Probert, Pedersen Score in Top-25 Derby Match Draw at Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ninteenth-ranked Kentucky and No. 8 Louisville finished with honors even on Tuesday night at Lynn Stadium with Kentucky picking up a good road result in a 2-2 draw with the Cardinals.
All four goals were scored in the opening 45 minutes before the game settled in during the final 65 minutes, with just four combined shots in the second half and both extra time sessions.
The Setup
Both teams entered Tuesday with 2017 records of won 3, lost 0, drew 0.
Kentucky was playing its third away game in a row.
The Goals
Louisville scored on 14 minutes though the first goal of the season for Mohamed Thiaw. Adam Wilson and Adrien Cabon combined well in midfield after a run through the center of the pitch and threw the ball in front for a close-range finish from Thiaw.
Kentucky equalized less than two minutes later in the 16th minute. Connor Probert scored his first of the year on a free kick from 25 yards out along the right flank into the upper-right netting.
The Wildcats would get its first lead of the match in the 29th minute as Mikkel Pederson capped a peachy team goal. Tanner Hummel notched his first point of the season serving in a whipped ball with pace to the far post, and Pedersen finished it past the keeper to the right of the keeper.
UL would equalize on 42 minutes as Cody Cochran scored his first goal of the season. Cochran took advantage of an unlucky deflection from the UK defense on a set piece and slotted it home to the right of UK goalkeeper Enrique Facusse.
The Quote
“The game started a little hectic,” UK midfielder and Louisville native Sam Stockton said. “Once we kind of calmed down and started to play our own game we took advantage of some opportunities, got some nice goals in the first half, and then unfortunately they were able to tie it up.”
“The second half and overtime was a real battle. To come into a place like this and to get a result is real nice. It’s also nice to start the first four games of the season without a loss.”
The History
Kentucky played at Louisville for the 11th time. The Wildcats are now 11-8-5 against Louisville all-time, and 6-2-3 in Louisville. Kentucky won last year’s matchup 1-0, ending a two game losing streak to the Cardinals.
The last draw in the series was Aug. 30 of 2006 when the teams drew 1-1 at Louisville.
Up Next
The Wildcats open up C-USA play on Friday night at The Bell against UAB. The match will commence at 7:30 p.m. ET.
—
For the best coverage of UK men’s soccer follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in addition to on UKathletics.com.
