Indy Eleven vs Loudoun United - 12.29

 Summary

- Opponent: Loudoun United FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,163
- Final Score: 2-1 W

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

- Substitution: O'Brien, J. 71' (Murphy); Amoh 71' (Williams, R.); White 71' (Zalinsky); Kizza 77' (Rendon)

- Unused: Pruter, Collier, Soumaoro

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Rendon 11' (assist Quinn)
IND - Rendon 54'
LDN - Own Goal 65' (Lindley)

- Bookings:

LDN - Bidois 26' (Yellow)
LDN - Skundrich 34' (Yellow)
IND - Murphy 44' (Yellow)
LDN - Awuah 70' (Yellow)

- Referee: Brandon Stevis

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

When Indy kicked off their game late due to a 2-hour weather delay, Detroit had drawn with Charleston, Rhode Island had drawn with North Carolina, and Tampa Bay was on their way to beating Hartford. Of the teams around Indy all vying for the final playoff spots, all had given themselves a chance by not losing. By the end of the night, just a single playoff spot remained for the taking in the Eastern Conference. With the narrowest of margins, Detroit sits in the position to play Louisville in the first weekend of the playoffs. To their credit, Indy waited out the weather delay to get a 2-1 victory to keep themselves within arms reach of supplanting Detroit for that chance to try and ruin Louisville's season. 

The Carroll Stadium turf has never been an easy surface for players to play they want to play. Players have repeatedly mentioned this to me over the years. Add a couple hours of rain and the surface is bouncy and slick. Indy's typical direct style of play was amplified in these conditions with numerous attempts to circumvent the entirety of the Loudoun team and play over the top. That mentality lead to the early goal from Rendon when Quinn put a ball that allowed Rendon to run onto and chip Loudoun's keeper Jack. 

A second goal from Rendon early in the second half afforded them the opportunity to still get all three points despite an unfortunate deflection off of Lindley that resulted in an own goal to bring Loudoun back into the game. Indy held onto give fans hope that next week's game against Orange County won't be the last of the 2025 season. Amazingly, of the final three teams from the Eastern Conference that have not resolved their place in or out of the playoffs, two of them will play each other in the final game of the season. While Indy head west to play Orange County, Detroit and Tampa Bay will be playing at Al Lang Stadium in Tampa Bay with everything on the line for all involved. Indy have to beat Orange County to get above Detroit for the 8th and final playoff spot, but then they need Detroit to not get all three points against Tampa Bay. As long as Indy wins, they won't care if Tampa Bay wins. If Indy doesn't get the full three points against OC, I think TB has to beat DET by a 3 goal margin for them to get in. If Detroit wins, then Indy and Detroit start their offseason breaks early.

"So you're saying there's a chance."

"It's the hope that kills you."

Pick the quote that works for you in this situation, but Indy did what they needed to do tonight to prove the haven't given up on the season.

It will all get sorted out next week.

Game Beckons Game Ball

By my count, an Indy player has secured a brace just 36 times by 25 different players in the history of the team. Not quite a rare as the number of times a player has scored a hat trick (5 times from 4 different players), but unique enough that it warrants getting tonight's GBGB. Rendon had 3 shots, two of them on target, both of which found the goal.