LOUISVILLE CITY FC 2, CHARLESTON BATTERY 2

[So wanted circumstances of this game to work out to be able to employ the headline:
“Sands Feeds Carolinians Some Of His Own Northern Grits!”
… but it just was not to be]

With Louisville City FC and Charleston Battery wrestling it out for 2nd place in the USL East standings – each still smarting from coming off of a game conceding 4 goals at home to a club beneath them with a “ ll “ (TFC, NYRB) tacked onto its title – it was going to be intriguing to see whether the respective defenses had become this poor or the recent week had simply been an outlier.

It was the Louisville lads – at once rattled from being unable to convert their chances in Tuesday night’s stunning setback, after dominating in almost every facet, yet at the same time determined to stick to their guns and keep trust in one another – who emerged with intent, bossing the ownership of the ball and threatening to rain on Charleston like the lightning accompanied downpour that had delayed the beginning of the match by several minutes.

Right off the the git-go, a move involving Sean, George and Ilija provided Speedy with an early look at goal but, as is becoming the trend again, his shot from outside the area was blocked.

The match settled down for a time, with City content to look after the ball whilst cagily probing around for seams and soft areas, as the guests, themselves having learned a valuable lesson from their last match, stuck to their own guns … or, ahem, battery, though without pulling the offensive trigger for most of the proceedings.

A nearly very nasty situation did occur in the 6th minute, when Trinidadian super striker Ataulla Guerra lashed at a bouncing ball he had failed to control and that had crossed the touchline. Unfortunately, an unsuspecting Kyle, coming from the blindside to initiate the throw-in, took the full brunt of Guerra’s this time not-so-golden boot. Though not in the least malicious, the action was a foolish one and the caution awarded by referee Kevin Broadley was correct.

This still left Kyle poleaxed on the sideline, but to the relief of the fans … and without doubt his principal medical insurance provider …. he arose again after a quick application of the magic sponge.

Play reverted to a familiar pattern for a time, with more blocked City shots until a 14th minute Charleston left wing throw was headed by Kyle as far as Kotaro Higashi who headed down to Guerra and in the blink of an all-seeing Caribbean eye he had Nigerian born Atlanta United loanee Patrick Okonkwo in behind Paco and into the penalty area.

For the 2nd game in succession, a low left-foot shot on the angle eluded Greg to his far post side on the very first opposition sniff of the game (with a Japanese national involved, to boot). 1-0 to the delighted Charleston Battery.

Almost instantly however, Los Morados puros would strike back. This time it was Higashi turning it over, trying to carry it out of defense. Speedy, right back into the routine with Paulo – the decidedly natural holding unit for City – and getting through a ton of work box-to-box, pounced like a panther, the ball running to Kyle who pumped it forward to Ilija and the Silky Serb dished through to Cameron inside the area. Former Canada YNT member Skylar Thomas was caught napping as the “Tottenham Torpedo” latched on and struck a one-timer past the helpless Ospinel Cooper in the Charleston goal.

It was a quintessential Louisville City goal, involving four of its most impactful players performing rapid-fire what they each, and as a group, do best.

But as quickly as the tie was reestablished it was broken once again, the 6’ 2 stud Guerra for the 2nd time the surprise provider.

Receiving the ball wide of the area he turned to face Kyle, tantalized him for a moment with the ball, and as bewitchingly as you like jinked to the defender’s right and to the byline from where he drove left-footed right into the path of sophomore midfielder Nico Rittmeyer (who had beaten Paco to the area) to slide home.

The major question on this goal was whether the cross should have been avowed to split the 6 yard area in such fashion. This, another one for Coach Hackworth’s interim goalie coach to take a look at.

The book on playing in Louisville, it seems, is that if you sit back and play a compact game, let them have the ball, try to slow the tempo down and wait till frustration sets in and the scant chances at the other end present themselves, you might have at least an even chance of taking something away with you, and if Charleston were comfortable sitting back before, they were really happy to do so now.

With opportunities on the counter coming less frequently, Latin American midfield duo Vicenzo Candela and Angelo Kelly-Rosales were filling the role of the suspended Tah Anunga effectively, ensuring the “Holy City” midfield was not getting overrun.

Kyle, as he did throughout the evening, was continuing to get forward in support of George lV, and Oscar and Niall were creating too from over on the left.

Guerra – who along with defender and fellow goalscorer vs City in the reverse fixture in July, Neveal Hackshaw, is headed to Spain to represent T&T in a friendly vs UAE – had been becoming increasingly isolated, but in the 36th he burst past PDP and unleashed a thunderbolt from distance that fortunately flew over Greg’s crossbar.

Seemingly channeling TFC ll’s strategy of earlier in the week, the Battery began to delay, slowing down restarts and extending injury breaks. That underlying frustration was building in the home side and things threatened to boil over when Candela took down Cameron as he was breaking into the danger zone, but referee Broadley handled the situation appropriately again, issuing a caution to Candela.

The break was fast approaching, but just when nothing seemed to be opening up for the Louisvillians another classic combination came to life as if it had been teleported from the training ground.

