20 (ish) hours later and I am still upset. This team needs a reset before they fall out of championship competitor status.

Louisville City FC’s struggles in the USL Championship continued as they fell 2-0 to Detroit City FC in a very disappointing match at Keyworth Stadium. The boys in purple suffered their second consecutive league defeat, leaving them fifth in the Eastern Conference but falling nine points behind the league leaders. At this time, this feels like too big of a hill to overcome for LouCity. 

Coach Danny Cruz acknowledged the challenges his team faced going into the match. Injuries and a congested schedule forced him to make a season-high six changes to the starting lineup. Additionally, the lack of a finishing touch in the final third and controversial refereeing decisions added to LouCity’s woes.

Detroit City started strong, nearly scoring within the opening seconds as Brett Levis struck the crossbar. After looking at that shot several times, it was over the line and should have been a goal for Detriot. The home side then found the back of the net in the fifth minute through Ben Morris’s angled shot. Despite controlling possession and attempting nine shots in the first half, Louisville City failed to find the equalizer.

In the 53rd minute, LouCity thought they had scored when Paolo DelPiccolo connected with a cross from Oscar Jimenez. However, the goal was (somehow) ruled offside after consultation with the assistant referee. The momentum shifted back to Detroit City, who doubled their lead in the 60th minute with an unfortunate own goal by LouCity’s Sean Totsch. Detroit could have had two more goals in the following minutes.

The visitors pushed hard in the closing stages, out-shooting Detroit City and dominating possession. However, their efforts were in vain, and they were unable to break through the resolute defense.

Despite the team’s recent struggles, Coach Cruz remains confident in the squad’s abilities. With four of the next five games set to be played at home in Lynn Family Stadium, there’s an opportunity for LouCity to bounce back and rediscover their winning form. But at the rate they are scoring, I don’t know how the team will turn this season around. 

The upcoming match against Birmingham Legion on Saturday will provide an essential chance for the team to regroup and turn their season around. Cruz emphasizes the collective nature of the challenge, urging the coaching staff and players to work together to address the issues and return to their winning ways. A win over Birmingham would crack the door back open for LouCity to still make some noise this season but that won’t be easy. A loss, however, would shut them out of being a major threat to the USL Championship. It will be up to the players on the field to choose to play better and more as a team or start planning their holiday parties early. 

The club’s performance in the coming matches will be critical as they aim to secure a spot in the playoffs and reignite their confidence and belief in their abilities. With determination and unity, Louisville City FC can overcome its recent struggles and succeed on the field again.

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 courtesy of Detroit City FC