You could hardly have drawn it up any better, a direct line between Louisville City FC’s origin, and its bright present and future.

That 17-year-old LouCity Academy product Joshua Wynder’s first goal in the professional ranks came off an assist from Niall McCabe, one of the players who started in the club’s inaugural game seven years ago, was its own kind of poetry.

And of course, the youngster was glad to pass on the credit.

“Niall put it on a platter for me,” said Wynder. “I didn’t really have to do much, it was all Niall.”

Wynder’s goal opened the scoring in LouCity’s 2-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC that was decided late by a penalty kick from Sean Totsch as the two-time USL Championship title winners moved back to the top of the Eastern Conference at the midway point of their regular season campaign.

The controversial nature of the penalty kick, which saw Birmingham goalkeeper Matt VanOekel ruled to have brought down Brian Ownby as the LouCity forward broke onto a through-ball resulting in a bang-bang play, understandably produced differing views from either side

“I’ve watched it back. I think it’s a clear penalty,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz.

“[Matt VanOekel] 100% got the ball, that’s why the call was so disappointing,” said Legion FC Head Coach Tom Soehn, who was sent off for his vociferous objection.

What it couldn’t overshadow was the overall quality that LouCity delivered against what had been the hottest team in the Eastern Conference entering the game. Winners of their last four outings to move into the top five in the standings, Legion FC got a moment of brilliance by Enzo Martinez early in the second half to level the game, but the duo of Wynder and Totsch – and a stellar all-around display from the hosts – held the visiting attack led by Juan Agudelo to only five shots and two on target while producing numerous high-grade chances at the other end.

The question now for LouCity is who might be the player that will finish those chances off. With Cameron Lancaster still working back to fitness after a groin injury, the hosts had to substitute out Wilson Harris late in the first half with a concern over a rib injury, leaving Ownby to serve as a makeshift center forward away from his conventional position on the right wing.

“We’ll take a look at that,” said Cruz. “Cam, we’re still trying to work him back. He’s got a little bit of a groin injury, but at the same time guys have to step up.

“Brian, we move him up top, and Ray [Serrano] comes on. I thought the two of them did a great job. Ray came on and made a real difference. You’re finding ways to win, and players when their number is called have to come on and do their job.”

With Wynder and Totsch holding down the center of defense on Saturday night, say nothing of the veteran center back’s career-high fifth goal of the season, LouCity came good when it mattered most to deliver another victory in the three-way duel emerging at the top of the Eastern Conference after the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ victory against former leader Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night.

And on the same night he was awarded the Louisville Coopers’ Player of the Month award for June, the United States youth international wrote another memorable chapter in his own path at the club.

“It was a great feeling to score my first goal here at home,” said Wynder. “It's an honor to play professionally in the state that I'm from and have all my friends and family here every home game – great feeling.”