Indy Eleven vs Detroit City FC - 11.32

Summary

- Opponent: Detroit City FC
- Location: Keyworth Stadium
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 0-0 D

- Starting XI: Sulte, Stanley, O'Brien, J., Ofeimu, Musa, Neidlinger, Quinn (C), Soumaoro, Foster, Martinez, Williams, A.

- Substitution: Blake 71' (Williams, A.); Lindley 79' (Foster); Wootton 87' (Soumaoro); Collier 87' (Martinez)

- Unused: Oettl, Chapman-Page, Mines

Scoring Summary:
NONE

- Bookings:

DET - Murphy 39' (Yellow)
IND - Soumaoro 57' (Yellow)
DET - Diop 69' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 69' (Yellow)
DET - Rodriguez 78'  (Yellow)

- Referee: Gerald Flores

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

In what was the 4th meeting between Indy and Detroit City in the 2024 season, both teams had a lot on the line. With any result other than a loss, Detroit would have clinched a playoff spot. With a win, Indy would clinch a playoff spot. Despite the two teams sitting third and fourth in the table, with the rest of the table breathing down their necks, getting three points was vital to maintain a goal of hosting a playoff game. With the 0-0 draw, Detroit clinched their spot in the playoffs, whereas Indy will have to wait for other results tonight or next week to officially clinch their own place in the postseason. The draw keeps the teams behind them still breathing down their necks.

There aren't many seasons where two teams play each other four times before the playoff starts (not counting the old NASL days or the 2020/2021 seasons), but this afternoon's meeting between Indy and Detroit was the fourth when you count the preseason game held at Grand Park. If you count that result, Indy held a 2W-IL record coming into the game with a +4 goal differential. However, the difference between that preseason lineup for Indy and this game's lineup is stark. Indy had just 3 players start the preseason game also start this game (Stanley, Martinez, and Williams, A.), one player is no longer with the team (Boudadi), and four players today weren't even on the roster then (Ofeimu, Musa, Soumaoro, and Foster). To say this was a different squad facing Detroit than what faced them in late February is an understatement. 

Detroit held a 67% to 33% possession advantage in the first half, which felt much like the game against Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup for Indy. Afterwards, McAuley described his tactical decisions during that game as feeling confident that the substitutions he could make in the second half gave him confidence that he didn't need the team to consistently press in the first half. He also felt in that game that as long as Indy kept it close, Indy would have a chance. Given the fact that this was the third game in eight days, Indy clearly came in with the intent to defend and then counter, and then see what could happen late.

What happened late was much of the same as what was seen through the entire game. Indy content to defend, forcing Detroit to take long-range shots, none of which ever really threatened Sulte outside of a two-shot sequence in the first half that could put the young goalkeeper up for Save of the Week again. Indy had a late free-kick opportunity that Blake put just a couple yards wide of the goal after getting the ball up and over the wall, but the scoreless draw remained intact. If you were looking for two teams in nearly a lock playoff positions to go toe-to-toe in an offensive display, this wasn't the game for you. If you like a display in grinding out a road result in the third game in 8 days, then you would have loved this game. As someone who would have liked to see a bit more out of Indy to try harder to get the three points, the game felt like a bit of a disappointment. 

Indy return to Carroll Stadium next Saturday for the final home game of the season against Birmingham. Whether they have solidified their position in the playoffs before the game might dictate how the game is played. Though, Indy really need positive results, and probably wins, to be able to lock in a home playoff game, so I fully expect Indy to be more proactive offensively than they were tonight.  

The Game Beckons Game Ball

For his fully extended parry save in the first half that kept this game even (but also probably prevented this game from opening up more - an Indy team chasing a result would have likely made this game go end to end), tonight's GBGB goes to Hunter Sulte. With the clean sheet, Sulte moves into a tie in team history with Evan Newton with 12 clean sheets across all competitions. Only Jon Busch sits in front of him now, but is out of reach for this season. If Portland renews the loan next season, Busch's club record may be in peril.

Indy Eleven vs Loudoun United - 11.31

Summary

- Opponent: Loudoun United FC
- Location: Segra Field
- Attendance: 1,787
- Final Score: 1-0 W

- Starting XI: Sulte, Stanley, Diz Pe, Ofeimu, O'Brien, J., Mines, Wootton, Lindley (C), Foster, Martinez, Williams, A.

- Substitution: Blake 63' (Foster); Collier 63' (Martinez); Musa 72' (O'Brien, J.); Neidlinger 88' (Williams, A.); Soumaoro 88' (Wootton)

- Unused: Oettl, Quinn

Scoring Summary:
IND - Musa 83' (assist Ofeimu)

- Bookings:

LDN - Johnston 16' (Yellow)
LDN - Martin (manager) 36' (Yellow)

LDN - Fauroux 53' (Yellow)
IND - Martinez 53' (Yellow)
LDN - Leerman 58' (Yellow)
LDN - Tingey 63' (Yellow)
IND - Mines 67' (Yellow)
IND - Diz Pe 85' (RED)

- Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

After conceding a late stoppage time equalizer on Saturday against Louisville City, Indy headed out on the road to Virginia to face Loudoun United, and in the process, eliminate the "game-in-hand" that they had on nearly every other team. It was also the second of three games in eight days, but the only game of the three against a team behind them on the table for one of the proverbial six-point games. A win would push Indy to 4th in the table by leapfrogging Rhode Island (who Indy hold the tiebreaker against) and Tampa Bay (who has a game-in-hand due to their game against Hartford being postponed due to Hurricane Helene). A draw or a loss would keep Indy in 6th place. As has been repeatedly stated in the last few weeks, the crowded middle of the Eastern Conference table means that every point is important.

