Know Your Opponent: Loudoun United FC

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Loudoun United FC

Manager: Ryan Martin

Formation: 4-4-2

Regular Season W-L-D: 8-4-7 (4th in USL Championship; East), 2-0-2 (1st in Group Five)

Last 5 Games: LDLD

Previous USL Cup Results: W 1-0 @ Lexington, W 2-1 vs. Louisville, W 1-1(4-3) vs. Charlotte, L 1-1(3-5) @ Tulsa

Players to Watch: Florian Valot, Abedellatif Aboukoura

Top Goalscorers: Abedellatif Aboukoura - 11 goals

Top Assists: Florian Valot - 6 assists

Top Yellow Cards: Keegan Tingey - 5 yellow cards

Top Red Cards: Yanis Leerman - 2 red cards

Loudoun are the surprise package of the USL Championship this season. After finishing in 11th place in the Eastern Conference last season and failing to qualify for the playoffs in every season of the club's existence, Loudoun find themselves in solid standing in the playoff hunt this year. This year's effort is spearheaded by the Loudoun attack. Abedellatif Aboukoura is joint leader in the USL Championship's Golden Boot race with 11 goals scored in the league. Loudoun have found the back of the net 28 times, so Aboukoura's goals account for nearly 40% of his team's tally. And this is paired with Florian Valot being two assists off from the leaders, with 6 assists so far in regular season play. //

The defense is the troublesome spot for Loudoun. They have only been able to keep four clean sheets throughout the regular season and are tied for 6th in goals conceded. That being said, they got a clean sheet recently in their August 9th match against Rhode Island. Look for Loudoun's central midfield to try and block off any dangerous passes aimed towards the Sacramento strikers. One name that will be familiar to Republic fans is Drew Skundrich. The veteran midfielder has found a role in Loudoun's formation being that defensive midfielder who can position himself well and cut off the opposing attack. The backline for Loudoun will try and keep at least one person closeby to each of the Republic's forwards, mainly that central striker position. So players like Sebastian Herrera or Khori Bennett will have to deal with centerbacks not willing to budge when it comes to being in close proximity.

Republic's Way of Victory