Bethlehem Steel FC saw its best season in its young history conclude in the USL Eastern Conference Semifinals as the club fell to defending USL Cup Champions Louisville City FC, 2-0.

Squaring off against Louisville for the second consecutive postseason, the young Bethlehem Steel FC used their youth to its advantage, generating the evening’s first scoring chances. Santi Moar earned the first of six opening half corners for Steel FC in the fourth minute after creating a chance inside the Louisville box. Steel FC continued to build quickly but the hosts made the most of their first shot on target. Niall McCabe dribbled through the midfield and laid if off for a racing Oscar Jimenez. With a quick touch, Jimenez sent a low cross into the box that Ownby stole from a diving Steel FC defender and tucked it into the back of the net.

The result concludes Bethlehem Steel FC historic 2018 season in which the club won its first postseason match, earned its highest seeding while setting single-season records for wins (14), goals (58), assists (46) and wins at home (eight).

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Despite trailing twice on the road with six teenagers in the starting lineup, Bethlehem Steel FC battled until the end to win the organization’s first postseason match, advancing on penalty kicks 8-7.

Bethlehem Steel FC forced extra time on Michee Ngalina’s second-half strike, erasing the Riverhounds’ goal by Ben Zemanski. With 90 minutes not enough, Hugh Roberts lifted the home side ahead just before the intermission whistle but a free kick goal by James Chambers sent the match to the decisive penalties where all eight penalty kick takers scored.

With the scoreboard tied at 2-2, Bethlehem showed composure in its penalty takes shooting into the Riverhounds supporters’ section. Team captain Chambers was the first to step to the mark, firing a right-footed shot into the top left corner. Chris Nanco made it two for two from the spot and was followed by Omar Holness, Santi Moar and Drew Skundrich. The two sides continued to trade penalty kicks into the eighth round that saw Oliver Mbaizo convert while Pittsburgh missed the mark.

Starting six players under the age of 19, the youngsters showcased patience and defense in the first half against the hometown Riverhounds. Wanting to break the nerves, Santi Moar fired the night’s opening shot on target in the second minute but was turned away by the keeper. Congesting the midfield to slow down the Pittsburgh attack, Steel FC wasn’t test in the run of play until the 18th minute but 18-year-old Ben Ofeimu got a timely block to end the chance. Five minutes later Ofeimu was called upon again after a Steel FC turnover and answered with yet another stop.