LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sean Totsch scored the only goal as Louisville City FC held on in stoppage time thanks to a goal line clearance by Amadou Dia to earn a 1-0 victory against USL League One club Lexington SC to advance to the Third Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Lynn Family Stadium on Wednesday night.

LouCity held the upper hand for good portions of the game in its first meeting with in-state foe and League One newcomer Lexington but needed a goal with 21 minutes to go from Totsch to break the deadlock as he skied for headed finish off a Paolo DelPiccolo free kick from the right side.

“It was a little bit of a relief,” Totsch said of his game-winner, “but we know what we’re capable of. Even with it being a 1-0 game, there’s a lot that we need to take away and do better still.”

Only two games into its history, Lexington battled to the last kick of Wednesday’s game. The visitors nearly equalized at the death on a free kick of their own, sending everyone forward for a 93rd-minute set piece. Dia cleared the chance off the line to seal a win as goalkeeper Oliver Semmle recorded a two-save shutout.

“First and foremost, you get a shutout on the night after the last couple of weeks we have had,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “The messaging over the course of the last couple days was to make sure we do a good job defensively, we’re tight in our block and not running around all over the place.

“I’m really, really proud of the group. It was a result where we created a lot in the first half. We need to be better in the final third, but ultimately we’re creating the chances and I’m confident [the goals] will come.”