club background
The Lexington Sports Club is in its second season of young history. USL League 1 clubs announced for fall 2021. Due to its ambitious plans to build a world-class stadium in the Lexington-Fayette area, the club has found a temporary home at Toyota Stadium on the campus of Georgetown University. Cincinnati Bengals fans may remember this stadium as the home of the Bengals' summer training camps from 1997 to 2012.
Lexington SC finished the inaugural USL league in ninth place with a record of 7-11-14. LSC will be coached by former English footballer Sam Stockley in 2023, before taking up the full-time role of sporting director in 2024. Stockley filled the vacant head coaching position with Darren Powell. Powell has a long coaching history in the U.S. soccer world, from 1998 to the present, from the collegiate ranks to MLS.
The roster is loaded with experienced USL Championship talent. Returning to the club are former San Diego Royal and Jamaican international goalkeeper Amal Knight and former San Antonio FC 2023 USL League 1 All-League midfielder Ates Diouf. Lexington SC also signed several big stars in the offseason. There's no greater player than former Louisville City forward Cameron Lancaster. Lancaster led Louisville City to back-to-back USL Cup titles in 2017 and 2018. Lancaster is the all-time leading scorer in a single season in the USL Championship. Other notable offseason signings include Jaden Onen, Ebenezer Acon, and Jorge Corrales. With more firepower, it's no wonder why Lexington SC is the favorite to win his USL League One title in 2024.
atmosphere
Games at Toyota Stadium have a fun and energetic atmosphere. Fans follow and park in parking lots around the university campus. When they get together and talk the ball to each other, it paints a picture very similar to Saturday college football in the South. Street vendors offering tacos and shaved ice are parked outside the stadium. Inside the stadium there is an impressive team shop where fans can purchase all kinds of Nike apparel wearing their LSC. One downside to the atmosphere inside the stadium is the lack of alcohol sales that many Cincinnati residents and soccer fans are accustomed to at typical sporting events. The stand offers a lively, family-friendly environment. On this particular game day, the ever-popular University of Kentucky Wildcat basketball team was playing in the conference tournament at the same time the game kicked off. With the forecast calling for chilly and foggy weather, it can't be helped that the number of visitors will drop. However, we still saw a good performance from LSC fans. Official Support of Lexington SC His group, the Railbirds, was drumming and flag-waving in Section 109, aptly nicknamed “The Stables.”
game
After a 0-0 draw in their season opener against the Northern Colorado Halestorm, Lexington SC was hungry for their first win of the season. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC did not play in Game 1, but were still looking for three points to start the 2024 season. But after a thrilling ending, Lexington SC won 1-0.
The match started with a long break. The rain made the playing surface of the grass field slippery, resulting in several unplayable passes. The physical nature of both teams was evident early on as multiple players attacked the deck with hard tackles.
The match started at 18th In that minute, Ouarefi dos Reis took a shot from outside the box from a Red Wolves corner kick, requiring a save from Knight. Shortly after, the Red Wolves' Johnny Filipe tried his luck with a shot, but Knight again made the save.
Lexington SC's Jaden Onen scored several goals from the left side into the box between the 31st and 37th minutes, then moved to the center for the first and best chance of the game. Onen weaved his way past defenders into the box and took a shot at good tempo, but Chattanooga keeper TJ Bush made a good save.
The match was suspended in the 41st minute due to Ramadan, and resumed two minutes later. With the score still 0-0 at the end of the first half, the club headed to the locker room.
Much of the beginning of the second half was a physical play, much like the first. In the 55th minute, Chattanooga's Philippe injured his right foot and had to leave the game. In the 66th minute, Ricky Lewis was able to find space and take a low shot on goal, requiring a key goal-line intervention from LSC center back Kaylon Fox.
Young local star Isaac Cano made his club debut for Lexington SC in the 72nd minute. Cano was the 2021 Paul Laurence Dunbar High School state champion. He was previously on Louisville City's roster but returned to Lexington on a one-year loan deal.
The breakthrough of the match came in the 79th minute, when Maltese midfielder Yannick Jankam scored a goal from a set-piece lob in the center of the box. Yankum fired a laser shot into the net, giving Busch no chance to make the save.
One of Lexington SC's biggest weaknesses in 2023 was the late-game results. LSC, who lead 1-0, will need to prove that lessons have been learned ahead of the 2024 season. In the 87th minute, Knight made a great save from a driving header by Lewis of the Red Wolves. In the 95th minute, a nerve-wracking shot hit the crossbar, but Lexington's defense remained unfazed.
“Last season we didn't finish games properly,” Knight said. “So this season, we've worked hard defensively. You can see everyone doing the right thing and everyone working together. For me and for the team, we've got to keep moving forward. not.”
The final whistle sounded and Lexington SC took home the three points. There were many smiles on the field after the game. Russell shared his thoughts after his first win as Lexington SC's coach.
“I'm so proud of the players, so proud of everyone,” Russell said. “I'm really happy for everyone involved in the organization, from the fans to the players to the staff who come in and work every day. We're going to build on this and I think we'll probably play better than we did tonight. But I managed to get my first win on my second shift this year.”
the goal:
Lexington SC: Yankum 79'
Next match:
US Open Cup – At Vermont Green FC – Tuesday, 3/19 7:00 PM EST – ussoccer.com
