LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Taylor Davila and Adrien Pérez each recorded a goal and assist as Louisville City FC took a 3-2 victory against North Carolina FC at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday night as the reigning Players’ Shield winner advanced in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

LouCity claimed its 17th home victory of the season to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the winner between Indy Eleven and Rhode Island FC on Sunday afternoon.

North Carolina gained the early initiative, and eventually took the lead in the 11th minute when a corner kick from Mikey Maldonado from the left found Oalex Anderson as he arrived late at the back post to volley home from inside the six-yard area. As quickly as NCFC had the lead, however, LouCity responded. Nine minutes later, a cross from the right by Davila found Amadou Dia as he arrived at the back post for a headed finish into the top-right corner of the net.

Having set up LouCity’s opener, Davila scored its second in the 24th minute. A one-touch move down the right played the ball into Pérez, who played Davila in as he arrived at the top of the penalty area to shoot into the bottom-right corner of the net.

The hosts almost added a third two minutes before halftime when Pérez was played into the left side of the penalty area by Elijah Wynder and lifted his finish over advancing NCFC goalkeeper Jake McGuire, only for Lamar Batista to make a spectacular goal line clearance. Nine minutes into the second half, however, Pérez found the net as he scored from close range off a low cross by Ray Serrano.

North Carolina almost set up a grandstand finish with three minutes to go when Batista had a powerful header clawed wide of the right posts by LouCity goalkeeper Damian Las, and in stoppage time Bryce Washington headed home a free kick by Maldonado as he picked up a second assist on the night. That would be all for the visitors, however, as time ran out on their comeback opportunity.

Three Things that Mattered

1. DAVILA, PÉREZ SHINE: The beauty of Louisville City FC’s lineup is there are so many options that could step up, it’s difficult for an opponent to contain them all. On Saturday night, it was the two playmakers in Taylor Davila and Adrien Peréz that took center stage with a goal and assist apiece in leading the Players’ Shield winner to victory. The two play different roles – Davila the hard-charging central midfielder who loves to join the attack, Peréz the creator between the lines – but each impressed with the timing and precision that saw both score and set up goals on the night.

2. LOUCITY RESPONDS AGAIN: There’s something apparently about Louisville City FC’s lineup that responds to a team scoring against them like a linebacker getting smelling salts before kickoff – it just sets them off in the best way. While North Carolina made a bright start and took the lead in the process, LouCity simply turned on the gas and with 13 minutes of going behind held the lead. Louisville led the Championship in points gained from losing positions with 23 in the regular season, and this was another comeback victory where everyone was waiting for the other foot to drop as soon as NCFC went ahead.

3. LEARNING YEAR FOR NCFC: North Carolina FC battled gamely against Louisville but once it went behind it was always going to be an uphill struggle to find a way back. The year as a whole for NCFC should be viewed as a successful one as they returned to the Championship with reinforcements, but saw many of their League One standouts from a season ago step up to the mark as well. Oalex Anderson’s 13th goal of the season left him as the club’s leader, while Mikey Maldonado, Rafael Mentzingen and Ezra Armstrong made their marks as well. This offseason should be focused on building off a strong campaign.

USL Championship.com Player of the Game

Adrien Pérez, Louisville City FC – Pérez recorded a goal and assist, had another effort athletically cleared off the line and won 2 of 2 tackles and 7 of 9 ground duels in an excellent all-around display.

Scoring Summary
NC – Oalex Anderson (Mikey Maldonado) 11’
LOU – Amadou Dia (Taylor Davila) 20’
LOU – Taylor Davila (Adrien Pérez) 24’
LOU – Adrien Pérez (Ray Serrano) 54’
NC – Bryce Washington (Mikey Maldonado) 90+4’

Full Box Score