Indy Eleven vs Loudoun United - 12.19

Summary

- Opponent: Loudoun United FC
- Location: Segra Field
- Attendance: 2,413
- Final Score: 2-3 L

- Starting XI: Sulte, O'feimu, Hogan, Musa, O'Brien, J., Lindley, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Williams, R., Foster

- Substitution: McRobb 67' (Blake); Amoh 67'; (Williams, R.); Neidlinger 76' (O'Brien, J.)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Bryneus, Collier, Kizza

Scoring Summary:
IND - Musa 51' (assist Murphy)
LDN - Ordonez 63' (assist Valot)
IND - Amoh 78' (assist Lindley)
LDN - Ryan 82' (assist Tingey)
LDN - Ordonez 86' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

IND - Williams, R. 40' (Yellow)
LDN - Awuah 45' (Yellow)
LDN - Ordonez 74' (Yellow)
IND - Amoh 90'+3' (Yellow)

- Referee: Atahan Yaya

- Adage goals: Two.

Thoughts and Opinions

Indy have historically dominated the series, but this isn't the same kind of Loudoun team that Indy has faced in the past. The home squad was sitting in 4th place in the table when the night's games kicked off, while Indy was looking up at the playoff line. Neither team has been in spectacular form in their past 7 games with Indy having a 2W-0D-5L record and Loudoun with a 0W-3D-4L record. Loudoun was the team tonight that reversed their fortunes in a 5-goal second half to get a 3-2 win despite Indy holding a lead twice.

Half - Average Position

If you would like to see Indy hold a possession advantage, you haven't been watching Indy much this season. In league play, Indy have held the possession advantage just three times. Tonight was no different with Loudoun holding a 62/38% possession advantage (61/39% at halftime), as Coach McAuley arranged the team in a 4-4-2 lineup to keep everybody compact on the defensive side of the field. This isn't anything unusual this year, particularly on the road. Coach McAuley put the team in a position to keep Loudoun in front of them in defense and then try and work the counterattack. From Indy's perspective, Loudoun possession in undangerous areas is acceptable and permitted. However, Loudoun lived in Indy's defensive half of the field in the first half. All that possession in Indy's half allowed Loudoun to finish the first half with a 16 to 4 shot advantage, but somehow just a 3 to 1 advantage in shots on target. Indy's tactical style, particularly on the road, keeps Indy fans nervous, but it was effective in the first half.

Bend don't break. Punish the opponent when you get your chance, which is exactly what Indy did in the 50th minute from a corner kick. Murphy's delivery wasn't spectacular. Musa's header wasn't great. Loudoun's defense was worse. Indy did what the could in the first half to stay in the game and then found a lead. 

A lead that lasted just 12 minutes. Ordonez had been on the field for just 4 minutes when he found a shooting angle and opening to get the game back to level. 

A lead that lasted just 15 minutes. It took him a little bit longer than Ordonez needed to find a goal, but from a perfect Route 1 ball from Lindley, Amoh took a touch off his thigh to set himself up for a toe poke under Fauroux. 

A lead that lasted just 4 minutes. Loudoun responded with a goal from Ryan from close range to bring the home side back into the game.

A draw that lasted just 4 minutes. The end of the game became frenetic as both teams found opportunities and goals. The final goal of the game came from the second half sub, as Ordonez scored a brace by being a nightmare to defend in and around the goal. Sulte stopped Ordonez's first shot, but the ball deflected back to Ordonez who made no mistake with his second shot.

Full Time - Shots

An 86th minute goal left very little time for Indy to find a response. Even getting an 6 minutes of extra time, neither team found a shot on target after the final goal. McRobb had an opportunity from a corner kick, but his shot was well high of the goal. Loudoun held a 26 to 11 shot advantage and a 7 to 4 shot on target advantage, but the one that mattered most was that they had a 3 goal to 2 advantage. Indy held a lead twice and conceded each time. Indy bounced up and down over the playoff game as the game progressed, but finished the game in the same spot as when they started. If you've been watching the table, which I have been for several games now, and continued during this game, a Tampa Bay victory over Phoenix in one of the late (for Eastern time zone fans) games could push Indy further down the table as Tampa Bay would leapfrog three different teams to put themselves in a playoff position for the first time since Week 4. That's as much an indication of the closeness of the middle/bottom of the Eastern Conference as anything, but at this point in the season, every single negative result is making it that much more difficult for Indy to make the playoffs for a third year in a row, something they have never done in the history of the team. 

Indy don't have any time to lick their wounds as they have a midweek game at home in the Jagermeister Cup against Greenville Triumph before welcoming Miami to Carroll Stadium in a vital game to keep a tiebreaker in Indy's favor against another team that keeps hovering around the playoff line. Greenville is hovering around their own playoff line in League One so it's not like their the League One world beaters coming to Indy on Wednesday, but with a four-game skid for Indy (and losing 6 of their last 8), I have very little faith that Indy find a way to advance to the Jagermeister Cup semifinal.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I don't like to give at least one player credit for having a good game, but where do you start? Literally the only play that stands out as a positive from all parties was the goal from Amoh and the assist from Lindley. Lindley's ball was perfect, Amoh's first touch and shot were perfect. Yet, are two touches in the span of 90+ minutes worthy of giving a GBGB? Williams and Foster had more offside calls than they had shots (on target or otherwise). Murphy and Musa's goal seemed to be more about poor defending from Loudoun than good soccer from the Indy players. Loudoun scored three goals and came back twice, so do any of the defenders really deserve it? I want to give somebody credit for a good game. I really do. I just didn't see any player that stood out as consistently playing well enough to get it. Maybe that's why Indy remains entrenched in a 4-game losing streak.