Recap: Bethlehem Steel FC empty handed against Louisville City FC

Bethlehem Steel FC fall to winless in the last six despite playing well after an early strike from Guy Abend opened (and subsequently closed) the scoring. This game went the way the last few for Bethlehem have gone.
-Come out hard and quick early, with tons of energy and attacking prowess
-Probably concede due to some shoddy defending or Anderson
-Have plenty of chances in front of net that go begging for a finish.

It’s incredibly frustrating. This is a good team full of guys who most likely have some form of a future with the Union or at least are going to be USL mainstays. Anthony Fontana and Justin McMaster got starts! Both kids have impressed me greatly in their playing time with Steel FC especially because Fontana is still only 16. We also got to see a debut from Matthew Perrella who was with Newcastle United’s academy before coming over and playing for Rider University, Jacksonville Armada and the Carolina Railhawks. Perrella had two saves on three shots and generally looked good, which is nice given that CJ Dos Santos is now in Portugal with Benfica’s u-19 team.

That’s sort of where we are now this season, the playoffs are probably a wash but look at where we’ve had people end up who started the season with us.
-Mickey Daly got bought by the Railhawks in NASL, which is probably his ceiling at this point.
-Auston Trusty and Derrick Jones have both signed first team contracts while still being able to get professional minutes with the organization.
-Eric Ayuk has looked so lethal on the wing, if you thought he had promise when he was with the Union last year, watch his stuff now.
-Cory Burke, Gabe Gissie and Eric Ayuk have all gotten International call ups for their countries with all three playing in either World Cup or African Cup of Nations qualifying.

Yes, it’s really annoying that Steel FC probably aren’t going to make the playoffs. I’m not necessarily happy that while they can hold the hottest goal scorer in the East to zero goals twice but can’t come up with more than one point. Steel FC’s offense is inconsistent and they still haven’t exactly found a number nine. However, if they stop focusing on the results exclusively and look big picture, this can end up being a fun final stretch.

Bethlehem will look to recover and hopefully (finally) beat a Harrisburg team they haven’t yet when they play at FNB Field in Harrisburg on Tuesday night. We’ll have all the coverage of that game coming this week so stay here for all the Steel FC coverage you can ask for.