First Half Heat Map (Indy going right to left)

With the quick turnaround in games, Indy made 6 changes to their starting lineup. I'm not sure why Lindley has fallen out of favor in the starting lineup in recent weeks (and didn't appear at all against Louisville), but it says something about Indy's roster when you can bring on a two-time top-of-the-league player like Lindley when games are this close together. The influx of different players into the starting lineup didn't seem to bother Indy's attack. Looking at the halftime stats, one might think that Loudoun had the better half. They held the possession advantage and the shots on target advantage. However, my eyeball test skewed everything to Indy's favor in the first half. They had the more effective possession in dangerous locations and more dangerous shots on target. Indy had one shot bounce off the post, a free kick that nearly snuck in before being parried away by Fauroux, and repeated opportunities from corner kicks. Regardless though, the teams went into the locker room with a nil-nil stalemate. The game had the feel that if Indy could put away their first goal, more would follow, but could just as likely have Loudoun score first forcing Indy to chase.

Neither of those things happened. 

What did happen though was that the two teams picked up yellow cards like they were prizes from Oprah. "You get a card. You get a card. You get a card." A total of 6 cards were shown in the second half, including Diz Pe picking up his second red card of the season, one game removed from having to sit from his first red card suspension. It was a terrible decision and was an obvious correct call. Diz Pe has been so good this season at minimizing his terrible mistakes, but Diz now holds the dubious distinction of being the club's leader in red cards.

Post-Goal Heat Map

Fortunately for Indy, that red card happened just minutes after one of Indy's numerous corner kicks finally saw the ball cross over the goal line. Ofeimu recycled Fauroux's poor punched clearance and Musa reacted first to send a gentle looping ball over the Loudoun keeper and defenders to break the deadlock. Indy's lead and Loudoun's man-advantage meant that the final 7-minutes of regulation and6-minutes of stoppage time predominantly took place in Indy's defensive half, but Loudoun couldn't find a shot on target in the waning minutes. Indy held on with good team defending to run the week's points to 4 out a possible 6. 

What also happened was Indy's chances of climbing the table into a playoff hosting position took a massive step forward. The win at Loudoun means that a win in Detroit on Saturday would continue to see Indy leapfrog teams into a first round playoff hosting position. While it keeps getting reiterated, every point is important right now, and the two points lost this past weekend against Louisville would have put Indy tied with Detroit on points. Given the red card late, Indy will take the three points and get back on the bus back to Indy and a current home playoff game within the realm of possibility.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Augi continues to impress right now. Wootton and Lindley looked great in the midfield. But a late-game substitution defender comes on due to an injury and finds the game-winning goal in his 200th league appearance? Yeah, I have to reward Musa with tonight's GBGB. Well done.

Indy Eleven vs Louisville City - 11.30

Summary

- Opponent: Louisville City FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium 
- Attendance: 10,780
- Final Score: 2-2 D

- Starting XI: Sulte, Neidlinger, Ofeimu, Musa, Stanley, Martinez, Soumaoro, Quinn (C), Blake, Foster, Williams, A.

- Substitution: Collier 75' (Martinez); Williams, R. 75' (Foster); Wootton 81' (Blake)

- Unused: Oettl, Lindley, Mines, O'Brien, J.

Scoring Summary:
LOU - Dia 12' (assist Gleadle)
IND - Williams, A. 45'+3' (assist Foster)
IND - Williams, A. 68' (assist Blake)
LOU - Morris 90'+4' (assist Mares)

- Bookings:

IND - Quinn 4' (Yellow)
IND - Foster 20' (Yellow)
LOU - McFadden 29' (Yellow)
LOU - Bench 30' (Yellow)
IND - Bench (Yellow)
LOU - Serrano 44' (Yellow)
LOU - Adams 85' (Yellow)

- Referee: Alyssa Nichols

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Indy came into the game trying to keep pace with the teams in the crowded middle of the Eastern Conference table. Louisville waltzed into Indy with games to spare to win the league's Player's Shield for the best record in the league and #1 seed throughout the playoffs. It could be argued that the game was more important to Indy for league standings and trying to erase the result of the two teams' game earlier this season when Indy went to Louisville and came away as 5-3 losers on national television. However, clinching the Players' Shield on their closest geographical rivals home turf had to be in the Louisville players' minds whether they would admit it publicly or not. 

The historical and recent record was working against Indy, and Indy just couldn't push Louisville enough to get a win. They tried. Indy even had a 2-1 advantage into the closing minutes of the game. A 90'+4' equalizer by Louisville meant that the points were shared and Louisville could celebrate their first ever Players' Shield on the Carroll Stadium turf in front of a dejected Indy fanbase. 

Indy had a relatively strong start to the game with a significant part of the play taking place in Louisville's defensive half of the field. However, when the clock turned over the 10-minute mark, LOU showed their class and had three great opportunities on goal. By the 12th minute, they made good on one of those chances and put themselves ahead, forcing Indy to play from behind.

It was Marvel night at The Mike and it would have taken some superheroes to get a win against LOU after going down within the first 15 minutes. Doing their best Captain America impression, Indy picked themselves up and didn't back down. Their forays into LOU's defensive half continued, but they just couldn't do anything with the ball in that area until stoppage time of the first half when Augi Williams received a pass from Foster and then proceeded to put Ordonez on skates before getting a shot low and away from Las to even the score going into the locker room. Despite Indy having an 8-2 disadvantage in shots in the half and a 3-1 shots on target disadvantage, the teams were level. Indy managed one single shot on target, but managed to go into the locker room with a clean start coming out of the locker room. 

Much like the first half, Indy managed to come out of the halftime locker room and spent large chunks of time in the LOU defensive half, with slightly more effective final touches than in the first half. LOU is so dynamic going forward though that they still their own fair share of attempts. As the game closed in on the 70-minute mark, a long pass over the top from Quinn was headed forward by Martinez. Blake ran down the ball, looking from the ball to the middle of the box to see if anybody was making a run, as he tried to get to the ball first. Blake one-timed an inch perfect cross along the 6-yard box that Augi Williams redirected past Las to give Indy a lead, giving Williams his 5th goal in two games.

