Jason Ence has been doing a great job writing these recaps so far this season, but I’m gonna take the reins today. Louisville City picked up another big three points on the road last night in the middle of a tropical storm in Charleston, South Carolina. City’s two first half goals were more than enough to seal the win and end Charleston’s 29-game home winning streak, while keeping Greg Ranjitsingh’s own clean sheet record well-intact.
Louisville City looked the aggressor early in the match, and it paid off quickly with a rocket from Cuatro in the 19th minute. Kyle Smith’s service into the 18 yard box found Davis IV unmarked, and he easily pounded home the opening goal. Smith got back in the action again in the 38th minute when he volleyed in a bouncing ball from a Louisville City corner kick past the Battery’s Odnisel Cooper to score his first ever professional goal and round out the half and the scoring.
Charleston essentially sealed their own fate early on in the second half when their leading scorer, Romario Williams, went in five minutes late on two footed on a challenge on Sean Reynolds and was shown a straight red card for his trouble. The Battery, who hadn’t had much of the ball to begin with in this match, barely touched it again for the rest of the match, and Louisville City was mostly content to hang on to the two goal advantage at that point.
My own perspective? Three points on the road are great. Beating Charleston at home where they’ve been so successful for so long is also great. That said, I had the Coopers Twitter handle last night and expressed my frustration that, for the third game running, City hasn’t taken advantage of being up a man. My timing was probably poor, as the guys were playing in a torrential downpour, and were up two goals on the road against a very good team that they were essentially smothering into submission. Some folks may take issue with that, and they’ve got fair points to make. I’d just rather see some ruthlessness, as no result in this game is guaranteed until the final whistle blows.
Anyway, another road win, top of the conference, and all eyes on Indy Eleven on Wednesday in Indianapolis!