Chalk one up in the win column for the Triumvirate. Louisville City visited listless Tampa Bay last Saturday evening and came out with three points in a pretty entertaining game. The win marks the first win and first game for City’s interim coaching staff of player managers. Greg Ranjitsingh, Paco Craig, Sean Totsch, Pat “El Abuelo” McMahon, Paolo, Oscar, Kyle Smith, Speedy, Niall McCabe, Magnus Rasmussen, and Cam Lancaster all started. Brian Ownby and Shaun Francis were out for personal reasons, so the short bench was even shorter than usual.

Los Morados pretty much stayed in their usual 3-4-3 for most of the game. MAG RAM played a lot more centrally than he usually does, however. That checks out, as that’s easily his best position, and he was able to cause some problems for Tampa’s central defense as a result. City did a good job frustrating Tampa Bay’s midfield with sharp passing, probably better than we’ve seen from the boys in a while. I think having Magnus play as the point of a midfield triangle with Paolo and Speedy helped that out quite a bit. Toward the end of the match, the Rowdies started finding a lot of joy down the left side of the Purple defense. Junior Flemmings, historically a bugaboo for City no matter who’s on the field, again wreaked havoc on Oscar and Pat McMahon for the last fifteen minutes of the game or so.

City was fortunate to get three points in this match, but the two goals were well taken and deserved. Tampa’s unlucky not to have scored at least twice in the match. A shot that bounced off the crossbar in the first half somehow didn’t go in, and Ranjitsingh made four really difficult saves to preserve the victory. I thought things were a somewhat sloppy defensively, but otherwise was pretty pleased to see the team play in a way that we’re used to. I do think letting Magnus play where he likes to be helped in this game, but there are drawbacks to leaving the front left side of the final third kind of open. They weren’t exposed in this game, and they might never be, but it’s something to be mindful of. I’m obviously pleased with the result, and look forward to seeing how Morados prepare for Charleston, a much more defensively organized team on Saturday.

Numbers and notes:

• Possession is a meaningless statistic, but possession with a purpose is not. City had 60% of the ball against a team that also likes to hold onto it, and that’s good.
• LouCity only had one corner kick all night, while Tampa Bay had seven.
• Morados completed 85% of their 570 passes and were 81% in Tampa Bay’s half. That might be the best figure City’s ever posted against a USL team in any competition.
• The Rowdies had 32 mostly ineffective crosses in the game to City’s five. Louisville City was obviously trying to play through the middle, a bit of a departure from the usual wing-heavy attack we’re used to.
• City’s possession only led to eight shots, but five were on target. Only one came from inside the box, though. The good news is it went in. Otherwise, City only created five scoring chances all night, two each from Niall McCabe and Kyle Smith plus one from Magnus.
• The Rowdies generated eleven chances themselves. Tampa Bay had 13 shots, five on target, ten inside the box. That’s a bit worrisome, but Tampa is a very good attacking team.
• Four yellow cards on Louisville City isn’t great
• Paco Craig won 12 of 15 duels.
• Pat McMahon only missed on one of his 47 passes all night. Speedy Williams was 98% in Tampa Bay’s half of the field.
• Both Paolo and Speedy were over 90% on passes in the opposing half.