Summary- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 9,028
- Final Score: 1-1 D (Indy 7-6 in penalty kicks)
- Starting XI: Sulte, Bryneus, Musa, O'Brien, J., White, Rendon, Murphy, Lindley, Quinn (C), Foster, Amoh
- Substitution: McRobb 67' (Bryneus); Collier 82' (Foster); Williams, R. 82' (Amoh); Blake 88' (Murphy)
- Unused: Charles-Cook, Hogan, Kizza
Scoring Summary:
IND - O'Brien, J. 28' (assist Bryneus)
BHM - Tabort Etaka 90'+4' (unassisted)
Penalty Kicks:
IND - Williams, R. (FAIL) X-0
BHM - Pasher (Goal) X-1
IND - Blake (Goal) 1-1
BHM - Laszo (Goal) 1-2
IND - Lindley (Goal) 2-2
BHM - Hernandez-Foster (Goal) 2-3
IND - Quinn (Goal) 3-3
BHM - Tabort Etaka (Goal) 3-4
IND - McRobb (Goal) 4-4
BHM - Damus (FAIL) 4-4
IND - Rendon (Goal) 5-4
BHM - Suarez (Goal) 5-5
IND - Collier (Goal) 6-5
BHM - McIllhatton (Goal) 6-6
IND - O'Brien, J. (Goal) 7-6
BHM - Centeno (FAIL) 7-6
- Bookings:
IND - O'Brien, J. 50' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 69' (Yellow)
IND - Murphy 88' (Yellow)
BHM - Pasher 90'+6' (Yellow)
- Referee: Brad Jensen
- Adage goals: One.
Thoughts and Opinions
I wasn't at the game, and in all transparency, I decided to not watch the game. I only watched the highlights and looked at the stats. Somehow, I have a sneaking suspicion on how the game went based on just those two things. Indy scored early, and whether they began to bunker immediately or later, the defensive bunker did happen. I'm sure of it. There have been enough games this season where it has happened that I feel confident, even having not seen the game, to know that it started happening. After the 60th minute, Indy didn't have a single shot, while Birmingham had 7 in that same amount of time. Indy has struggled to close out games from winning positions. cross all competitions, Indy has held scored the opening goal 12 times. Counting last night's game against Birmingham, they have conceded a late goal or stoppage goal in 4 of those 12 games; 33% of the time, Indy has been unable to hold onto their lead. The same thing happened last night, and it took Sulte making a save in the 8th round of the penalty kicks to gain the slightest advantage over Birmingham in the Jagermeister Cup Group 3 standings. Indy could have solidified their spot in the Cup's knockout round, but instead find themselves still in a position where they have to get a win against FC Tulsa to make sure they move on out of the group. Tulsa is currently sitting 3rd in the Western Conference table, so a win is by no means a guarantee. The game last night was a much better opportunity against a fellow struggling Eastern Conference opponent and Indy squandered that chance.
Indy return to league action this coming Saturday when a different Western Conference opponent comes to town. Monterey Bay, sitting 6th place in the Conference, have had good results in their other games against Eastern Conference teams, so Indy's going to need to have a good game to get a result. Indy are closing in on the midpoint of the season and have officially reached the point where they can't keep giving away points and wins.
The Game Beckons Game Ball
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| Photo: Don Thompson Photography |
Again, I wasn't at the game, but from the highlights and looking at the stats, is there anybody else besides Sulte that can be given the GBGB? Between the 6 saves in regulation that kept the game in Indy's favor, and the final save in the penalty kick portion of the Cup game, Sulte seems to be an obvious choice.
Photos: Don Thompson Photography
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