Indy just couldn't hold onto the lead. After going down a goal, and faced with the situation of losing the game, LOU ratcheted up the pressure, desperate to get at least the equalizer. Final game stats indicate LOU had a 3.21 xG to Indy's 0.79 xG. LOU finished the game with 32 shots (a season high for them), 8 on target, and 47 crosses. With a team like Louisville, you can only withstand that kind of barrage for so long. Indy tried. They blocked 16 of Louisville's shots and had 44 clearances. Yet, all of that effort was negated when Soumaoro missed a clearance header that former Indy player Dylan Mares redirected with his own header back towards the middle of the box. Jake Morris put a shot through traffic past Sulte, and despite the good performance from Indy, the points were shared in the dying minutes of the game. Indy defended about as well as they possibly could for 22'+4' after their goal, but eventually the barrage of shots and crosses and chances had to break in Louisville's way and they were able to get just enough out of the game to secure the Players' Shield. 

Indy's injury list continues to grow and Diz Pe's red card last game certainly wasn't helping their cause in this game requiring continued squad rotation on the backline, but there is enough talent on this Indy team to at least compete with Louisville occasionally. This "rivalry" is about as one-sided as it gets, but tonight was one of those nights where Indy showed they can compete with the best team in the league. Some Indy fans aren't going to like that I said that, but that's a statement of fact. Louisville is the best team in the league, and despite a couple of hiccups along the way this season, have continued to show that they are they top team game after game. With the 2-2 draw, Indy were on the wrong side of this year's LIPAFC and The Barrell stayed firmly entrenched south of the Ohio River. 

The physicality of the game was evident early and never slowed down throughout the first half, but did seem to settle a bit in the second half. Between the two teams, six players or coaches saw a yellow card shown their way before halftime, but only one card was handed out in the second half. To me, the most egregious offense in the first half was when Totsch put a ball solidly, and purposefully, into the Indy bench from about two yards away and somehow didn't get a yellow card. The Indy bench jumped up out of their seats in protest and players on the field all came nose-to-nose, but ultimately nobody was booked for any of the activity. For some of the cards that referee Alyssa Thompson passed out, that offense deserved a card more than some of the other ones she dealt out.

Indy have little time to wallow in the result as they head to Loudoun on Tuesday. After Loudoun's 2-nil defeat of Hartford tonight, Loudoun sit just 3 points behind Indy. Depending on how the Birmingham v North Carolina match concludes on Sunday evening, Indy could find themselves having slide from a 5th place in the table to 7th place thanks to Rhode Island's defeat of Tampa Bay tonight. The good news for Indy is they still basically hold their playoff lives in their own hands, with the final four games against Loudoun, at Detroit, at home versus Birmingham, and on the road to finish the year at Tampa Bay. Indy absolutely have to get some wins out of those games, and the other results will ultimately determine their position, but the two points lost tonight in stoppage time somewhat loosened their grip on a playoff spot. Three full points tonight would have been massive.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Just like last game, this game's GBGB is easy. Augi's first goal tied him for 5th all-time in the league in scoring with teammate Guenzatti, but his second goal gave him that position out-right. Five goals in two games is a really good run, and Indy are going to continue to need his goal scoring touch right now as they traverse the final four games of the season. 

A goal scorers mentality can be a fragile thing, but seeing the ball go into the goal often flips that mentality and they suddenly expect to score every shot they shoot. Augi accounted for 2 of Indy's 3 shots on target. Two shots on target, two goals. Against Miami last week, Williams was responsible for half of Indy's shots on target, and 10 of Indy's 24 shots. 

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Miami FC - 11.29

Summary

- Opponent: Miami FC 
- Location: Carroll Stadium 
- Attendance: 10,145
- Final Score: 4-0 W

- Starting XI: Sulte, White, Ofeimu, Diz Pe, Stanley, Soumaoro, Quinn (C), Blake, Foster, Williams, R., Williams, A.

- Substitution: Martinez 54' (White - injury); Collier 72' (Williams, R.); Neidlinger 72' (Foster); Wootton 72' (Quinn); Lindley 90' (Soumaoro)

- Unused: Oettl, O'Brien, J.

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Blake 62' (penalty kick)
IND - Williams, A. 73' (assist Collier)
IND - Williams, A. 84' (assist Neidlinger)
IND - Williams. A. 86' (assist Collier)

- Bookings:

MIA - Gavilanes 25' (Yellow)
MIA - Nocerino (manager) 26' (Yellow)
IND - Quinn 42' (Yellow)
MIA - Knutson 60' (Yellow)
MIA - Ndiaye 77' (RED)
IND - Diz Pe 77' (RED)
IND - Williams, A. 87' (Yellow)
IND - Soumaora 87' (Yellow)
MIA - Palacios 90'+1'

- Referee: Matthew Thompson

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Look, let's be honest. This was a game that Indy had to win. Miami is bottom of the table and the only team in the league to be eliminated from playoff contention. The compact nature of the middle part of the Eastern Conference table means that every single game the rest of the way is important to get as many points as possible. Against a team like Miami who has struggled to a -42 goal differential, that meant three points. Yet, wet weather conditions allows for anything to happen. Balls can skip strangely. Players can slip unexpectedly. Easy passes become difficult to handle. Indy needed to be disciplined defensively, and try for an early goal to make Miami feel like they were out of the game.

Halftime Heat Map

Indy couldn't do that in the first half. While Indy spent the majority of the first half with the ball (60% to 40%) and the majority of that time in Miami's half of the field, Indy couldn't find a breakthrough to make the game easier on themselves. Miami did almost nothing with their limited possession, Indy also couldn't break down the deep block that Miami was creating. As has been seen multiple times over the years, if you let a team hang around, anything can happen at the end of the game, particularly when the weather and field conditions were as wet as was seen tonight.

Indy didn't care how they scored a goal, they just needed to find a way to make all of their efforts in Miami's half count. Eventually, Foster found himself just inside the Miami box ready to take a shot when Knutson clattered into him to send Foster to the ground and Jack Blake to the penalty spot. Blake made good on his 6th penalty kick of the season, and just after the 60th minute mark, Indy had the goal that they needed to reward themselves for their effort. Blake's goal also gave Indy their 9th season in a row with a double digit scorer (across all competitions). 

