T&T’s Noah Powder had an assist and also scored as his Real Monarchs lifted a first-ever United Soccer Championship crown with a 3-1 triumph over Louisville City FC at Lynn Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday.
Goals by Erik Holt, Konrad Plewa, and Noah Powder sent the Monarchs to the title before a sellout crowd of 7,025 fans, making the side the first road team to claim victory in the Championship Final’s history.
Hosts Louisville, aiming for a third consecutive league title on home turf, flew out of the gates and took the lead in just the sixth minute, the fastest goal in the game’s history.
A quick passing move shifted possession to Niall Mc Cabe on the left side of the penalty area and his low cross through the six-yard area was met by Magnus Rasmussen, who recorded his 17th goal of the season from close range to send the majority of the crowd on hand into celebrations.
The Monarchs equalised with 25 minutes gone when Powder picked up possession on the right, sent the ball back to Jack Blake 25 yards from goal, and the midfielder’s square pass to the top of the penalty area was met by a first-time shot from Holt that picked out the bottom-right corner of the net.
Powder almost put the Monarchs ahead in the final minute of the first half as he launched a spectacular effort from 30 yards that Louisville goalkeeper Chris Hubbard just turned wide of the right post, but from the ensuing corner kick, Real was able to hold possession in the attacking third and Luke Mulholland’s cross from the left picked out Plewa for a headed finish that put the visitors ahead at the break.
Louisville came out brightly to start the second half as it looked to get back on level terms and five minutes after the break Ownby had a chance that was saved by Ochoa after a give-and-go with McCabe.
Powder then sealed victory in the 66th minute when he cut into the penalty area from the right side and unleashed a low, left-footed shot that skipped into the bottom-left corner of the net to give the Monarchs their two-goal advantage which they held until the final whistle to end LouCity’s reign at the top of the Championship as the Monarchs rose to take the throne.