Lou City 2 - Brooklyn 2 As It Happened

After this match concluded, the Knicks won their first NBA title in my lifetime. Before the match the Louisville Kings won their first United Bowl in my lifetime. Congratulations to both cities on these equally prestigious accomplishments. I guess it's only fair that both teams walk away with something on the night.

Lou City Lined Up As:

12-Faundez, 2-McFadden, 4-Totsch, 5-Dayes, 6-Duncan, 7-Serrano, 8-T Davila, 9-Donovan, 13-Dia, 47-Akale, 32-Adams (C)

4th Minute

Goal. Serrano is barged over. Not sure what the referee was looking at there. Then because the play isn't blown dead, Brooklyn goes right down the field and score.

Lou City 0 - Brooklyn 1

6th Minute

Brooklyn is pinging the ball around the box and get a shot off which hits the top of the crossbar and Lou City is lucky not to be down two.

12th Minute

The referee finally awards Lou City a free kick.

13th Minute

Dia sends a good ball into McFadden who heads it across the box but it is cleared. Then Brooklyn almost ends up catching City on the counter.

18th Minute

McFadden picks up a yellow.

20th Minute

Totsch sends a good ball into Donovan but it's tackled out for a corner.

21st Minute

Davila the Elder’s corner finds Duncan but there is no sting in the header.

26th Minute

McFadden and Serrano try to combine on a move but Serrano gets pushed too far out wide to take a good shot.

28th Minute

Alves for Brooklyn makes an embarrassing dive in the box when Akale nudges him, but wins the free kick regardless.

29th Minute

GOAL! After a barrage of chances with Akale hitting the bar, Donovan finally slots it home.

Lou City 1 - Brooklyn 1

32nd Minute

Faundez is called on to make a good save after he spills the initial one.

36th Minute

A nice Brooklyn cross finds a player in the box, but he heads it wide.

38th Minute

Lou City works a nice free kick from Duncan to Totsch, but it's saved.

39th Minute

Donovan is bleeding. This referee is having a howler of a match. Donovan dons the “blood jersey” ...number 34.

45th Minute

The Lou City crowd has had enough of the Wanker in Chief.

Stoppage Time

Donovan's hustle keeps the ball in, and he finds Duncan but Zach skies his shot.

Erick Lezama Pavon has put on the worst first-half officiating performance I have witnessed in a long time. Disgraceful.

Stoyanovic stands close to the fans in the Waterfront End while play is stopped as Donovan is tended to once again. Stefan looks like he enjoys the abuse. I bet he has to pay for that kind of abuse in his free time.

Halftime

Lou City 1 - Brooklyn 1

As long as Lou City continues to concede early goals, they will struggle to get results.

46th Minute

Wilson in for Totsch, Davila the Younger for Duncan, and Tola for Donovan.

48th Minute

City has a corner to defend.

49th Minute

A good chance for Brooklyn is cleared off the line.

51st Minute

Wilson tries to sneak one past the new keeper but he sees it.

54th Minute

Dayes slips and City looks to be in trouble.

55th Minute

Goal. Lou City get caught on the counter. Stojanovic is the one dealing the abuse this time and I am sure he enjoyed scoring in front of the Waterfront End.

Lou City 1 - Brooklyn 2

57th Minute

Dayes hits the post from a corner but it is cleared out for another corner.

65th Minute

Dia crosses one too close to the keeper.

67th Minute

Moguel in for Dayes.

69th Minute

Akale sends in a great ball to Serrano but he skies it over the bar.

72nd Minute

Wilson's hustle wins a corner.

73rd Minute

Morris in for Dia.

77th Minute

Akale slides one in for Tola, but he can't connect.

80th Minute

Akale fires one in but it saved out for a corner.

82nd Minute

Akale's free kick hits the wall.

87th Minute

Tola tries to turn in the box but it's blocked out for a corner

89th Minute

GOAL! After applying consistent pressure Serrano finds the ball at his feet and slots in home.

Lou City 2 - Brooklyn 2

90th Minute

Morris fires one in toward Tola, but it goes over the line harmlessly.

Stoppage Time

Faundez bails out his defenders and gets to the ball just before the Brooklyn attacker.

ETD's shot goes wide in Lou City’s last atrack.

Full Time

Lou City 2 - Brooklyn 2

This isn’t a vintage Lou City team at the moment. Part of it could be them still finding their feet with a new coach. Part of it could be trying to see what style they want to play.

After the match, all involved (Bird, Akale, Serrano) talk about the performance not being good enough. In my opinion, the problems start with the transition defense. That needs to get sorted out quickly or it will be a miserable season. I believe that clean sheets turn around fortunes. Right now, City doesn’t seem cohesive enough to bank on those very often. I think there is some light pressure on Coach Bird, but the players haven’t given him much help recently. I do know that this team misses an enforcer like Lambert in front of the back line. He has a unique skillset on this team, so if he can get healthy, he could be a catalyst for quick improvement. A healthy AND “in form” back line of Dayes-Jones-Adams would go a long way too.

On the positive side, Lou City did score from applying consistent pressure in this match, which for me is key. Donovan’s and Serrano’s goals weren’t things of beauty, but payoff of keeping the ball alive in the box. If City can play a little more front-footed like they usually do, maybe they can disguise some of their weaknesses until they can figure out the back.

Player Ratings

Faundez-6, Dia-6, Totsch-5, Dayes-5, Adams-5.5, McFadden-6.5, Duncan-6, T. Davila-6, Serrano-7, Donovan-8, Akale-7, Wilson-6, Showunmi-5, E. Davila-6