Less than 10-minutes later, the game went to the ticket booth and bought a one-way ticket to Crazy Town. In the 72nd minute, Coach McAuley made his first non-injury substitutions, bringing in Collier, Neidlinger, and Wootton. A minute later, Collier found an on-rushing Augi Williams, who took a touch towards the endline and from a tight angle, pushed the ball past Ndiaye. The goal gave Indy a bit of breathing room, knowing that a weird bounce on a Miami attack might not lose the point for Indy. A couple minutes after that, Indy was awarded a corner kick. During the ensuing corner, Ndiaye and Diz Pe became tangled in the air and to the ground. Upon standing, Ndiaye put a boot into Diz Pe's thigh. Instead of writhing in pain on the ground knowing the assistant referee was watching, Diz Pe got up and retaliated with a forceful shove to Ndiaye's chest/neck area. When the mud settled, both players were shown red cards. Amazingly, Diz Pe's red was Indy's first red card of the season, but it came at a poor time; not so much in this game, but it means that he won't be available for next week's game against league-leading Louisville City. Combined with the other injuries (Chapman-Page, Guenzatti, King, and potentially White depending on the severity of his injury tonight), Diz Pe's absence next week could be a big deal.

As the game began to wind down, a two-minute stretch solidified the win as Indy scored two more goals, both from Augi Williams. Goals number 3 and 4 on the night gave Indy their first hat trick since 2022 and just their fifth hat trick in the men's team's history. Club legend Eamon Zayed still holds the men's club record with 2 hat tricks, but not even he was able to acquire his hat trick within a 13-minute timeframe. 

What was a scoreless draw 60-minutes into the game somehow turned into a 4-nil laugher. Indy needed a win. Indy deserved a win. Indy achieved a win. The +4 goal differential also managed to bring Indy back to even on goal differential for the year. Indy return to The Mike next week to face Louisville City and will want to see a better result than the previous meeting between the two teams earlier this season and to keep themselves in the discussion for an opening playoff weekend home game. At the time of this writing, places 3 through 7 in the Eastern Conference table is separated by just 4 points. Every game and every point is going to matter coming down the stretch. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

This game's GBGB is easy. When you score a hat trick in a 13-minute timeframe for just the club's 5th hat trick in club history, it's an easily decision to give Augi Williams the GBGB. Augi joins Zayed and Arteaga to score league hat tricks for the club (Zayed in the NASL, Arteaga in the USL Championship), and Blake Smith who scored Indy's first hat trick in a 2014 U.S. Open Cup game against the Dayton Dutch Lions. Combined with his goals in this year's Open Cup, Augi's hat trick also gives him the team lead in goals, surpassing the other goal score in the game, Blake. 

Indy Eleven vs North Carolina FC - 11.28

Summary

- Opponent: North Carolina FC 
- Location: WakeMed Soccer Park
- Attendance: 2,478
- Final Score: 2-0 L

- Starting XI: Sulte, White, Ofeimu, Diz Pe, Blake, Stanley, Quinn (C), Soumaoro, Foster, Williams, R., Williams, A.

- Substitution: Collier 70' (Williams, R.); Martinez 70' (Blake); Wootton 89' (Quinn)

- Unused: Oettl, Lindley, Neidlinger, O'Brien, J.

- Scoring Summary:
NC - Mentzingen 19' (assist Martin)
NC - Anderson 77' (assist Armstrong)

- Bookings:

NC - Maldonado 22' (Yellow)
IND - Williams, R. 33' (Yellow)
IND - White 45' (Yellow)
NC - Batista 45'+7' (Yellow)
NC - Mentzingen 55' (Yellow)
NC - Martin 73' (Yellow)
NC - Anderson 79' (Yellow)

- Referee: Jeremy Scheer

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

There's a point in every USL Championship season when it stops being a marathon and goes to being a full-on sprint toward the finish line. If you've looked at the standings in the Eastern Conference table, that moment may have already passed, but is definitely in full effect now. Coming into the weekend, every team had 7 games or less and spots 4 through 11 were separated by 9 points. Spots 4 through 8 (the playoff spots) were separated by 5 points. With the non-playoff teams lurking just outside the cutoff line, every game takes on even more magnitude. Losing to a team behind you could drop you below the playoff line. Taking points from a team ahead of you could drop them. Even the teams that have officially clinched playoff spots (Louisville, Charleston, and New Mexico) still want to get points to be able to win the regular season. The teams that have been eliminated (Miami) want to stop sucking and play spoiler. 

After Indy's win over the Western Conference basement dweller El Paso, Indy continued their run of playing teams at the bottom of the conferences by playing 11th place North Carolina (Miami comes to Indy next week). Getting points off the teams behind you is vital in this sprint to the finish. Indy failed miserably at that by conceding once in each half to lose 2-nil on the road.

The last time the North Carolina franchise had beaten Indy Eleven was in 2017. That game was a 5-nil drubbing by the, then Railhawks in the NASL, but Indy held a commanding 11W-4D-4L record before tonight against the long-term foes, who have been a part of some of Indy's most important results. Indy played the Carolina Railhawks in Indy's inaugural game, they were the opponent in the Miracle at the Mike, and the Carolina franchise were also the opponents in the 2023 USL W League Final where the Indy women defeated NC.

It might have taken 7 years, but North Carolina got it done tonight. NC started the scoring in the 19th minute after working the ball around quickly away from the Indy defenders. Martin pushed the ball wide to Mentzingen who one-timed it over Sulte and into the far side of the goal. Moving the ball around the defense, and forcing last-ditch defending from Indy was a trend tonight.

Indy nearly equalized in the 26th minute from a shot from outside the box by Blake that McQuire was able to parry away at full stretch. The ball fell nicely to Foster who pushed his shot wide. Shots high and wide was also an ongoing trend for Indy tonight.

