Indy Eleven vs Hartford Athletic - 12.22

Summary

- Opponent: Hartford Athletic FC
- Location: Trinity Health Stadium
- Attendance: 4,966

- Final Score: 2-0 W

- Starting XI: Charles-Cook, Ofeimu, O'Brien, J., Musa, Foster, Lindley, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Amoh, Williams, R.

- Substitution: Sulte 45' (Charles-Cook); Schaeffer 61' (Murphy); Rendon 62' (Amoh); Collier 77' (Foster); Kizza 77'  (Williams, R.)

- Unused: McRobb, Soumaro

Scoring Summary:
IND - Blake 3' (unassisted)
IND - Foster 76' (assist Williams, R.)

- Bookings:

HFD - Siaha 65' (Yellow)
IND - Williams, R. 77' (Yellow)

- Referee: Jeremy Scheer

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

One of these teams came into the game on a 7 game undefeated streak (9 if you count a couple of Jagermeister Cup results), while the other came into the game losing 5 of their last 8 (6 if you count the "draw" against Greenville as a loss, which fans will tell you was definitely a loss). To say the two teams came into the game in different form would be stating the obvious. The Hartford team that hosted Indy tonight came into the game in markedly different form, particularly at home, than when they were supposed to host Indy early in the year on April 12th. At that time, Hartford had lost 4 times in league play. Since that rescheduled game, Hartford have only lost 4 times. The question coming into the game was whose run of form was going to continue. 

For the second game in a row, Indy scored early before some of the 5,000 fans had even found their seat. Blake blasted a volley from deep in the 18-yard box that had Siaha rooted to his spot and could just watch it go passed him to get the scoring started. Knowing that the previous meeting between the two teams included 8 goals, nobody assumed the goal scoring was finished. Yet it was just a single additional goal from Indy on a counterattack from Williams and Foster that secured a 2-nil victory on the road to get back above the playoff line and only three points tonight's above who still sit in 5th spot. There are just 5 points separating 5th place and "sitting at home during the playoffs" 9th place. Tonight's three points for Indy were vital.

Indy got an early lead and then salted away the game by being organized on defense, countering when available, and being a slightly more physical team on the duels. It's stressful to watch as an Indy fan considering how many points they have conceded from winning positions this year, but it was effective tonight despite getting bombarded in the second half.

Indy return to action on the road on Saturday against Charleston. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

On a night when Indy needed to play as a unit defensively, it seemed like it was Ofeimu's name that kept being mentioned in a positive way throughout the game. Ofeimu finished with 18 of the team's 56 clearances (or just under 33% of the total). For a solid defensive effort, Ben gets tonight's GBGB.