Sacramento nabbed another three points this past weekend, besting San Diego Loyal SC at home to stretch their unbeaten start to the year. The tough contests continue as 2022 Eastern Conference Champion Louisville City FC comes to Heart Health Park for the very first time.
Last Week’s Drama
After starting 2023 with two victories, the Kentucky club suffered a rare home defeat to El Paso Locomotive FC. They were held scoreless and kept to just two shots on target without forward Brian Ownby, who was serving a suspension for a sending off in the club’s Week 2 contest at Monterey Bay F.C. The result was just their third on home turf since the start of last season. The club did well to create, but after falling behind, falling 3-0.
Offseason Moves
Largely, Louisville worked to bring back the bulk of the club’s existing core. Alongside the re-signing of stalwarts Sean Totsch, Brian Ownby and others, the club resigned Oscar Jimenez, Tyler Gibson, Paolo DelPiccolo, 17 year-old Joshua Wynder and Niall McCabe to keep the squad that reached the USL Championship final last season intact. To that group they added sparingly, but in a fashion that makes them stronger with former El Paso midfielder Dylan Mares and Denmark international Rasmus Thellufsen.
Players to Watch
Forward Brian Ownby’s return will strengthen the club’s attack significantly. The forward netted one goal and two assists in two contests before his suspension, with the lone goal going down as the eventual winner in his club’s Week 2 match. Alongside him on the attack is USL all-time leading goal-scorer Cam Lancaster, who after a 2022 riddled with injury has come back this season at full strength. Defender Amadou Dia also plays a key role in the club’s attack, having assisted two goals this season. He flanks 17-year-old Joshua Wynder coming off a breakout campaign where he was a finalist for U.S. Soccer’s Young Player of the Year honor.
Head-to-Head
Saturday’s match is just the second contest between the two clubs all time. It also marks Louisville’s first ever trip to Heart Health Park. Last season, a rotated Sacramento squad fell 3-1 on September 3 – the last league match contest before the Open Cup Final – after a lengthy weather delay in Kentucky in the second half.