NC nearly doubled their advantages minutes into the second half with a shot that found the post, but managed to bounce back into the field of play instead of into the goal. Minutes after that, NC had a two-on-one break that should have been an easy goal if Anderson had just centered the ball instead of going for goal himself. As the second half began to wind down, they did finally find the second insurance goal, and Indy returned home with zero points and no additional separation from the teams behind them. In fact, with the results tonight (which could be made worse tomorrow), Indy allowed the playoff race to get even closer.

At no point in tonight's game did Indy look like a team that will be hosting a first round playoff game. At many points in tonight's game, Indy looked like a team that could very well watch the entirety of the playoffs from their couches. Outside of an unprecedented run in May and June, and an obvious run in the U.S. Open Cup, Indy has not looked like an elite team in this league. They've looked exactly like where they are in the table; an average team surrounded by other average teams. Teams that on a given night have a chance at winning against "better" teams, but also have an equally similar chance to losing to "lower" teams.

Indy return to The Mike next weekend to face Miami. If that game ends in anything other than a win with multiple goals, it will tell you everything you need to know about this teams chances of being and winning in the playoffs. The marathon has turned into a sprint and Indy doesn't look like they have what it takes to make it across the finish line.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Diz Pe? Blake? Quinn? I'm sorry, but it definitely wasn't the forward line. As well as they played last week, they looked like different players tonight. If I have to pick somebody, and we all know that I don't because I've regularly not selected a GBGB winner, I would go with Blake. 

Indy Eleven vs El Paso Locomotive - 11.27

Summary

- Opponent: El Paso Locomotive
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,132
- Final Score: 3-1 W

- Starting XI: Sulte, Stanley, Diz Pe, Ofeimu, White, Quinn (C), Soumaoro, Blake, Foster, Williams, R., Williams, A.

- Substitution: Wootton 61' (Soumaoro); Collier 74' (Blake); Martinez 74' (Foster); Lindley 79' (Quinn); Guenzatti 79' (Williams, R.)

- Unused: Oettl, O'Brien, J.

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Williams, R. 12' (assist Williams, A.)
IND - Foster 49' (assist Blake)
IND - Collier 77' (assist Martinez)
ELP - Zacarias 83' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

IND - White 58' (Yellow)
ELP - Alfaro 63' (Yellow)
ELP - Bench 76' (Yellow)
ELP - Lyons 86', 90'+4' (Yellow, Yellow, RED)
ELP - Coronado 86', 90'+3' (Yellow, Yellow, RED)

ELP - Dollenmayer 88' (Yellow)
IND - Lindley 90'+6' (Yellow) - Has Cam ever had a yellow card that he didn't deserve? He's the king of the "professional foul" for Indy and is creeping up the club's leaderboard for yellow cards.

- Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

El Paso came into Carroll Stadium as the last place team in the Western Conference, as well as the last West Conference team to come to Indy for the season. From here on out, Indy face their Eastern Conference foes. Coming into the game, Indy absolutely needed a win tonight with just 8 points separating the teams in the playoff positions in the Eastern Conference not named Louisville City and Charleston Battery, who have already clinched playoff spots. The playoff teams from the Eastern Conference are going to come down to the wire and three points was vital to keep Indy in the hunt for one of the four opening home playoff games, but to also keep themselves from sliding backwards in the table. While not officially eliminated from contention in the Western Conference, El Paso was looking to maintain their recent run-of-form, having five positive results in the last six games that followed a string of 5 losses in a row, including three clean sheets in a row. 

It was Indy that got the game going quickly, getting their first shot on target in the first 30 seconds. The game settled down after Indy got out of the blocks quickly, but it was still Indy that put the first goal on the board in the 12th minute when Augi Williams slotted a ball across the middle of the box that Romario Williams one-timed passed Waite. The goal gave Williams his 60th goal in league history and prevented ELP from a fourth clean sheet in a row. ELP has also struggled this year when they concede first, with a 0W-12L-0D record under that scenario. On the season, Indy had an overall record of 10W-7D-9L coming into the game with a record of 5W-5D-8L against Playoff teams, a record of 5W-2D-1L against non-Playoff teams, and a record of 0W-2D-7L (-15 GD) against Top 4 teams. 

That poor trend from ELP and Indy's success against non-playoff teams continued with a 3-1 victory for the home side behind goals from Romario, Foster, and Collier. The win keeps Indy in the hunt for the fourth opening home playoff game as Detroit defeated New Mexico to stay just ahead of Indy, but Indy has games-in-hand over DCFC.

Somehow that free kick from Cavillo was saved by Sulte

The visitors nearly equalized in the 15th minute thanks to a free kick from just outside the box. With Hunter Sulte looking into the setting sunset, Calvillo perfectly put the ball around the Indy wall. From the west camera angle (see photo on the right), it was clear that the ball was destined for the upper 90. However, the 6'-7" frame of the Anchorage, Alaska native extended all of that frame and managed to parry the ball wide of the goal, keeping Indy's one-goal advantage intact. 

The game became a bit more tilted to Indy's offensive half of the field in the next 15 minutes as Indy continued to pepper Waite with shots on target. Augi put one just wide of the right post after a feed from Romario, while Blake continued to show that he has no fear of shooting from any distance, and mostly on target. The two teams tried to turn the game into a bit of a track meet for the next 15 minutes as ELP worked to claw their way back into the game and Indy looked to try to put the game out of reach before halftime. Neither team found another goal, and so the teams went into halftime locker room with Indy leading one goal to nil thanks to the 12th minute goal from Romario.

Indy came out of the halftime break just like they started the game with a Foster opportunity in the 48th minute that Waite managed to stop. The Indy fans began to wonder if this was going to be another one of those games where Indy couldn't make good on their chances, thereby letting a team hang around, and then things go badly for Indy late in the game. A minute later, however, Indy had another chance when Blake put a ball through the lines to an on-rushing Foster. Maalique put on the brakes sending his defender sliding well past him, brought the ball to his left foot, and pushed a composed shot around Waite to give Indy a two-goal lead.

