MEMPHIS, Tenn. – No. 5 seed Louisville City FC survived to claim a penalty shootout victory against No. 4 seed Memphis 901 FC with a 5-4 victory from the spot after the sides had played to a 1-1 draw in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs at AutoZone Park.

Memphis opened the scoring through Bruno Lapa after just 32 seconds as he bundled home a cross from the left while battling with a defender, but LouCity responded in the 18th minute when Cameron Lancaster struck off a corner kick to leave the games level at the break.

The hosts had the better of the second half, but were unable to come through with a finish as the game went to extra time, while in the additional 30 minutes 901 FC’s Dylan Borczak went closest to break the deadlock as he struck the right post with a shot before Jeremy Kelly was denied by LouCity goalkeeper Oliver Semmle.

LouCity earned victory from the spot, however, as all five of its shooters found the net with Niall McCabe and Oscar Jimenez scoring in the fourth and fifth round. Taking second, Memphis matched the visitors goal for goal until the fifth round, when Aiden McFadden’s shot clipped the right post and went wide, sending Louisville through.

Three Things That Mattered

1. Memphis was struck a pregame blow with the absence of Rodrigo Da Costa from the lineup, but the side’s fastest goal in the league this season and the second-fastest goal in USL Championship Playoffs history through Bruno Lapa after just 32 seconds provided an ideal platform for the hosts. The finish might have been slightly fortuitous, deflecting in off Lapa’s chest as he battled a LouCity defender, but those are the sort of breaks you’ll always take.

2. With eight players who had previously seen playoff action for LouCity in the lineup, there was no panic for the visitors after the early deficit, and the means by which they leveled in the 18th minute shouldn’t have been a surprise. Louisville led the Championship with 10 goals from corner kicks in the regular season and added another to kick off the postseason as Carlos Moguel Jr.’s precise delivery on a training ground routine found Cameron Lancaster for a half-volleyed finish. The execution was clinical and helped settle Louisville further.

3. Memphis looked the more likely side to claim victory as the second half went on. At one point they had 80 percent of possession after the break while holding LouCity without a shot for more than 25 minutes. The hosts were unable to capitalize on their upper hand, however, with Dylan Borczak’s shot off the right post and Jeremy Kelly’s header moments later the closest they came to finding a winner. When LouCity showed its experience from the spot as Niall McCabe and Oscar Jimenez produced near-unstoppable finishes, 901 FC’s missed opportunities came back to haunt them. 

USLChampionship.com Player of the Game

Manny Perez, Louisville City FC – Perez was strong on the right side defensively throughout the contest, winning 3 of 3 tackles and making five interceptions and six recoveries while going the full 120 minutes.

Scoring Summary
MEM – Bruno Lapa 1’
LOU – Cameron Lancaster (Carlos Moguel Jr.) 18’

Penalty Shootout

Memphis 901 FC – Emerson Hyndman, scored; Aaron Molloy, scored; Graham Smith, scored; Samuel Careaga, scored; Aiden McFadden, missed

Louisville City FC – Sean Totsch, scored; Wilson Harris, scored; Dylan Mares, scored; Niall McCabe, scored; Oscar Jimenez,

Full Box Score

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