Commonwealth Cup (soccer rivalry)

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The Commonwealth Cup Presented By Republic Bank
Commonwealth Cup Trophy.png
Other namesEl Bluegrassico, The Bourbon Brawl
SportSoccer
TypeInner-State Derby
Teams
Latest meetingJuly 26, 2025
USL Jägermeister Cup
Lexington 1 – 2 Louisville
Stadiums Lexington SC Stadium
Lexington, Kentucky

Lynn Family Stadium
Louisville, Kentucky
Statistics
All-time recordLouisville leads series: 3–0–0
Location of the two teams

TheCommonwealth Cup is a rivalry between two American United Soccer League (USL) teams in Kentucky: Louisville City FC and Lexington SC. Currently, both teams play in the Championship Division of the United Soccer League. As of July 2025, both teams have played each other in the USL Championship Regular Season, The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, The USL Jägermeister Cup and in Preseason Friendlies. The rivalry between Lexington SC and Louisville City is a manifestation of a greater cultural between the cities of Lexington and Louisville. As the two largest cities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Lexington and Louisville are major cultural hubs for the state.

Contents

In August 2024, the USL announced it would be promoting Lexington SC to the Championship Division of the USL, despite Lexington being one of the least populous cities in the Championship Division. With this, Lexington SC and Louisville City will meet during the USL's "rivalry week." [1] [2] Due to Louisville City losing its other rivals (Cincinnati and St. Louis) to MLS expansion, Lexington SC has become their clear replacement in that regard. The Lexington SC official 2025 schedule declares Louisville as its rival, and the two clubs have three different matches scheduled against each other in the season.

As of July 2025, both teams play for a physical trophy presented by Republic Bank.

Background

Louisville City was founded in 2014, and has been on the USL's top clubs. Louisville City has won two USL Championships and remains near the top of the USL's ranking for average attendance. [3] [4] Unfortunately for Louisville City, the club developed two fierce rivalries with FC Cincinnati and Saint Louis FC—two clubs that would dissolve due to their respective cities both gaining an MLS club. Due to the club's success and average attendance, many felt that Kentucky was primed for expansion to the MLS or for another club in the USL, so Lexington SC was established. [5]

Lexington SC was founded in 2021, and has seen a stable beginning. To support their new club, the City of Lexington announced it would be building a new soccer stadium and complex around the team, expecting to host >5,000 fans. [6] The stadium was completed in the middle of the 2024 season.

In their first match, Louisville City and Lexington met in the 2nd Round of the U.S. Open Club. Louisville City soundly beat Lexington 1–0. Louisville outshot and outpossessed Lexington in both halves of the game. [7] This would be a sign of things to come, as Louisville would dominate the first 3 matches, winning all 3 while outscoring Lexington 5–1.

In January 2024, Lexington SC announced it was signing former Louisville City captain and all-time club leading scorer Cameron Lancaster. He was later announced to be Lexington SC's captain. [8]

In 2025, it was announced that the rivalry would be officially called "The Commonwealth Cup Presented By Republic Bank." The trophy was first awarded on July 26, 2025, after Louisville defeated Lexington 2–1. In this game, Lexington wore their "Icicles Kit," a kit to honor the University of Kentucky's 1990s basketball teams who wore similar uniforms. [9] The game would be highlighted as Lexington SC's first ever sell-out game, a record attendance for the rivalry at 8,252. Louisville would win the game in thrilling fashion with Louisville's Jake Morris scoring a brace, scoring both goals in stoppage time. [10]

Statistics

Head-to-head record

SeasonDateCompetitionStadiumHome teamResultAway teamGoal scorersAttendanceSeriesRef
2023April 5 U.S. Open Cup Lynn Family Stadium Louisville City FC 1–0 Lexington SC (LOU) Soccerball shade.svg Totsch 69' (DelPiccolo)4,205LOU 1–0–0
2025May 1 USL Championship Lynn Family StadiumLouisville City FC2–0Lexington SC(LOU) Soccerball shade.svg Gilbert 67' (OG), (LOU)Soccerball shade.svg Goodrum 81' (Wilson)8,233LOU 2–0–0 [11]
2025July 26 USL Jägermeister Cup Lexington SC Stadium Lexington SC2–1Louisville City FC(LEX) Soccerball shade.svg Greene 87' (Adedokun), (LOU) Soccerball shade.svg Morris 90+1', (LOU) Soccerball shade.svg Morris 90+7'8,252LOU 3–0–0 [12]

All-time leading scorers

PlayerTeamGoals Scored
Jake MorrisLouisville City2 (2025)
Jacob GreeneLexington SC1 (2025)

Players that have played for both clubs

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
7 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Issac Cano(Loaned from Louisville City to Lexington SC)
17 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Cameron Lancaster (C)(Captained both teams)

References

  1. ↑ Peake, Steven (April 30, 2025). "Commonwealth Cup Debuts as Louisville and Lexington Ignite a New Soccer Rivalry". KSR. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  2. ↑ Staff, USLSoccer com (August 13, 2024). "Lexington Sporting Club to join USL Championship for 2025 season". USL Championship. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  3. ↑ "2023 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Our Club". Louisville City FC. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ Stinnett, Kevin O. (October 5, 2021). "Professional soccer team coming to Lexington in 2023". Lane Report | Kentucky Business & Economic News. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Lexington Sporting Club selects site, unveils plans for stadium". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Louisville 1–0 Lexington (Apr 5, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  8. ↑ USLLeagueOne com Staff (January 22, 2024). "Lexington sign USL Championship legend Cameron Lancaster". USL Championship. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  9. ↑ Franklin, Drew (July 15, 2025). "The icicles are back: Lexington SC channels 90s Kentucky Basketball for Louisville rivalry". KSR. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Morris' heroics rally LouCity to Commonwealth Cup win over Lexington SC". Louisville City FC. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  11. ↑ "LouCity vs. Lexington SC: Republic Bank presents the Commonwealth Cup". Louisville City FC. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Morris' heroics rally LouCity to Commonwealth Cup win over Lexington SC". Louisville City FC. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
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