Three early goals sealed the deal in last night’s affair at Slugger Field. Cameron Lancaster found the net twice in the opening 25 minutes, and Ilija Ilic managed to sandwich a tally in between. The Steel got one back before the break, but one is two less than three, and that’s how the game ended.

City came out in a very similar lineup as they did against Atlantwo, the only change being Cuatro starting at right attacking midfielder in place of Niall McCabe, who still made the bench. He was joined by Lancaster and Ilic. Paolo and Speedy started in midfield and again played the full 90, as did Oscar and Kyle Smith in their wingback positions. Paco, Alexis, and Sean Totsch shielded Greg Ranjitsingh’s goal.

Bethlehem put a strong lineup out themselves, with Brandon Allen at lone striker, Marcus Epps, Santi Moar and Adam Najem in support. Derrick Jones and Mike Catalano anchored the Steel midfield, while Olivier Mbazio, Brandon Aubrey, Matthew Mahoney, and Prosper Chiluya guarded Jake McGuire’s net.

In truth, this game was over before a half hour passed. City had ten touches in the Steel’s 18 yard box by that point, and three goals to show for it. Lancaster’s opener in the 13th minute was mostly an individual effort, combined with a lack thereof by the Steel. A city throw from Kyle Smith just past midfield on the right found Ilija’s feet inside the top right corner of the penalty area. Ilic dumped a short pass to Cam, whose first effort was blocked. Lancaster easily picked up the rebound and slotted his second attempt past McGuire to the far post, and Scouse’s House leapt for joy. Steel had five defenders in the box, all but one of whom stood still while Cam wound up for his opener.

Four minutes later, Ilija doubled the lead for the Purples. Cuatro took his marker out of his shoes on the right wing and found himself in space. He sent a square ball to the arriving Kyle Smith, who spotted Ilija’s far post run and dropped a perfect ball at the top of the six yard box. Ilic made a diving attempt with his right foot and sent the ball cleanly in for his first goal of the season. McGuire had no chance at a save. Seven players have scored for Louisville City now in just six matches.

Cam picked up his brace in the 22nd minute with a goal that was almost identical to his first. Ilic picked up the ball and made a dangerous run down the right and found Cam making a near post run. Lancaster took a touch to get the ball to his right foot and blasted a shot to the far post again, and scored, again to make it 3-0.

The Steel finally woke up after that, but it was way too late. Marcus Epps scored a rip from outside the box in the 44th minute after City’s back line was a bit out of position and late to close him down. By that point, Paco Craig had come off with a possible injury, and the Purples were more or less content to defend their lead and see the game out.

After such an eventful first half, the second was more an exercise in watching a cat bat at a fly. The Steel generated a few good chances and put Ranjitsingh to work. The makeshift defense of Totsch, Alexis and Kyle held steady, though, and didn’t let anything in. When Paco went off, everyone initially just shifted to the left, but Totsch and Alexis switched positions so the Frenchman was at the center of the defense pretty quickly, while Kyle played on the right and Cuatro filled his wingback spot. The attack died down fairly precipitously at that point, but few could complain about that when there are already three goals on the board.

City kept the three points and improved to 5-0-1 on the season with 16 points, and remain on top of the Eastern Conference standings. Their next match is Saturday, May 5 at Indy XI at noon at Lucas Oil Stadium.