Back on Top: Second-half surge helps LouCity beat North Carolina, reclaim 1st in East

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville City FC is back on top — and made sure everyone noticed.

Fueled by a dominant second-half performance, LouCity pulled away from North Carolina FC for a 4-1 victory Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium, reclaiming first place in the USL Championship's Eastern Conference.

The win, powered by goals from Phillip Goodrum, Jansen Wilson, and Evan Davila after halftime, also marked a measure of revenge. North Carolina remains the only club to beat Louisville in league play this season — but not again.

"I thought it was a strong second half for sure," head coach Danny Cruz said. "In the first half, we had some good moments. ... then I thought it wasn't good enough from there. Poor turnovers in bad areas and we know they're looking for transitional moments and that's what they found. That being said, good halftime talk, good response, really good execution from the group. It's important to collect three points in a big game against a team that's right there in the table."

A crowd of 9,756 — LouCity's second-largest of the season — saw the boys in purple flex their firepower, posting five big chances and matching their second-highest goal total of the year. Midfielder Sam Gleadle came off the bench to deliver two assists and tilt the match decisively in LouCity's favor.

The result sets up a heavyweight showdown next Saturday: LouCity hosts the Charleston Battery in a clash of Eastern Conference co-leaders, with both clubs sitting on 41 points. It's this year's "Fill the Fam" match, and the stakes are considerable — not just in the standings, but in the race for the Players' Shield, awarded to the team with the league's best regular-season record, as well as home-field advantage in the postseason.

Charleston and Louisville are currently 14 points clear of third-place Loudoun United in the East and nine ahead of Western leader New Mexico United.

"It could be a title-deciding game," Evan Davila said. "Tied on points, game at home, 'Fill the Fam.' We need this place to be loud, popping. We need all the support we can get because they're a great team and we know it's going to be a battle. We know we're going to fight for the fans."

LouCity struck first in the fifth minute through Kevon Lambert, who scored for the second time this week. North Carolina responded in the 18th, but from there, it was all Louisville. Goodrum gave the home side the lead again in the 50th, Wilson added breathing room 12 minutes later, and Davila tapped in the exclamation point in the 88th.

With the result, LouCity improves to 12-2-5 on the year. Charleston is 12-2-5 as well.