With the goal, a collective sigh of relief spread around the Indy fanbase now that the team had a little breathing room with the two-goal lead. A late-game slip-up might not completely derail the victory. ELP, to their credit, refused to back down and continued to make their own in-roads into Indy's defensive half of the field. As they would get closer to the goal though, Indy's defense would come up big and prevent the most dangerous attacks from reaching Sulte, who finished with 4 saves. Waite, on the flipside, finished with 6 saves, but it seemed like he was the more active of the two keepers. If it had not been for his effort and a little bit more clinical finishing, this game might have been an embarrassing result for the Locomotive.

Some late game cards forced the game to finish with Indy up by 2 goals and 2 players as not one, but two different ELP players received their second yellow of the game late in stoppage time. Amazingly, both players didn't receive their first yellow card until the 86th minute, but still managed to find an early exit from the game due to multiple yellow cards. Indy defended well at the end, and finished with a 3-1 win.

Indy have three games remaining vs non-Playoff teams & three games against Top 4 teams. The next two weeks are games against some of those non-playoff teams in North Carolina and home against Miami (who are already eliminated from the playoffs). It's vital to get wins the next two weeks before Louisville City come to town.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

The attacking triumvirate of Williams, Williams, and Foster was the best we've seen all season. Augi and Maalique both had opportunities that should have been goals, but all three players found their way onto the scorecard tonight accounting for two goals and one assist. The law firm of Williams & Williams looked more connected tonight and are starting to figure out how to play with each other. Foster's pace gives teams one more thing to think about and his interplay between the Williams boys and his desire to help out defensively nearly forced me to give him the GBGB outright. The three together, though, were what really put ELP on their heels during Indy's 37% possession. Diz Pe gets one of my honorable mentions as he has learned to put a long diagonal ball over the top that bypasses the midfield, and that is an effective weapon when the defense pinches in while Foster maintains his width nearly to the touchline. A ball over the top to Foster who has the pace to outrun many defenders puts him in a position to make a play. Sometimes that play is taking it himself like he did for his goal, but it also allows him to pick out either Williams who were constantly making the runs into the box to receive potential crosses. Going with my eye test, I still have to give tonight's GBGB to all three players. 

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Hartford Athletic - 11.26

Summary

- Opponent: Hartford Athletic
- Location: Trinity Health Stadium
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 0-0 D

- Starting XI: Sulte, White, Ofeimu, Diz Pe, Mines, Soumaoro, Blake, Quinn (C), Stanley, Williams, R., Foster

- Substitution: Collier 67' (Blake); Lindley 67' (Quinn); Guenzatti 83' (Williams, R.)

- Unused: Oettl, Musa, O'Brien, J., Wootton

- Scoring Summary:
NOPE

- Bookings:

IND - Blake 59' (Yellow)
IND - White 72' (Yellow)

- Referee: Thomas Snyder

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Regardless of how this season finishes, the one thing that won't be said was that Coach McAuley was afraid to try different lineups. Recent additions to the team Foster, White, and Soumaoro all found themselves in the starting lineup while stalwarts Lindley and Guenzatti started on the bench. When one of the frequent recent contributors in Neidlinger didn't even make the trip (though to be fair he could be with UIndy), it's clear that a good portion of the team Indy put on the field tonight weren't even on the roster when they made their run earlier in the season. A player early in the season, who will remain nameless, told me that because of the system that McAuley was trying to implement, in some ways there is an aspect of plug-and-play with players, and the system shouldn't be affected. However, the number of guys that have come and gone for this year's roster now puts it as the second highest number of players in a season. At some point, a plug-and-play system still needs some consistency.

With a nil-nil draw, Indy and Hartford had a fair result based on the way the game was played, but a result that I think only Hartford should be happy with given their injury situation. Indy, if we're honest, should do better, even on the road. 

Is Indy a playoff team? Maybe. Thanks, mostly, to an undefeated run that banked a ton of points. Will the team host a playoff game? Based on the recent form and on tonight's result, probably not. In the Eastern Conference, there are four teams that have negative goal differentials. Indy at -4 is the best of those teams. Miami is, well, the train wreck that is Miami this year with a -38 GD and already eliminated from the playoffs with 7 games remaining. The second worst was Hartford with a -17 GD. Hartford came in with injuries and a shuffled lineup, that was exacerbated by a 27th minute Ngalina injury that forced him out of the game early. With all that in mind, Indy managed just 2 shots on target, both in the first half, one from distance from Blake that went straight to Ribeiro and a Foster shot that Ribeiro stopped that likely would have been a goal by Romario Williams if Foster had just passed the ball across the frame. Indy only had 2 shots in the second half ,that didn't happen until the 87th and 89th minutes, neither of which were on frame! Coach McAuley has preached all season that you don't score goals if you don't shoot. Against a bunkered Pittsburgh team that was down a man is one thing. Pittsburgh is a good defensive team that limits the space available to shoot. Against a depleted Hartford team that frequently concedes goals is quite another, more concerning, issue.

"But [fill in player name] gives it right back" was a frequent refrain from the telecast crew as it related to both teams. This was just a sloppy game from both teams and a draw was a fair result. It's also the kind of result that isn't going to really help either team. It's slightly better for Indy than it was for Hartford, but the bunched Eastern Conference is going to necessitate victories, and victories soon. Indy's opponents in the month of September are not the world-beaters in the league. Indy have to find better performances and results than they did tonight, or that playoff position is going to find itself in the same position as Eleven Park; sitting idle while others in the league keep moving forward.

Indy return to The Mike next weekend to play El Paso, the only other team in the league that has struggled nearly as much as Miami. Indy is at the point in the season when draws aren't going to get it done. Indy have 1 win in their last 11 league games, and have been held scoreless 5 times in that stretch. McAuley routinely said that the team would put itself in position to score goals. That happened early, but the well has seemingly run dry despite having some of the league's perennial scorers. Stop me, Indy fans, if you've heard that story before.

