Indy Eleven vs Rhode Island - 12.24

Summary

- Opponent: Rhode Island FC
- Location: Centreville Bank Stadium
- Attendance: 8,498
- Final Score: 1-0 L

- Starting XI: Pruter, Zalinsky, Ofeimu, Schaefer, Musa, Rendon, Lindley (C), Blake, Murphy, Foster, Williams, R.

- Substitution: Amoh 78' (Williams, R.); Kizza 79' (Murphy); Collier 85' (Zalinsky)

- Unused: Hunsucker, McRobb, O'Brien, J., Soumaoro

- Scoring Summary:
RI - Own Goal 64' (Musa)

- Bookings:

IND - Ofeimu 19' (Yellow)

RI - Herivauz 23' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 45'+2' (Yellow)
RI - Fuson 54' (Yellow)
RI - Mabika 88' (RED)
IND - Amoh 90'+2' (RED)

- Referee: Rodrigo Albuquerque

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Based on nearly every single statistic of the game shown on the Match Center, this game should have finished in a nil-nil draw. Possession was nearly equal. Passing accuracy, passing in opponents' half, crosses, were all nearly equal. Shots, shots on target, blocked shots, and shooting accuracy were all exactly equal. 

Yet, one mistake, rather one mishit ball from Musa that found the back of Indy's own goal became the deciding moment in the game. Two teams who have bounced back and forth with each other from one side of the playoff line to the next found themselves in a physical midfield battle for control of the tiebreaker between the two teams should it come to that late in the season. As it stands after tonight's 1-nil victory by Rhode Island, both teams are even on Head-to-Head (1W-1L), even on Goal Differential in head-to-head (1-nil, nil-1 results), Wins in Regular Season (7), and Goal Differential in Regular Season (-7). The difference, that pushes Indy back on the wrong side of the playoff line is that Rhode Island has one more draw than Indy to give them one more Total Points. 

With all three of Indy's new signings in the starting lineup, Indy's defensive effort was admirable, with the obvious notable exception of the goal scoring counterattack. Coach McAuley likes to talk about the performance not matching the result and I think this game was a prime example of this. Indy deserved a point on the road tonight. Indy's final six games are a daunting stretch with two games against the Conference leaders (Louisville and Tulsa), a game against a third-place team (Loudoun), and a game against a playoff team (Pittsburgh), with only two of the six games against [current] non-playoff team. However, even Indy's final opponent in Orange County is just barely out of the Western Conference playoff race. It's going to take a spectacular stretch run from Indy to make this year's playoffs. 

Indy return to action at home next Sunday to face Birmingham, another one of the teams currently below them on the table. It's absolutely vital that Indy pick up three points from the game or they may find themselves out of the playoff race even before they face the tougher opponents.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

With three new faces in the back line and goalkeeper, Indy needed to a solid effort in the midfield to provide cover in front of the new players. In what became a defensive battle, the trio of Blake, Lindley, and Murphy once again proved their worth even in the loss. Their leadership and effort deserved to be rewarded with a draw, but they'll have to make due with getting the GBGB again.