LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC got on top early, and then held on late, to earn a 2-1 victory against Ottawa Fury FC in front of 7,814 fans at Slugger Field on Saturday night. Louisville’s Brian Ownby looked dangerous regularly in the early going, and forced a good near-post save by Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving in the 11th minute. Three minutes later he notched the opening goal as a turnover in midfield saw Paolo DelPiccolo launch Ownby on a counterattack with a ball over the top, and Ownby controlled well to take the ball past and advancing Irving before shooting home low from the right side of the area. City (8-2-4, 28pts) almost doubled its lead as Ilija Ilic hit the crossbar off a good ball forward by Sean Totsch in the 20th minute, and the hosts continued to carry a good portion of the play. Ottawa’s first good chance came in the 35th minute when Jamar Dixon’s effort was blocked wide by LCFC defender Kyle Smith, and Steevan Dos Santos shot wide just past the hour-mark for the visitors. Louisville added an insurance goal with 19 minutes to go as he tucked home a finish from seven yards out after a scramble in the penalty area begun by Richard Ballard, and it became essential when Dos Santos headed home with three minutes to go. Ottawa (5-5-5, 20pts) had a chance to level moments later, but Sito Seoane could only head wide of the right post, and that proved the last best chance for the visitors as City closed out the win.

Scoring: 
14’ – LOU – Brian Ownby (Paolo DelPiccolo)
71’ – LOU – Luke Spencer
87’ – OTT – Steevan Dos Santos (Shane McEleney)

• #LOUvOTT: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. As he did regularly in the month of June, Brian Ownby provided the impetus for Louisville to ensure exactly the response the players and staff would have been looking for after last weekend’s surprise loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders. Ownby was rewarded with his fourth goal of the season – which came via a beautiful long pass by Paolo DelPicollo to get the winger in behind the Ottawa defense – but the energy and pressure Ownby brought on the Fury FC defense made a massive impact as Louisville gained the upper hand early, and never relinquished it.

• 2. Due to the pressure Louisville was able to place on the Fury FC defense, the visitors never seemed to quite get on track as they tried to get back into the game. Ottawa wasn’t able to register a shot on goal until it found the net with three minutes to go through Steevan Dos Santos’ headed finish, and while for a moment it seemed like an improbably comeback similar to the one Fury FC pulled off against the New York Red Bulls II might be on, the visitors were held at bay as Sito Seoane’s last best change failed to find the target.

• 3. Louisville’s victory sets up one of the biggest games of the regular season next Saturday night when City visits the Charleston Battery at MUSC Health Stadium in a meeting of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. With results elsewhere on the night, Louisville and Charleston have looked the class of the conference, and Louisville will be eager to take its chance to narrow the gap at the top of the standings.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Brian Ownby, Louisville City FC – Ownby set the tone for the game, and scored a fine goal, as Louisville recorded an important victory against a solid playoff contender.

Upcoming Games:
Louisville City FC at Charleston Battery – July 8, 7 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium
Ottawa Fury FC at Toronto FC II – July 8, 7:30 p.m. ET, Ontario Soccer Centre