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EASTERN TALKING POINTS: Tulsa Gets Big Test as Louisville Visits

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/18/21, 4:18PM EDT

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LouCity’s results starting to reflect club’s performances; Hounds’ rotation sets up side for visit to Rowdies

With players coming back into the fold from international duty and some teams looking to cap off their weeks with two wins out of two, there’s a lot to look forward to in the Eastern Conference this weekend. Here are five things to watch for as we get into the action.

RIVAS’ RETURN GIVES TULSA BOOST

It might have got a scare late, but FC Tulsa looked at least in the attacking end of the field back to its entertaining best on in a 4-3 win against Sporting Kansas City II on Wednesday night to finally get back in the win column after a three-game run of defeats prior. That turnaround might have arrived just in time with Louisville City FC set to visit on Saturday night for the first meeting between the teams since their inaugural seasons in 2015, with the hosts back to full strength after Joaquin Rivas and Jorge Corrales returned from international duty.

Rivas’ return in particular could be a major fillip for Tulsa. The El Salvador forward – who helped his side reach the final stage of FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifying with this sumptuous assist in their victory against St. Kitts & Nevis – came straight off the flight and onto the bench after sitting out La Selecta’s second leg on Tuesday night to score his fifth goal in as many games this season. The influence Rivas can bring is going to be crucial if Tulsa is to mark its card with a first win against Louisville in its history, and he’ll likely be more rested for Saturday night’s game than he was against Sporting.

“First off, I’m very excited to be back and obviously getting to work, but I’m on two hours of sleep,” Rivas said on Wednesday night. “I’ve been up since 3 a.m. But, like I said, I told coach that I want to come in and at least help depending on how the game is. I wasn’t expecting 40 [minutes], but I’m glad I went in, and I did my job and obviously we got the three points. That’s the most important thing.”

LOUISVILLE REGAINING ITS GROOVE

The underlying numbers for Louisville City FC indicated prior to last Saturday night’s game that the two-time USL Championship Final-winners were running a little cold in terms of their fortunes. In the seven days since, they’ve picked up six points, scored five goals and recorded two shutouts as things have gotten back to normal at Lynn Family Stadium.

LouCity has comfortably the best Expected Goals mark in the league through its first seven games at 16.10xG, and its Expected Goal Differential sits at 10.35xGD, also distancing itself from the pack by a decent margin in American Soccer Analysis’ numbers. Now with Cameron Lancaster converting from the penalty spot in back-to-back games and Jonathan Gomez looking sharp in combination with Antoine Hoppenot and whoever else pops up on the left side for LouCity, the preseason Central Division favorites numbers in the standings and goals column look a lot more like where their play says they should be as they head to FC Tulsa on Saturday night.

“Ultimately, winning is contagious and that locker room is used to it,” said interim Head Coach Danny Cruz after Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Birmingham Legion FC. “When you get two losses in a row, no-one was more unhappy than them. They’ve taken these two games really well. I told them that I want nine points from the week and I know that is their expectation as well. We will look to evaluate players’ health and how their bodies are feeling and then move toward Tulsa.”

RIVERHOUNDS LOOK TO KEEP THINGS FRESH FOR ROWDIES


Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC used a mixture of regular starters and back-ups to earn a 1-0 win against Indy Eleven on Tuesday night, which could help the in Saturday's visit to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. | Photo courtesy Trevor Ruszkowski / Indy Eleven

There was a certain amount of calculation in the lineup Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley sent out for Tuesday night’s game against Indy Eleven. Absent were the likes of playmaker Kenardo Forbes, winger Alex Dixon and reliable defenders Jordan Dover and Mekeil Williams – both of whom were named in their respective countries preliminary rosters for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on Friday.

In came players like Josh Gatt – who made his first start in Riverhounds SC colors – as well as back-up goalkeeper Jake Leeker and forward Tommy Williamson, who made his third start of the season and ended up providing the only goal of a 1-0 victory that served as a two-fold success for the Hounds. Not only did the side claim a valuable road victory against a fellow Atlantic Division rival, but it did so while rotating the cast of characters that are going to be needed to be at their best on Saturday night when the Hounds visit division leaders the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium.

“We made a lot of changes,” said Lilley. “I thought we played a good first half, but at the back end, we stopped trying to go forward as much. Still, I’m quite happy with the effort. We had guys out there who hadn’t played a lot of minutes, and we knew we were going to have to use some substitutions.”

The Hounds fell the first time they visited the Rowdies this season on May 8 but have claimed 10 points in four road games since. That and a freshened-up squad could provide a different outcome this time around.

HARTFORD STAYING LEVEL-HEADED AFTER LOSS

Hartford Athletic returns to action on Saturday night against Loudoun United FC at Dillon Stadium after suffering its first loss of the campaign last Sunday night to the Charlotte Independence, but according to Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling the attitude in the squad in reaction to that result has been similar to the reaction to its 7-0 win against the New York Red Bulls II two weeks ago when it last played in front of its home fans, something Watling has been pleased to see.

“Since Monday, Tuesday when the boys have come back in again, they’ve showed straight away that they’re ready to start another run again,” said Watling. “How they came in the next Monday after the 7-0, they were still like, ‘right, let’s go to work.’ How they’ve come in this week after losing, ‘Let’s go to work.’ It’s about not being too high when you win and not being too low when you lose, it’s that balance, which they’ve got.”

The Athletic have reason to remain confident despite the setback. For one, Danny Barrera is playing maybe as well as any creative player in the Championship right now with four goals and a league-leading five assists this season, while Preston Tabort Etaka and Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. are both firing well. The Athletic should also have Walmer Martinez available for selection again after his stint on international duty helping El Salvador reach the final stage of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. After bagging his first senior international goal against Antigua and Barbuda in just his second appearance for La Selecta, the 22-year-old should come in with confidence as he returns to Hartford.

NEW VISITOR PROVIDes MOTIVATION FOR LEGION FC

The first season in a club’s history can provide plenty of firsts, but the Championship’s schedule this season that has expanded the amount of inter-conference play has also added some extra interest to games. One of those this weekend is Birmingham Legion FC’s clash with Austin Bold FC in what’s going to be the first meeting between the 2019 expansion clubs at BBVA Field.

After falling 2-0 to Louisville City FC on Wednesday night at Lynn Family Stadium – while Austin was picking up a dramatic 2-1 win on the road against Rio Grande Valley FC – Legion FC is looking to rebound strongly back on home turf. And while there will be plenty of internal focus on improving the situations that didn’t go the side’s way last time out, there is at least a little anticipation of facing some new faces and some added motivation that comes with it.

“The focus is on us,” said Legion FC defender Alex Crognale on Wednesday night. “We focus on our preparation and prepare our bodies for the match. Having a side we’ve never seen before come into town gives us motivation to put a stamp on the matchup and get another victory at home.”

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