LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cameron Lancaster scored what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot in the second half as Louisville City FC took a 2-1 win against OKC Energy FC on Saturday night before a crowd of 10,602 fans at Lynn Family Stadium.

Returning home after a midweek win, Louisville almost took the lead in the seventh minute as Jorge Gonzalez got into space on the right and cut back a cross that Antoine Hoppenot met with a first-time finish, only to be denied by a one-handed save by Energy FC’s CJ Cochran that tipped the effort over the crossbar. Hoppenot then rang the left upright with a shot from the top-right edge of the penalty area four minutes later after Corben Bone had his initial shot blocked before the rebound caromed away to safety.

The hosts took the lead eight minutes before halftime, however as Jimmy McLaughlin drove to the byline in the left side of the penalty area and cut back a cross that deflected off Energy FC defender Conor Donovan and in at the near post. Energy FC almost leveled five minutes later as Villyan Bijev was played in behind the defense by Mitch Osmond, but his finish was going wide of the right post before LouCity defender Joshua Wynder cleared the ball to safety as OKC’s Jaime Chavez tried to clean up a second chance.

Bijev had another chance to pull the visitors level with 20 minutes to go as he broke forward in the left channel and cut inside onto his right foot before shooting low to the right corner and forcing a good low save by LouCity’s Parker Siegfried, who punched wide of the post.

LouCity was awarded a penalty kick with 15 minutes to go, however, as Jonathan Gomez was fouled in the left side of the penalty area by Sam Rogers to give the hosts a chance to double their lead. Lancaster stepped up and delivered from the spot with a low shot to the right corner as Cochran went the opposite way.

Energy FC was awarded a penalty kick of its own with five minutes remaining as Tucker Stephenson was brought down in the area by LouCity defender Sean Totsch, and Bijev put home a shot to the left corner at the second attempt after his first shot from the spot – which also found the net – was chalked off for encroachment by his teammates at the edge of the penalty area. The visitors had one final chance to level in second-half stoppage time as Bijev delivered a free kick from the right into a crowded penalty area, but Siegfried punched clear and allowed the host to hold on for another three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Napo Matsoso, Louisville City FC – Matsoso was industrious in midfield, completing 76 of 82 passes while making seven recoveries and four interceptions defensively and one key pass to help the hosts earn victory.

Scoring Summary
LOU – Conor Donovan (Own Goal) 37’
LOU – Cameron Lancaster (Penalty Kick) 76’
OKC – Villyan Bijev (Penalty Kick) 87’

Full Box Score