The city's new professional soccer team had a dazzling debut.
Magnus Rasmussen and Charlie Adams each scored goals to lead Louisville City FC to a 2-0 triumph over visiting Saint Louis FC in front of 6,067 fans at Louisville Slugger Field in its first-ever match.
Louisville City FC, one of 10 expansion teams added in the 24-team United Soccer League (USL), scored one goal in each half and got a shutout from goalkeeper Scott Goodwin to the delight of the purple-and-gold partisan crowd.
After an even first 21 minutes, which featured two shots and one corner kick by each team, the host Coopers ended the scoreless tie.
In the 22nd minute Rasmussen slipped behind the Saint Louis backline, stayed onside, and slotted a shot by past goalie Mark Pais for Louisville City FC’s first-ever goal.
A spectacular save by Goodwin in stoppage time of the first half assumed Louisville that it would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room at intermission.
The Coopers’ lead remained at one goal until the 64th minute when Adams, off a feed from Rasmussen, blasted a shot past Pais from just outside the top of the box to make it 2-0.
Louisville dominated the team statistics, outshooting Saint Louis 12-8 and recording nine corner kicks to its opponents’ two.
Louisville City FC next plays at the Richmond Kickers at 5 p.m. next Saturday. After that Louisville returns home to host the Rochester Rhinos at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night April 16.
Photo courtesy Louisville City FC Facebook Page
