
For only the second time ever, the Louisville Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest (LIPAFC) had silverware on the line. The 2019 Eastern Conference Finals was an instant classic, so the bar was set high in terms of entertainment value. Following Louisville City’s midweek routing of Miami FC, the boys in purple had a chance to lock up the club’s first-ever Players’ Shield. Getting the chance to do it at a regional rival was all too perfect. However, it is a different Indy Eleven team than the one we saw way back in April. They rebounded from a poor start and minus a very rough August. Indy looks to be the solid quality opponent we have come to know. After the Battery drew to Detroit earlier in the day, a draw is all that would be needed for LouCity to lock up 1st place and win the Shield.

The match was off to a wonderful start with Amadou Dia scoring his first for the club just 12’ into the match. LouCity continued to make their presence felt, but it was the home team that found the back of the net next. Credit where credit is due. It was an outstanding effort from Augustine Williams to tie the match up right before halftime. Williams scored a second at 68’ and suddenly the prospect of securing first seemed like it may need an additional week. Louisville City kept on the gas and their never-say-die attitude paid off. Jake Morris hammered off a shot from the middle of the box and through a crowd to break the hearts of the locals and send Louisville City fans into a frenzy. It's not often you will see this club celebrate a draw, but it was all they needed to secure the club’s first Players’ Shield.
“Like Danny’s been talking about all season, always believe until the last, final whistle,” Dia shared after the match. For as exciting of an accomplishment as it is, Coach Danny Cruz knows this isn’t the finish line. “I want them to be proud, no question, but not satisfied,” Coach Cruz said of his squad. “This is an objective. This is something the players earned and something they should certainly be proud of — no question about that.”

The 2-2 final scoreline was not favorable to LouCity. The Players’ Shield winners rifled off 31 shots and created 5 big chances. The American Soccer Analysis calculated xG of 3.96 is the highest of the season in the league. And with the xG differential from the home side being 3.25 makes it the largest xGD in favor of an away opponent. Indy was efficient with their limited chances (7 shots, 3 on target) but they will be thankful to have earned anything from that LIPAFC.


Finally winning the Players’ Shield is a magnificent achievement for the club. Saying “finally” feels apropos given LouCity’s consistent success. They have yet to miss an ECF, but coming out of the lengthy season grind on top is something that had eluded previous Louisville teams. Its meaning and the methodology of determining the “best” is one for debate. However, in American culture, playoffs still reign supreme. The Players’ Shield may be the better marker for crowning the best team, but it will be the ones who lift the cup that history will smile upon most favorably. The team set out to win everything, and this was one objective in route for the ultimate prize. Hopefully, there will be an Eastern Conference Champions trophy lifted with the USL Cup following shortly after. But there is still work to do to get there. One step at a time.




Parting Thoughts
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