The Louisville City Football Club suffered the first defeat in its brief history Saturday.
Patrick Slogic’s goal in the 65th minute propelled the host Charlotte Independence to a 1-0 win over the Coopers at Transamerica FIeld.
The loss leaves LouCity (2-1-3) in fourth place in the United Soccer League’s Eastern Conference.
Louisville won its inaugural match March 28 against Saint Louis FC, then tied three straight, before beating the Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-0 on April 25. The Coopers’ unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday, though, because they couldn’t convert their ample opportunities.
LouCity outshot Charlotte 18-15, including 6-3 in shots on goal, but couldn’t get any of its attempts in the net. Louisville also had a huge 12-1 advantage in corner kicks.
In fact it was the Independence’s only corner that led to its goal. The corner kick was initially cleared out by the Coopers, but the ball fell right to the feet of Charlotte’s Enzo Martinez, who sent a ball to Slogic, who headed it past LouCity keeper Scott Goodwin.
Louisville’s best chance for the equalizer came in the 73rd minute when midfielder Magnus Rasmussen’s free kick was deflected out of bounds by Charlotte keeper John Berner, who is on loan from the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.
With the victory the Independence (1-2-2) is now tied for eighth in the USL Eastern Conference standings.
Louisville will be back in action on May 12, when it hosts the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:30 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field.
Photo courtesy Louisville City FC Facebook Page
