- Opponent: Des Moines Menace
- Location: Community Health Network Events Center at the Droplight Grand Park Sports Complex (that's the only time I writing that this year... CHNECatDGPSC... nope, that might actually be worse)
- Attendance: 3,703
- Final Score: 3-0 W
- Starting XI: Charles-Cook, Barry, Herbert, Mitrano, Neidlinger, Gavilanes, O'Brien, Lindley, Williams, Kizza, Mesanvi
- Substitution: Quinn 45' (Lindley); Okello 45' (O'Brien); Sharp 72' (Kizza); Sing 72' (Williams); Thomas 81' (Mesanvi)
- Unused: Dick, Rasheed
- Scoring Summary:
IND - Mesanvi 31' (unassisted)
IND - Okello 61' (assist Mitrano)
IND - Sharp 72' (unassisted)
- Bookings:
IND - Herbert 42' (Yellow)
IND - Williams 70' (Yellow)
IND - Barry 79' (Yellow)
IND - Williams 70' (Yellow)
IND - Barry 79' (Yellow)
- Referee: Alex Beehler
- Adage goals: None.
Thoughts and Opinions
This has been a weird start to the Indy Eleven season. Indy went on the road to start the season, which is typical, but Indy did it against an inaugural team and looked like the lesser of the two teams for portions of that game. Then they already had a bye weekend in just the second week of the season. Before the team could play their second league game of the season, the U.S. Open Cup made its way to Indy and the Grand Park Events Center (I told you I'm not writing the full name all year) as Indy welcomed the Des Moines Menace in first round action of the country's oldest ongoing national soccer competition. Last season's star-studded "pre-professionals" that were part of Des Moines' team last year (Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Dax McCarty, and Matt Hedges, among others) weren't part of the team that Indy faced tonight. In contrast to last year's team, Des Moines fielded a team of early twenty-somethings with just Leroy Enzugusi being born in the last century.
Despite the days between this game and the last, having the second league game this coming Saturday, Coach McAuley changed 9 starters from the roster against Brooklyn, with only Lindley and O'Brien as the holdovers, with Lindley wearing the captain's armband in Quinn's absence from the starting lineup.
Indy started in a 4-4-2 and were completely unafraid, not surprisingly, is play the ball long from the back trying to get behind the DMM defense early and often. As Indy should against a "pre-professional" team, Indy were the dominant, and physical team early. It was DMM that had the first shot on target, but it was O'Brien's attempt within the first 11minutes that was the most pressing. Then in a flurry of activity in the 17th minute with a ghost from Gavilanes and a header from Kizza, the scoring was nearly opened. Two minutes later, Kizza had another crack at it from close range, but DMM's Barry made himself big enough to stop Kizza's point blank range shot. It looked like a matter of time befoer Indy was going to take the lead.
It took a little longer than it initially appeared it was going to take, but a very long clearance of a DMM corner kick, Mesanvi tracked down a poorly played ball from the DMM goalkeeper and proceeded to chip the defender that had tried to track back to protect the goal. The goal had been coming and it came from a long ball from the defense. The former Minnesota United player finally got Indy off the skid and into the scoring column. Despite a few more good chances, Mesanvi's goal took the teams to the halftime locker room with a 1-nil difference.
It took a minute, but Indy doubled the scoring in the 61st minute on a Mitrano cross that Okello headed passed Barry. While Barry looked shaky for most of the game, he had enough good moments to keep Indy off the board until Okello's header.
Indy's cohesiveness and level of effort dropped a bit as the scoreline increased and the subs began to make their way onto the field, but given Indy's less-than-perfect history in the U.S. Open Cup against amateur teams (*ahem Michigan Bucks & Mississippi Brilla), fans will take a 3-0 victory and the chance to move on in the tournament. The talent level should go up in the next round, but Indy will have a couple more weeks of training under their belts when that game takes place.
Indy now turn their attention back to the league on Saturday when Detroit City make the trip to Carroll Stadium.
Game Beckons Game Ball
He had the game-winning goal, but he was also the most dangerous player on the field for much of the game. Mesanvi isn't the most imposing figure at 5'-8" and a buck 30 pounds, but his pace and quick trigger is going to make opposing defenses lose track of him to find some unexpected goals.
Photos - Don Thompson Photography
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