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GAMEDAY REPORT: First Half Flurry Sends LouCity Past Indy

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/05/20, 9:19PM EDT

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Visitors move into first place in Group E with 3-1 victory as Williams, Bone and Matsoso lead win

INDIANAPOLIS – Louisville City FC moved into first place in Group E on Saturday night as a 3-1 victory against Indy Eleven at Lucas Oil Stadium to extend its undefeated streak to six games. LouCity is now ahead of Indy by one point, with Saint Louis FC a further point back in third place in the group with five games to go for each in the regular season.

After few chances for either side in the opening 15 minutes, Indy created the first good look on goal as Cameron Lindley played Tyler Pasher in down the left side. The Canadian’s cutback cross came to Carl Haworth at the top of the penalty area, but his finish sailed well over the crossbar. Haworth then had another chance after wriggling through from the right side in the 22nd minute, but his shot from the top of the penalty area was comfortably saved by LouCity goalkeeper Ben Lundt.

A minute later, however, LouCity took the lead as Speedy Williams struck. A corner kick from the right was headed high in the air as a cluster of players challenged at the top of the six-yard box, and fell to Cameron Lancaster in the right side of the penalty area. The English forward attempted to hit on the volley, but his effort instead came straight to Williams at the top of the six-yard area, and the Jamaican tapped home for the opening goal.

Williams was involved again as Louisville doubled its lead in the 27th minute on a goal by Corben Bone. As the visitors broke upfield on a counterattack, Antoine Hoppenot threaded a pass from the left side that found Williams breaking into the right channel. Williams’ shot came back off the crossbar, but with Indy goalkeeper Evan Newton scrambling to recover, Bone was on hand to head home on the rebound.

Newton came up with a key save four minutes before halftime as Hoppenot was played in behind the Indy defense by Bone and into a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Newton met Hoppenot at the top of the penalty area and blocked his shot to the right corner allowing his defense to clear. A minute before halftime, however, Bone found space in the left side of the penalty area and delivered a square cross that was won by Napo Matsoso, and the Lesotho international slid his finish into the right corner of the net.

Indy almost pulled a goal back deep in second-half stoppage time as Haworth continued to apply pressure from the right when his shot from the right side of the penalty area after a driving run into the penalty area was just redirected wide by Lundt. On the ensuing corner, though, Lancaster was whistled for a handball in the penalty area to hand Indy a chance from the spot and Pasher made it a two-goal game with his ninth goal of the season, powered into the top-right corner of the net.

Buoyed by their late goal, Indy got back on the front foot to start the second half, although there was a moment of concern in the 53rd minute when Pasher landed heavily after sending a header high at the back post off a cross by Haworth from the right. The Championship’s second-leading scorer was OK to continue, though, and the Boys in Blue continued to pressure as 10 minutes later Karl Ouimette skied a finish from inside the six yard area after the hosts held a corner kick in the penalty area.

Louisville had chances to add to its lead as well, though, including in the 72nd minute when Paolo DelPiccolo was found in the middle of the penalty area for a turning shot that Newton turned away. Hoppenot had a chance to finish the rebound but his shot went behind after clipping the outside of the right post.

There would be no need for LouCity to add to its lead, however, as it limited Indy’s clear chances over the remaining 15 minutes to extend its undefeated streak in league action to nine games against its rival.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Corben Bone, Louisville City FC – Bone scored once, had two key passes and completed 23 of 29 passes overall while doing solid work in midfield winning 5 of 7 duels and 4 of 5 tackles.

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