Some draws feel like wins, some feel like losses. This one felt like a loss. It was at least two points dropped, no question. Charlotte came into this game with just two wins on the season, none on the road, and very nearly escaped with all three points. Louisville City gave up an early goal, well executed I must say, to Dominic Oduro and had to spend the rest of the match trying to break through nine men in the back. Luke Spencer finally snatched the equalizer, but that was all the Jacks were going to give our Morados. That’s not to say City didn’t give the game their best effort or create chances to score, but in the end, this was a game these guys needed to win and they didn’t do it.
Louisville City had 67% of the ball and won more than half their duels, including aerials. They had double the number of pass attempts (508-253), and completed 82% of those, 72.6% in Charlotte’s half. They outshot CLT 19-12, but City only managed to put four shots on target, while the Jacks managed five.
Individually, Taylor Peay really stood out to me. Yes, he lost his mark on Oduro for Charlotte’s goal, but he was a superb passer and won all but three of his eleven 1v1s. Paolo and Niall both played well deeper in the park. Niall actually made more passes than Paolo did, and created a couple of scoring chances. Magnus, surprisingly, did not create any chances in the game, but did have a shot on frame. Mkosana was a bit unlucky in this game, and created next to nothing offensively. He didn’t take a shot in the game. Obviously, once Charlotte went ahead, the Zimbabwean had a lot less room to maneuver, and Independence defenders Hugh Roberts and Aaron Maund don’t leave a whole lot of space to begin with. Luke did a great job off the bench and got the equalizer, and probably is kicking himself for a couple other chances he couldn’t finish.
City have a tough stretch coming up. This was a match they needed. With the next three opponents on the schedule higher up in the table, City will be hard pressed to tread water in July. Then again, this is a chance to climb over those teams, too. Let’s hope that’s what happens.
