Lexington Sporting Club plays second professional match. How did LSC build on its debut?
Lexington Sporting Club will enter its home opener in USL League One next weekend still in search of its first victory in league play.
LSC played its second professional match on Saturday night, losing 2-1 at North Carolina FC in a USL League One regular-season match.
While the result leaves LSC with an 0-2-0 record after two games, more firsts were recorded for the club — which plays in the third tier of American men’s professional soccer — during the loss at North Carolina.
LexSporting scored its first goal from open play just five minutes into the match.
Attacker Khalid Balogun finished a cross from Tate Robertson to give LSC the early lead. The goal was the earliest score by any of the 12 teams in USL League One so far this season.
North Carolina FC’s response was nearly immediate, though: An own goal by LSC’s Owen Green allowed North Carolina to tie the match in the 13th minute.
This was the first own goal ever conceded by an LSC player.
The home team took what proved to be a decisive lead in the 73rd minute on a goal from Rafael Mentzingen.
As was the case for LSC’s debut match — also a 2-1 loss at One Knoxville SC in March — LexSporting failed to hold advantages in several important statistical categories.
North Carolina led time of possession (53.4%-46.6%), passes completed (373-332) and shots (10-7).
Veteran midfielder Don Smart, who scored the first goal in LSC history during the team’s first match at Knoxville, was not available to play Saturday at North Carolina after he earned the first red card in club history during the Knoxville match.
LSC to face Louisville City next
Next up for Lexington Sporting Club is a break from USL League One action with a match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
And it will be an occasion that makes soccer history in the commonwealth.
LSC will face Louisville City FC in the second round of the 108th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lynn Family Stadium in downtown Louisville.
The U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.
This is why LSC — which plays in the third tier of American men’s pro soccer in USL League One — can play Lou City, which plays in the USL Championship, the second tier of American men’s pro soccer.
This will be the first meeting between LSC and Lou City.
While LSC has lost its first two professional matches, each by a 2-1 scoreline on the road against other USL League One teams, there are reasons to believe LexSporting could pull a massive upset in Wednesday’s match, and they’re largely to do with how badly Lou City has been playing of late.
After beginning its season with a pair of road victories in California, Lou City’s form has taken a shocking turn: Lou City lost its home opener 3-0 and then lost 5-0 on Saturday night at Sacramento Republic.
This 5-0 loss was Lou City’s largest margin of defeat in a USL Championship game. It is the first time Lou City has been shutout in consecutive games since July 2019.
Also adding to Lexington’s hopes of an upset win is the fact that Lou City’s already lengthy list of early-season injuries grew on Saturday night to include defender Josh Wynder (knee) and striker Cameron Lancaster (muscle injury).
“We have an opportunity at home to try to turn things around on Wednesday,” Lou City head coach Danny Cruz said after Saturday’s loss to Sacramento. “You don’t just become a (bad) team overnight. We did some really good things the first couple weeks of the season, and we’ve done some very, very poor things the last two weeks. But I’m confident we’re going to be able to turn it around. I’m still confident in the group. But by no means is this acceptable.”
The winner of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup will receive $300,000 in prize money, with the runner-up getting $100,000.
The team that advances the furthest from each lower division will take home $25,000.
The best showing in 2022 by a USL League One franchise was by Union Omaha, which reached the quarterfinals.
WEDNESDAY
Lexington Sporting Club at Louisville City FC
What: U.S. Open Cup second-round match
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville
Tickets: Seatgeek.com/lexington-sporting-club
Streaming: B/R Football YouTube page