Captain PDP, receiving the ball out of defense, chipped out to Oscar in space and he wasted no time in feeding Niall who was breaking wide to the left. The Dublin Dynamo arced over the sweetest of left-footers for a leaping Cameron to split Hackshaw and Taylor Mueller and redirect a looping header inside the far post.

That was the USL leading 18th goal for the enthralling Englishman.

Before the half, George lV would have one effort blocked after some mazy solo work, and another go over the top from good buildup play again by Niall and Oscar.

At the whistle, the Slugger supporters, reduced in numbers it seemed by the ropey nature of the weather, were relieved and revitalized although their beloved Boys in Purple appeared a little more muted, having barely got things back to even, in spite of enjoying a 76-24% advantage on the ball.

The 2nd half started out with more positive play from the home side.

Kyle hit a searching cross that was not properly cleared by Thomas. Niall received it near the corner of the area and with his right curved a gorgeous, dipping effort to which Cooper reacted well at full stretch to turn it away.

Cameron, looking for his hat trick, had a shot up the middle saved, but chances from open play were harder to come by for him in the 2nd.

George lV had a generally quieter 2nd period also, but in the 52nd he won a corner from which Oscar placed the ball onto the head of Sean in traffic, but his attempt was well blocked before reaching goal.

Paolo then received from DSW and hit a dangerous shot that deflected off Candela for a corner.

Now we were past the hour mark and the Lowcountry lads, still sensing that their best bet was to play for the safe road point, interfered with a free kick that Oscar wanted to take quickly. For his retaliatory action he was sanctioned with a caution.

But the undeniable No.19 came bouncing back and, from a feed by Speedy, hit a speculative effort that was kept out by Cooper. From the resulting corner Oscar picked out Paco but the likely Londoner headed over.

City was still making most of the play and Battery fireplug Jay Bolt took a yellow card for a chop on Niall who had been a little too busy around the field for his liking.

Sean sent a ball to Cameron to head on for Ilija whose spectacular full volley from the 18 yard line missed almost as spectacularly.

Then Speedy won a free kick and from 37 yards out Cameron’s strike singed Cooper’s left-hand post. The Cuban born ‘keeper wouldn’t have had a prayer.

The match now was evenly poised and with the traditional midfield formation back in place City’s buildup play had been more technical and patient than against Toronto, however the necessary precision in the final third of the field was once again often lacking.

In the 72nd, the Battery threatened to take the lead as Rittmeyer crossed for Guerra who found room ahead of Paco but Greg saved superbly.

Luke then came on for Ilija, and German attacking midfielder Gordon Wild replaced Okonkwo, the lone substitutions Coaches John Hackworth and Mike Anhaeuser were to enact in the entire game. Both men had evidently been pleased with the chemistry and the stamina maintained by their respective starting elevens.

Mueller picked up a caution for a foul on Cameron and then Speedy thumped a high 40 yarder, reminiscent of Guerra’s attempt in the first half. Both were worth a roll of the dice for USL Goal of the Week.

In the 76th came a possibly controversial incident, particularly for any of the Holy City contingent.

Wild played to Higashi and he attacked the penalty area, setting up Guerra whose rising strike hit a half-turned Paco on the back of the right arm. It was only partially tucked and we’ve all seen penalty kicks given before for these, but on this occasion no call was forthcoming.

That Greg in behind was diving away to his left suggested the shot had been ticketed for the goal but it deflected the other way to Bolt who had made his way around the back of the defense. The wide-eyed No.2 drilled from point blank range but the keen custodian pulled off a miraculous recovery, springing back to his right and forcing the ball safely away.

Having been obliged to cover the original shot, this was an absolute game-saving play which will surely feature prominently on the Week 25 USL Saves of the Week compilation. The 2nd half had been much better than the 1st for the flying fan favorite.

The match entered its final stages with City seeking the breakthrough that would give them only their 2nd home win in 3 1/2 months – utterly amazing stat, that – but the Battery remained resistant in clearing its lines and there was little either side could throw at the opposing goal to cause a serious threat.

In the 87th, Paco’s shot from outside won a corner from which Oscar again supplied the service but Paco’s header was wide of the mark.

Oscar and Wild (random connection not intended) were plugging away till the end getting efforts turned away, but the curtain came down with neither club able to add to its first half tally.

Cameron was the deserved Man of the Match winner, and Guerra was an outstanding presence in a well played game by the visitors. The City midfielders each had their moments, with the wing backs adding positive offensive support. The central defense held for the most part, while Greg, for all of his good work in the 2nd half, may come under some scrutiny again on both Battery goals in the 1st.

Charleston will be thrilled with another hard-earned road draw that keeps them solidly in a playoff position, while City might be ruing their impotence in not being able to turn their 70% of ball possession into 3 points.

Overall, incurring just the single loss from a brutal 5 games in a 14 day span should be of much comfort for Hack and his weary horsemen.

However, a well managed week will be in order since the intensity of the challenge never diminishes, with the impending visit next weekend of the seemingly unstoppable rivals to the north, FC Cincinnati.

This one is shaping up to be an extremely juicy encounter, indeed.

Go City!

~~~ Fun Fact Footnote ~~~

* With this result “Hack” denied “The Augie”, as he is known there, his 200th USL win whilst in charge of the Battery.