Commonwealth Cup (soccer rivalry)
 | |
| Other names | El Bluegrassico, The Bourbon Brawl |
|---|---|
| Sport | Soccer |
| Type | Inner-State Derby |
| Teams | |
| Latest meeting | July 26, 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup Lexington 1 – 2 Louisville |
| Stadiums | Lexington SC Stadium Lexington, Kentucky Lynn Family Stadium Louisville, Kentucky |
| Statistics | |
| All-time record | Louisville leads series: 3–0–0 |
Location of the two teams | |
The Commonwealth 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.
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
| Season | Date | Competition | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Goal scorers | Attendance | Series | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 5 | U.S. Open Cup | Lynn Family Stadium | Louisville City FC | 1–0 | Lexington SC | (LOU)  Totsch 69' (DelPiccolo)
|
4,205 | LOU 1–0–0 | [1] |
| 2025 | May 1 | USL Championship | Lynn Family Stadium | Louisville City FC | 2–0 | Lexington SC | (LOU) Gilbert 67' (OG), (LOU) Goodrum 81' (Wilson)
|
8,233 | LOU 2–0–0 | [11] |
| 2025 | July 26 | USL Jägermeister Cup | Lexington SC Stadium | Lexington SC | 2–1 | Louisville City FC | (LEX) Greene 87' (Adedokun), (LOU) Morris 90+1', (LOU) Morris 90+7'
|
8,252 | LOU 3–0–0 | [12] |
All-time leading scorers
| Player | Team | Goals Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Morris | Louisville City | 2 (2025) |
| Jacob Greene | Lexington SC | 1 (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.
References
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