On the surface a 0-0 draw doesn’t sound great. But, some draws are more useful than others. Earning a point away in Louisville certainly qualifies as a point gained rather than two points lost. The Lynn Family Stadium remains a tough place for any team to visit. DCFC has only won there once, last year’s stunning 1-0 win in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. They had previously drawn there in the USL League Cup, but lost in a penalty kick shootout.
Coach Danny Dichio will be pleased with this result. DCFC controlled long stretches of play, dictating the pace of the game and keeping Louisville City’s dangerous attack off the board. Goalkeeper Carlos Herrera has four straight shutouts, a testimony to the new defensive scheme taking hold. Following Stephen Carroll’s retirement and Michael Bryant’s serious injury just days before the start of the season, Dichio had to re-jigger his rearguard. Last year’s back three with two wingbacks gave way to a more traditional back four. Callum Montgomery has proved to be an astute signing. He gives the team a no-nonsense physical presence next to captain Devon Amoo-Mensah. Aedan Stanley has played left back the last two games, displacing Tommy Silva who held the role much of the season. Haruki Yamazaki plays on the right. Yamazaki’s transformation from a part-time midfielder to a full-time defender has made him one of the first names Dichio puts into his lineup sheet.
In Louisville, the back four stifled a team that produced 37 goals in their first 21 games. Of course, the Eastern Conference powerhouse isn’t the first team to struggle against Le Rouge. DCFC has only conceded 17 goals in 22 games, the best record in the entire USL Championship. They also have 10 shutouts, second only to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 11.
Unfortunately for DCFC, the Rowdies also picked up a point over the weekend and second place Charleston won. DCFC still has a game in hand on the two teams above them, so there will be an opportunity to pick up some ground. However, the most important point gaps remain behind DCFC. They are 14 points clear of 9th place Miami, meaning a playoff spot will be secured sooner rather than later. Earning a draw in Louisville maintained a four point lead over the 5th place team, meaning DCFC is currently in position to host a playoff game.
The point earned in Louisville did come at a price. Striker Darren Smith pulled up just eight minutes into the second half, holding his hamstring. Losing their top attacking threat for any length of time at the point in the season would be a major blow to City’s hopes of finishing higher in the league. Smith has 12 goals, second in the league. He is a constant menace to defenders, darting into spaces behind back lines and finishing off counterattacks. There really isn’t another player on the roster who can take his place. Chisom Egbuchulam came on against Louisville, but didn’t pose any problems to the home side. Ben Morris is another candidate, but looks nothing like his pre-injury self. Dichio may have to look outside the current roster and make a bold move to bolster the attack if Smith stands to miss any significant time.
Whatever DCFC’s Plan B is for scoring goals will be tested this weekend. They will welcome Hartford Athletic to Keyworth Stadium for an Eastern Conference battle. Hartford holds the last playoff spot, five points ahead of Miami FC. They are in a battle for position with their local rivals Rhode Island and Indy XI. Given how tight the table is, this could very well be a first-round playoff matchup. Hartford won the reverse fixture 2-1 in early May on an 89th-minute goal by Adrian Diz from a corner kick. The teams had exchanged own goals in a close game either team could have won. The rematch looks likely to be another tight contest.
