Indy Eleven vs New Mexico United - 13.22

Summary

- Opponent: New Mexico United
- Location: Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park
- Attendance: 8,234
- Final Score: 2-2 D

- Starting XI: Charles-Cook, Kibunguchy, Craig, Rasheed, Hafferty, Quinn (C), Lindley, Omar, Blake, Mesanvi, Henry-Scott

- Substitution: Rendon 73' (Mesanvi), Sharp 73' (Henry-Scott)

- Unused: Dick, Barry, Mitrano, O'Brien, J., Sing

- Scoring Summary:
NM - Archimede 16' (unassisted)
NM - Hurst 18' (assist Archimede)
IND - Henry-Scott 50' (unassisted)
IND - Blake 59' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

IND - Hafferty 45'+2' (Yellow)
NM - Quiah 45'+2' (Yellow)
NM - Wilkerson 68' (Yellow)
NM - Jabang 88' (Yellow)
NM - Keller 90'+2' (Yellow)

- Referee: Igor Bych

- Adage goals: One
- Points Lost from Winning Position (Year To Date): 10

Thoughts and Opinions

After going with the same starters for a number of games, Coach McAuley and the boys went to Albuquerque and the Western Conference leaders New Mexico United and proceeded to trot out a number of changes to the starting lineup. Not having the ability to ask Coach about the decision, after 18-minutes of game time and Indy down two goals to nil, I have to wonder if Coach thinks he made the right decision. I would like to know why he made the changes, but with Mitrano, O'Brien, Rendon, and Dick all on the bench after making the flight, it was clearly a conscious decision. Indy's defending looked terrible on both goals, and for his first league start of the year, Charles-Cook couldn't have been happy with a 2 goals against average to kick off the half.

Indy found their way back into the game after the goals ending the half with more shots than the hosts, but couldn't find anything out of their attempts and went into the halftime locker room down by two goals. First half stoppage time was interesting after a brush up ended in a couple of yellows, that from my perspective, could have both been red cards. 

Indy came out of the locker room with an increased intensity. Combined with some poor decisions of trying to play out of the back, and Indy pulled one back through Henry-Scott after he anticipated a pass and then rounded Shakes to put ball on the far side of the goal. Minutes later, Blake found a second goal as Indy worked a sustained attack on the New Mexico goal. The ball dropped perfectly to Blake who made no doubt about it from just inside the penalty spot. Indy's stepped up pressure in the second half was making New Mexico's preferred possession-based style nervous and Indy found opportunities out of their pressure.

I'm going to give the GBGB to somebody else, but Cam Lindley showed an uncanny knack tonight of being in the New Mexico passing lanes. If you've ever watched him play, his head is on a constant swivel for where he wants to pass balls when they come to him, but tonight he used that swivel to jump passing lanes to get the attack going. 

Considering the start to the game, Indy stayed true to themselves and found a couple of goals in the second half to get a deserved point on the road. Points on the road have been difficult to get this year, and to come back to Indy from New Mexico and the Lab with a point, something they've never done against the United, is worth something. Indy let New Mexico possess the ball while playing for the counterattack and it worked well. New Mexico doubled their output compared to their expected goals of 0.99xG, while Indy had a much better xG of 1.79. Indy managed more shots and shots on target. They put themselves in a massive hole early, but played a great game to get an acceptable outcome on the road to the Western Conference leaders. 

Indy return to action on Tuesday to play Brooklyn for the makeup game that was cancelled due to weather. Win the games against the teams below you, get points where you can against the teams above you. That's Indy's mantra right now. The did the second part of that tonight and will look to do the first part on Tuesday.

Game Beckons Game Ball

Jack Blake was everywhere. It was his goal that brought the game level, but he was a true box-to-box midfielder putting his stamp on the game all over the field. For his effort, Blake gets tonight's GBGB.