A draw on the road isn't the worst of things, but things need to get better (and of the three point variety) soon.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Uhhhh. There is literally not a single player on the field tonight that stood out for me as having a good game. No. There really wasn't. I normally reserve a non-awarded GBGB for the really bad losses, but as the telecast announcers kept repeating, "good luck finding the highlights" for this game. If they (and I) can't find any highlights, I don't think I'm going to work hard to find a GBGB winner. 

Henry Street Bridge and Eleven Park

Depending on your news source, you might have seen that the Henry Street Bridge project will begin construction of Phase 2 this week. Some of you might be asking, why I'm talking about an Indianapolis Department of Public Works project on a soccer-specific, and more specifically, generally an Indy Eleven-centric-specific site? That's because the Henry Street Bridge project is relevant to this site's content since it is located immediately south of the lot that was intended to be the future home of Eleven Park. In the aerial view of the proposed bridge, the lot with all the trees would be the "intended" location of Eleven Park. 

I say "was intended" because Mayor Hogsett's desired plan to kill the Eleven Park development made it through all the required hoops to move the Professional Sports Development Area  (PSDA) from the Eleven Park site to the PSDA #2 site, which has been indicated to be the existing heliport site. Though best I can tell, the State Budget Committee has not discussed the finances of the Mayor's proposed site, at least not in a public meeting. So Indianapolis residents and Indy Eleven fans still do not have any indication regarding the Mayor's mysterious MLS ownership group nor whether the State Budget Committee will continue to plow down the Mayor's path of officially submitting for a bid to join MLS. A bid that I continue to suspect will be rejected, particularly in the near-term.

In the three months since the Mayor dropped the MLS bombshell on Indy Eleven fans, all the hurdles to move the State funding from the Keystone property to the Mayor's preferred location have moved forward. What hasn't moved forward is any kind of progress at the Eleven Park site. I periodically drive by the site just to see if there is anything that looks different from my last drive-by. The night of the New Mexico United, the Indianapolis Colts also had a preseason game and the parking lot that once was the site of the stadium groundbreaking was being used for event parking for the Indianapolis Colts' game. This past weekend when I drove by on my way to Carroll Stadium before the Pittsburgh game, the construction trailer that had been sitting on the lot for the past year was no longer there. I can't recall if it was there the night of the Colts' game, but the trailer felt like a more recent departure. 

As Indy Eleven and Keystone remove things from the location or use a part of it for event parking, the Mayor and the Indianapolis DPW will be moving things into the area. The Phase 2 work (Phase 1 began on the west side of the White River in January) will take place within the White River. From the City's announcement, the contractor "is expected to begin removing the existing bridge piers in the White River north of Oliver Avenue. Bridge construction will begin at the west side at the levee later this year." Phase 3 will connect the bridge to Kentucky Avenue with new roadway.

That last part of the announcement about Phase 2 is key because that gives the City time to finalize their plan for the remains associated with the burial ground that used to be the Greenlawn Cemetery that are within the Henry Street Bridge's right-of-way for the Phase 3 section of the project. As was indicated in the June presentation of the White River Innovation District that includes the Henry Street Bridge, the DPW and City staff made sure to point out that the Henry Street Bridge, but particularly the roadwork, would be and "Archaeologist-led excavation, rather than Contractor-led excavation" and that "Archaeology work will begin in late 2024." 

I continue to find the subtle "contractor-led" jab simultaneously amusing and a bit childish. 

So while the City's plan continues to move forward, Indy Eleven and Keystone, conversely, look to be moving backwards. I chose to not reach out to the club before this article because it hasn't done me much good in the past when it comes to discussions about the stadium. However, as it stands, publicly, Indy have no announcements on any stadium plans, and have naturally begun season ticket renewals at Carroll Stadium. I'm sure the Eleven Park design is on hold because any plan related to the burial grounds' remains that cover significantly more area than the Henry Street Bridge roadway can no longer include any public-funded/assisted money since the Mayor has shifted the PSDA to another site. So unless there are some backdoor discussions about transferring the site and/or the City helping with the cost for interment of the remains, Keystone has ~25-acres that are going to be difficult to develop.

There are some secondary effects of losing the stadium as well. It appears that the the Indy Eleven USL Super League team is now, at a minimum, on hold. Putting the Super League team on hold means that Coach Dolinsky found another team in Lexington where he could run their USL W League team and be part of the Super League coaching staff. Shortly, we all expect that the MLS will officially state that Indy isn't going to be awarded a team, and Indianapolis will have lost a soccer stadium, a first division women's soccer team, and the coach that has been the most successful coach in the club's history. 

The Henry Street Bridge is moving forward though. 

Only question that I have now will be what that roadway passes. A fenced off abandoned plot of land doesn't seem out of the question, does it?

Indy Eleven vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds - 11.25

Summary

- Opponent: Pittsburgh Riverhounds
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,319
- Final Score: 1-1 D

- Starting XI: Sulte, Musa, White, Ofeimu, Martinez, Stanley, Wootton, Quinn (C), Guenzatti, Foster, Williams, R.

