Louisville City won this match against Detroit City 2-1 via a Joshua Wynder header on a corner where he rose above everyone. The 17-year-old was the star of this match as soon as he entered and helped his club maintain their stride at the top of the table. Manager Danny Cruz ran a 4-3-3 with inverted wingers that threatened Detroit City’s defensive line with skill and pace all match. Wilson Harris, Louisville City’s top scorer, picked up the leveler in this match that never seemed in doubt for his club after he scored.
Ratings:
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be a strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Joshua Wynder
Player Profile:
- Nationality: United States
- Age: 17
- Date of birth: 02/05/2005
- Club: Louisville City FC
- Career: Louisville City FC
- Position: Left Back
- Secondary Position: Center Back
- Preferred foot: Right
Joshua Wynder is a lanky 183 cm center back that played left back after entering this match at half time. Despite only a half of action and playing out of position, the young rising star was able to score the winner for Louisville City. On that goal he displayed excellent jumping ability and explosion to get up higher than taller players and then finish bottom right with some power and placement. His aerial duels in this match were mostly successful, following each win with a nice clearance or accurate header. Wynder also has long strides which translate to decent recovery speed and pace. The academy graduate has some great athletic tools to work with.
Wynder was a constant threat pressuring on the wing against Detroit City. He stuck to his defensive line and made sure he was in the right place. It was good to see him paying attention to this and it will come more natural with time. Wynder’s positioning allowed him to cut out passing lanes and this led to a block that prevented a threatening pass from entering the box. Pressing against the boundary on the wing, Wynder made a couple sliding challenges to both turnover play and stop a counter by forcing a throw in. He was not afraid to make his presence felt physically, but within legal bounds. In another tackle attempt, he made a clean strip with a stand tackle and immediately started counter, Wynder sprinted down left in support as his teammate picked up the loose ball. He also displayed great instincts reacting with body movement each time the ball moved, opening up his body to adjust.
Playing as a defensive-minded left back instead of his usual center back position allowed Wynder to put his offensive skill on display some, although he did not get too technical as he is more ball-playing center back than full back. Playing left back while only having a right foot he was comfortable in using made affecting the attack more difficult for Wynder, but he overcame it. He had an over hit through ball down the left channel with his right but clearly kept that attitude of advancing the ball throughout his time on the pitch. He had a couple of accurate long balls down the left flank later on. Wynder preferred to make short passes and play it safe, especially after he scored the winner via that header on the corner. Because he passed mostly with his right, he was able to invert play and start attacks through the middle channel with link up play. He did make mistakes due to playing out of position though and over hit a dribble in the middle third that lost possession. Wynder’s first touch on ball was not always reliable, another example being a poor pass off the volley. Off ball, to get open, he made wide runs down the left side and stretched the pitch. He would receive a pass and carry with his left foot, but the distribution stayed with his right inside.
Rating – A1
Joshua Wynder played a complete game against Detroit City and scored the winner, doing enough team of the week honors along the way. He showed a lot of promise but did make some mistakes that reminded me of his age. The highs outweighed the lows, though, and Wynder lived up to the hype in this match. The ball-playing defender could try his hand in the MLS next season, he showcased more than enough here to make a step up. My worry is he would not be as consistent in the MLS, so he should either stay in Louisville for another season or take the Kobi Henry path by signing with a top European club with a youth team playing around the level of USL football. The ultimate goal being that Wynder develops enough to compete for a place in that club’s first team.
Enoch Mushagalusa
Player Profile:
- Nationality: United States
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 13/11/1999
- Club: Louisville City FC
- Career: Salt Lake Community College Bruins, Colorado Rapids (Y), Colorado Pride, Sporting Kansas City (Y)
- Position: Left Winger
- Secondary Position: Right Winger
- Preferred foot: Right
Enoch Mushagalusa is a winger that started this game on the left as an inverted winger and played some right winger, too. The right-footer played 79 minutes before being subbed off in this win. The 180 cm Mushagalusa displayed burst and quick pace and had strength to ward off defenders despite not being the biggest.
Offensively, Mushagalusa controlled whichever flank he was on. He constantly made long wide runs down the wings to get under through balls and then cut inside using his excellent control of the ball and skill when dribbling. He would also make inverted runs from the wing into the box in transition. Mushagalusa would come to the ball and dribble move inside if the transition runs were not there. One of his favorite ways to get open were give-and-go’s, as he attempted multiple, displaying his explosion when cutting and getting some to work. Mushagalusa was clearly a stronger right-footed player but was not afraid to mix in his left when on the left or cutting inside from the right. He was an excellent dribbler with both feet and shot with power with his left the same way he did with his right, engaging from the wing on the outside or cutting inside. Mushagalusa had plenty of finishing opportunities in this match but was unfortunate to not come away with a goal. As skill/flair reliant players do sometimes, he had some 1v1 opportunities where he was stopped by a simple tackle or box out, but he had so many more successful 1v1 dribbles to more than balance that. Mushagalusa’s crosses were accurate with both feet in this match, and combined with his finishing and dribbling, made him a nearly two-footed player. The confident and pacy ball-carrying winger was a huge wide threat for Louisville City.
On defense, Mushagalusa came back to get in the way of the ball and cut out passing lanes, the typical winger defensive role. His pace could have been utilized better on the press, though, as when given the chance he disrupted buildup. On one press he blocked a pass in anticipation of it. Another time, he intercepted a pass on the press and made a solo run down the field flicking the ball past the defender forward and catching the goalkeeper out of goal nearly scoring from way outside the box missing wide right.
Rating – A2
Enoch Mushagalusa was the skillful and pacy wing threat needed in this system and put in a great performance. Despite not entering the score sheet he had plenty of chances and should have had an assist and made his mark. Mushagalusa displayed the talent of a player ready to step up and be an everyday starter on the wing in the MLS. He is a polished winger, but he may be close to his ceiling already.