the right side and slid a perfect ground pass to the right side of the box where Aiden McFadden (the only non-mustachioed scorer for Louisville City tonight) was waiting. McFadden powered his right-footed shot to the bottom left corner to take and keep the lead for the rest of the night for Louisville. Miami continued their shots, finishing with eight on target and 12 total. Louisville City only had five shots on target and eight total, but they made them count, and in the 80th minute, striker Jansen Wilson decided that he’d have a go about 27 yards away from goal and absolutely sent his boot through the ball, and it soared to the top left corner right outside of Rodriguez’s outstretched hand.
This game was the third in a row in which Louisville City has scored four goals.
Next for Louisville is a Saturday night match at home versus New Mexico United. New Mexico is currently sitting mid-table in the Western Division. They have only earned one point in their last five league matches, but earned that one point against Las Vegas with only 10 players for an entire half. New Mexico is going to come out swinging against this powerhouse side in their home fortress.