Wins are good. This was a win. Therefore, it was good. City finally got off the schneid on Saturday night with a 1-0 win over a Sporting Kansas City II side that was definitely better than I advertised back on Friday. There were definitely stretches in the first half where KC was bossing the game and looked the better side. However, thanks to Cam Lancaster’s forehead and Ben Lundt’s heroics, the right City came away with all three points.

LouCity started the match with the same back line as against St. Louis a week before, only changing out the goalkeeper. Speedy, Napo and Corben Bone started in midfield again, while Niall McCabe took over the right wing spot to join Brian Ownby and Cam up front. Morados started the game pretty brightly, but about twenty minutes in, Kansas City took control of the game.

Both teams had two shots on target in the first half. While City was able to get some decent penetration into the wide areas of the final third, they weren’t able to generate any real danger from it. Of City’s 13 first half crosses, only one found its target and came to nothing. City’s offense in the first half, which consisted of recovering turnovers and going vertical up the wings to cross the ball in, was partially the product of SKC, like Pittsburgh and St. Louis, putting a lot of numbers in the middle of the field. It does beg the question, though, of how City can get more space for Lancaster to get the ball at his feet. Corben Bone’s lone first half key pass was at the left side of the D, otherwise he was ineffective at creating space for any real offensive threats.

City’s strategy of putting in crosses from wide areas was likely designed to try and pull defenders out of the box, but I’m not sure how effective it was, Lancaster’s goal in the 50′ notwithstanding. By the time City really got going late on in the second half, KC was throwing numbers forward anyway looking for an equalizer.

On to Lancaster’s goal: it was a great team play. From McMahon’s smooth drive toward the end line, the smart reverse ball to McCabe, and McCabe’s frankly inch-perfect ball and Cam’s finish, that’s good stuff. I’d still like to see City find a way to prize open the space between the KC center backs, but this time the wide cross strategy worked. Oddly enough, City crossed the ball a lot less in the second half, perhaps because they managed to finally get on the board.

Aside from the score, the game was pretty even in terms of possession and shots. Numbers aren’t particularly skewed one way or the other, except for shots attempted on City’s side. I’m all for keeping a defense on its toes, but LouCity’s conversion rate (goals divided by shots) four games into the season is 7% and that is quite bad. Passing was pretty good, though, if a bit sputtery in the final third.

Lancaster won Man of the Match, and Lundt came up big on a couple of occasions, but I’d argue Niall McCabe was the guy that should’ve gotten the award. The Irisher created four scoring chances, had the assist on Cam’s goal, four successful crosses, and really shouldered a lot of the load of creating offense on the right side of City’s attack. He played a great game.

The back line as a whole was really good, especially Sean Totsch, who probably had the best scoring chance of the first half. Wes Charpie was also really solid; hopefully his hamstring is okay.

Corben Bone was probably better than I’d noticed, creating three scoring chances in the game and passing really well, if only sparingly.

This wasn’t vintage LouCity soccer, but it was a win, and a better performance. Quick turnaround this week against the same guys is going to be pretty demanding. SKC II is better than advertised – all of their forwards are strong, creative players that weren’t easy to contain all game. Mompremier was subbed off early enough that I wouldn’t be shocked to see him again Wednesday night. No matter who the right back is, that’s going to be a tough assignment. Luckily, Christian Duke will probably get a rest and so how Sporting II set up in the middle will be a bit different.

Again, points are points and we’re glad to have them. Onward and upward.