Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 123.06

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion FC
- Location: Protective Stadium
- Attendance: 3,657
- Final Score: 2-2 D

- Starting XI: Dick, Quinn (C), Herbert, Craig, White, Blake, Lindley, O'Brien, J., Mesanvi, Rendon, Okello

- Substitution: Rasheed 45' (White); Kizza 52' (Mesanvi); Neidlinger 78' (Okello)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Barry, Sing, Williams

- Scoring Summary:
BHM - Pasher 39' (Penalty Kick)
IND - Kizza 68' (assist Rasheed)
IND - O'Brien, J. 81' (assist Neidlinger)
BHM - McIllhatton 89' (assist Diarbian)

- Bookings:

BHM - Antwi 51' (Yellow)
BHM - McIllhatton 54' (Yellow)
BHM - McCartney 71' (Yellow)

- Referee: Calin Radosav

- Adage goals: None.
- Points Lost from Winning Position (Year To Date): 6

Thoughts and Opinions

In a rare Sunday game, Indy and Birmingham were the last two teams left to play in Week 7 of the USL Championship season. Both teams came into the game following victories last weekend; Indy a 3-1 win over Monterey Bay and Birmingham a 1-nil win over Pittsburgh to get their first win of the season. 

Former Indy goal scorer Tyler Pasher was able to send Birmingham into the halftime locker room with a 1-nil lead when he expertly placed a penalty kick into the upper right corner as Dick dove the wrong way. Dick's first clean sheet of the season continues to evade him, but his defenders aren't always giving him a lot of help. Pasher's penalty kick was set up by a unnecessary tackle by Herbert on veteran, and former Indy player, Romario Williams who felt enough contact and fell to the turf like a sack of potatoes. Referee Radosav immediately pointed to the spot.

Indy lost White coming out of the halftime locker room due to an injury he picked up late in the half. A late challenge by Anwit sent Mesanvi to the locker room with an injury in the 52nd minute. Just like that, Coach McAuley's substitution pattern was thrown out of the window. Regardless, Indy found two goals in the second half to give themselves a hard-fought win on the road. However, Indy going to Indy and they conceded an 89th minute goal to share the points. Diarbian's pass to McIllhatton to get the goal that brought the teams level was through 4 Indy players. Diarbian outworked 4 players and found a wide open McIllhatton. 

In a vacuum, a point on the road seems like a good result. When you drill down into how the point was obtained (or how points were lost), Indy simply cannot close out games this way. Six points lost from winning positions in 6 games, with three goals conceded in the 88th minute or later. Those 6 additional points would have Indy 2nd in the table. 

I've thought it at times this season, but it really came to mind today as I started looking at Indy's starting lineup, but more specifically where those players are starting in a tactical arrangement. Coach McAuley is utilizing guys where he thinks they can make the most impact and to get his best players on the field, particularly with some injuries in the squad. Rendon came to the team two years ago as the League One Defender of the Year. Quinn is one of the best midfielders in the history of the league. O'Brien played as a defender his first two seasons in Indy. And yet... Rendon is now up top, Quinn is playing as a wingback, and O'Brien has moved into the midfield. Use what you got as best you can and hope it works. I'm not sure it's entirely working... Indy is scoring goals, but can't hold onto a lead to save their lives.

Indy return to action on Saturday against Union Omaha as part of the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Hopefully McAuley picks the right squad this time so that Indy can flip the result they had against Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup a month ago.