Louisville City has been uncharacteristically mediocre when it comes to their last few match results. In the past five, they are 1-2-2, with the most recent result being a draw at OKC. A disappointing stretch for the perennial powerhouse. This will not be getting any easier for the boys in purple as their next challenge will be heading north to take on rival side, Indy Eleven. This will be the first Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest in Indy in 2021. The previous two LIPAFC’s have been uninspiring, a loss in May and a draw in June. After a lengthy spell between the last LIPAFC, how will these teams stack up?
Thankfully for Louisville, momentum hasn’t exactly been on Indy’s side either. In their last five, they have gone 2-2-1 and have underperformed as a playoff favorite at the season start (79% chance as of 04/20) to duking it out for the last spot in the division (38% chance as of this writing). With only 4.3 shots on target per match (14th), 1.2 goals for per match (21st), and 1.4 goals against per match (20th), they are very middle-of-the-road on paper. With that said, they will have the advantage of playing at home for this LIPAFC and the next meeting on top of LouCity’s recent struggles.
Although they have lost their second-leading goal scorer, Jordan Hamilton, they still have several familiar faces known to cause trouble for Morados. Manuel Arteaga leads the Eleven with seven goals and has also contributed two assists. He has taken a whopping 57 shots this season, second to golden-boot favorite, Hadji Barry. Gordon Wild has a team-leading four assists along with three goals, 1.8 key passes per match, and an average player rating of 7.18. Nick Moon has added a well-rounded three assists and three goals along with his averaging rating of 7.21. We’d also be remised to not mention defender Neveal Hackshaw. Hackshaw is a problem at the back, averaging 3.6 clearances per match and a player rating of 7.26 (both team-leading).
The Bigger Picture
This LIPAFC will be big for more than one reason. Louisville City needs all the points they can get along with a little luck if they want to secure the regular-season crown. It is still doable, but getting harder with each dropped point. While they are in good standing in the division, they need to get back on track to secure as much home-field advantage as possible for the playoffs. Securing all three points against their rivals would be a big morale boost and help make up for some of the recent performances. While LouCity is favored to win at 46% per FiveThirtyEight, it will certainly not be easy regardless of Indy’s play this year.
Parting Thoughts
Get your tickets to this match! 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.
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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