Although Louisville City still sits in a very comfortable position on the table, it’s hard to ignore the stinker that was OKCvLOU. Thankfully, Morados has a big opportunity to move on from that lackluster match and capture some huge points on the road against the Birmingham Legion. It’s been a while since these two squads last faced off. LouCity drew with the Legion in the May encounter but captured all three points in the June match at Lynn Family Stadium. Points in Birmingham would be important for City to cement their spot at the top of the Central Division, but it will be no easy task with FiveThirtyEight only giving LOU a narrow advantage.
The Legion has had a solid season. They sit second in the Central with a bit of a lead over Tulsa in third. It seems inevitable at this point they will make the playoffs. They have been defensively sound (1.1 goals conceded per match (5th)) and offensively threatening (5.1 shots on target per match (4th)), however, their conversion has left something to be desired (1.2 goals per match (23rd)). Birmingham’s form has been meh as of late. One win in three matches, with their most recent match with Tulsa, a 2-1 loss. They will be hungry for a big win.
There is a lot of talent on the Birmingham Legion. Neco Brett is threat number one; he is their Cameron Lancaster. With 11 goals this season (tied with Cam), shutting him down will be critical. The controversial Junior Flemmings and JJ Williams have provided five and three goals respectively and need to be respected when on the ball. Jonathan Dean has been doing a lot of complimentary work with the previously mentioned attackers. He has a team-high player rating of 7.26 with three assists, an average of 1.8 key passes per match, and 31 created chances (15th). He is their Corben Bone.
The Bigger Picture
While LouCity’s draw with OKC didn’t help the fight for the regular-season championship, Phoenix’s loss to Oakland certainly did. PHX and El Paso do not have the toughest matches in the world this week, so any points in Alabama would be a win. The FiveThirtyEight percentages have evened out slightly over the past few weeks, with City gaining ground on the Rising. El Paso can’t be counted out of the equation either, as they still have a game in hand on both teams. It will certainly be interesting to see how this weekend plays out!
Parting Thoughts
On 09/18, LouCity will be heading north to take on Indy Eleven! Tickets to the designated visitor’s supporters section (208) can be obtained here. Let’s show the boys some support on the road!
Please note there will not be any team-organized transportation due to the ‘rona.
The Coopers Angel’s Share program is focusing on helping man’s best friend and the furry felines of Louisville in August. Check out the post here to see how you can help and win a signed LouCity ball!
If you’re looking to expand your purple wardrobe, Vamos Morados shirts are available!
Want to do a little more reading on LouCity? Might I suggest How’s It Going? Part 2, The Tifos of Louisville City, or The Louisville City Youth Movement?
Be sure to check out the Vamos Morados Podcast featuring me, Benton, and Zach Allen-Kelly. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Audible, and Spotify. Everything you need to listen can be found on the Podcast page. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
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