Louisville City FC ended their regular season in style on Saturday night, rallying from an early deficit to secure a dominant 4-1 victory over Phoenix Rising FC at Lynn Family Stadium. The win capped off a record-breaking season, tying the league’s single-season win record of 24, originally set by San Antonio FC in 2022.
Wilson Harris led the charge with two first-half goals, while Ray Serrano and Phillip Goodrum added insurance in the second half. LouCity’s performance also secured the No. 1 overall seed in the USL Championship Playoffs, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against North Carolina FC next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
A Strong Start to Playoff Preparations
Head coach Danny Cruz praised his team’s resilience after conceding an early goal. “I’m really proud of the way we responded,” said Cruz. “Even after going down, we stuck to the game plan, stayed disciplined, and made the most of our opportunities. Four goals at home heading into the playoffs is a great way to finish.”
LouCity was initially caught off guard when Phoenix scored in transition, with Jearl Margaritha finishing off a pass from Edgardo Rito. However, the home team quickly regained control, dominating possession and creating chances throughout the match.
Dominance on Both Ends
The boys in purple fired off 24 shots, with 18 of those inside the box, finishing with a season-best 86 goals scored and a club-record 16 home wins out of 17 matches. Their ability to recover from setbacks also stood out, with LouCity earning 23 points from losing positions this season, the most in the league.
“When we’re at home, we know we’ll create chances,” said Harris. “The way we transition into attack is a real strength, and as the game progresses, it opens up for us. Tonight was no different.”
Harris’ first goal was a showcase of skill, as he controlled Kyle Adams’ cross in the 24th minute and turned to fire home. Just four minutes later, Harris put LouCity ahead with a header off Adrien Perez’s delivery.
Finishing Strong
The second half saw LouCity add two more goals to cement the win. In the 66th minute, Adams provided another assist, lofting a ball over the defense that Serrano calmly chipped over the goalkeeper. In stoppage time, Goodrum sealed the victory by heading in a Jake Morris corner kick at the back post.
Despite the impressive performance, Adams highlighted the importance of tightening up defensively as the playoffs begin. “Clean sheets will be key in the postseason,” he said. “At home, if we can score early and get the crowd behind us, we’ll be tough to beat.”
Next Up
LouCity will host eighth-seeded North Carolina FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal next Saturday at Lynn Family Stadium. With their momentum and home-field advantage, the boys in purple look poised to make a deep playoff run.
This article is based entirely on news an information from the original article found here published by Louisville City FC