- Substitution: Lindley 62' (Wootton); O'Brien, J. 62' (White); Williams, A. 62' (Guenzatti); Neidlinger 74' (Musa); Collier 82' (Martinez)

- Unused: Oettl, Gibson, Mines

- Scoring Summary:
PIT - Griffin 73' (assist Osumanu)
IND - Williams, R. 90'+7' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

PIT - Hogan 3' (RED)
IND - Martinez 34' (Yellow)
PIT - Mertz 66' (Yellow)
IND - Lindley 71' (Yellow)
IND - Williams, R. 72' (Yellow)

- Referee: Elijio Arreguin

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Before this week of games started, Coach McAuley stated that he felt an obligation to the club, the team, and the fans to provide the best lineup possible for the U.S. Open Cup game on Tuesday. If the team won all three or lost all three games, he thought he could feel confident with his decisions due to the importance of what a USOC Final could have meant for the club. Indy lost last Saturday in Las Vegas 3-2, then lost to Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday 2-nil. Coming into this game against Pittsburgh, the team knew that this was the proverbial 6-point type of game with the way that the middle of the Eastern Conference has bunched. With the 1-1 draw in tonight's game, Indy didn't provide any more separation from Pittsburgh (and lost ground on Rhode Island who leap frogged Indy (and Loudoun and Birmingham), but Indy has a game in hand), and Pittsburgh didn't gain any ground on Indy in points. While the game had the potential to be a 6-point game, it's not surprising that the game finished in a draw. In the now 15 times that the two teams have played since 2018, the game has been decided by more than a 1-goal differential just three times, and there have been four draws. Pittsburgh keeps games close.

The only reason a low-scoring draw is a surprise is because Indy had a man advantage for nearly the entirety of the game. In a reckless high boot challenge against Guenzatti, Hogan put his cleats into Seba's thighs. Referee Arreguin immediately pulled out the yellow card despite the early 4th minute for the infraction. However, following a brief moment, either in conversation with his AR or just thinking about it more, the yellow was rescinded and Hogan was sent to a very early departure from the game as the card was changed to a straight red. With three games in 8 days, 86-minutes of a man advantage (even against a defensively sound Pittsburgh club) looked like it was going to be a welcome wrinkle to the week.

The defensive block from Pittsburgh though, coupled with Indy's pace of play, which wasn't glacial but definitely deliberate, led to a scoreless first half. Indy couldn't find enough space to get through or around the Pittsburgh defense. To overcome the Pittsburgh block, Indy needed to address their tactics after the halftime break. Foster dropped deeper to be able to get the ball in more space to be able to use his speed against the Pittsburgh defense, which pushed Guenzatti up top. Bob Lilley, similarly, adjusted his tactics as well. Instead of sitting so much in the block, the Riverhounds looked to be much more aggressive going forward creating a much more wide open start to the second half. Likely because he realized that Indy was struggling with breaking down his defense, Lilley likely thought his squad could take a few more chances going forward to steal three points on the road.

Pittsburgh full-time shots

From Indy's perspective, when you don't take your chances, and let a team hang around, you run the risk of putting yourself in a bad situation. The Pittsburgh defense is so sound that even with Indy's man advantage, or maybe because of Indy's man advantage, Pittsburgh became even more sound defensively, thereby severely limiting Indy's chances. When Indy couldn't find the goal that might have opened the floodgates, Pittsburgh took their opportunity and put themselves on the board in the 73rd minute. Despite Indy holding a 74% to 26% possession advantage, a 13 to 6 shot advantage, a 34 to 8 advantage in crosses, and Pittsburgh getting just three shots in the second half (none after their goal), Pittsburgh made good on their opportunity in the box. Indy, conversely, peppered the Pittsburgh goal with shots in the second half, but couldn't find a way through. 

It looked like it might end with the Riverhounds headed to Pittsburgh with three points on their bus and a further tightening of the playoff race. However, Indy finally found that break through the Pittsburgh defense in the 90'+7'. Foster was fouled about 25-yards from goal, giving Indy a last ditch effort from a free kick. Quinn and Romario Williams both stood over the ball, and as Romario indicated afterwards, there "was a brief conversation" between them and once he told Quinn that "he fancied a shot," Quinn let him take it. Given Williams' recent run-of-form in front of goal, I had anticipated Quinn taking it as I stood on the sideline. Williams, to his credit, put a perfectly placed free kick over the wall and out of reach of Eric Dick to give Indy the equalizer. The free kick from Williams turned out to be the last major action of the game as the referee blew his whistle to end the game the second Pittsburgh restarted the ball after the goal. 

It's easy to say that a team that has a man advantage for 86-minutes (plus stoppage times) should easily win a game. In many ways, a man advantage against a Pittsburgh Riverhounds team does the exact opposite. They are so sound defensively, and so compact, it often takes a moment of brilliance to break it down. Foster's ability to get fouled by being disruptive in the middle of the field, and Williams' ability to pick out the upper 90 of the goal on the free kick was the moment of brilliance needed. This was not Indy's best played game, but much of that could be because of how well Pittsburgh played.

Indy has just one more mid-week game as the team comes down the homestretch of the season. Once the calendar officially rolls over into September, Indy doesn't play a single playoff team for the entire month. After Pittsburgh, who continues to hover near the playoff line but stays on a good run, Indy face Hartford (11th in East), El Paso (12th in West), North Carolina (10th), and Miami (12th and who staved off being officially eliminated from the playoffs thanks to a victory in Monterrey Bay) before starting October at home against Louisville. After Indy's 8-game win streak, Indy have found just 1 win in the past 10 games. While never a guarantee in this league, a stretch of four games against the league's basement-dwellers might provide Indy with some much needed points and confidence. Indy will hope to make that four wins out of four heading into the LIPAFC match to help themselves move up the table, or at a minimum, create some separation from the other playoff teams below them that are going to want to solidify their own standings in the table. Indy return to The Mike in two weeks to face El Paso.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

White was in the starting lineup having been in the country for less than a week. That's a "welcome to the country and the USL Championship" under fire kind of introduction. Some injuries helped precipitate that start, but he looked good despite the minimal training with the team. What I appreciated the most from his effort was his ability to have his head up when he received the ball. Pittsburgh's deep block due to their man disadvantage meant that getting the ball to the forwards was going to be difficult. As his teammates continued to pass the ball around the ball, too slowly to be honest, White looked to put the ball over the defenders with crosses. White had 3 crosses in the first half. As I've stated before, the GBGB often comes down to who I keep noticing the most. Tonight, that was White.

Romario nearly got the nod from me, but only because of such a brilliant free kick to equalize the game. His overall game, though, was not enough for me to knock White off the GBGB podium.

Photos - Don Thompson Photography