After needing a 98th-minute winner last weekend, Louisville City FC held on for a 3-2 victory away to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Saturday night.

LouCity academy product Carlos Moguel Jr. marked the occasion by registering his first assists for the club, setting up goals from Jorge Gonzalez and Elijah Wynder. Gonzalez opened the scoring by heading in Moguel’s 22nd-minute corner. Wynder then converted another Moguel delivery right after halftime to double LouCity’s advantage.

The hosts halved the deficit through Romario Williams soon after, but substitute Maarten Pouwels got on the scoresheet for the first time as a LouCity player to make it 3-1 late.

Williams converted a penalty for the Switchbacks in stoppage time, but City did enough to see out a win that continues their playoff push.

“I was really proud of the fight and mentality for sure for 90-plus,” said coach Danny Cruz. His side has now taken points from six of their last seven games.

Playing at altitude, LouCity had to grind this one out. Keeper Oliver Semmle made five saves as Colorado Springs enjoyed long spells of pressure. 

But City remained organized defensively when playing from ahead, conceding just two shots on frame in the second half.  

The victory kept LouCity fourth in the Eastern Conference, firmly in the playoff positions with seven games to go. Momentum is growing at precisely the right time.

“The group’s obviously in good spirits. The confidence is good, and it starts there,” Cruz remarked. Maintaining that mentality will be key as City pushes for a top-four finish. The Boys in Purple will now head down to Tampa to take on the second-place team in the east, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. 

Make sure to stick to Bluegrass Soccer Cast (@BGSoccerCast on all social media platforms) for full coverage of LouCity and everything soccer in our beautiful Commonwealth. 

(Photo: Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC)