Indy Eleven vs Tampa Bay Rowdies - 13.28

Summary

- Opponent: Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 9,627
- Final Score: 3-1 L

- Starting XI: Dick, Quinn, Herbert, Kibunguchy, Rasheed, Omar, Lindley, O'Brien, J., Hafferty, Kizza, Rendon

- Substitution: Mitrano 76' (Lindley); Mesanvi 81' (Kizza); Sing 81' (Omar)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Barry, Craig, Henry-Scott

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Kizza 5' (unassisted)
TBR - Myers 73' (assist Cicerone)
TBR - Cruz 85' (assist Micaletto)
TBR - Micaletto 90'+2' (assist Henderlong)

- Bookings:

IND - Rendon 50' (Yellow)
TBR - Ostrem 67' (Yellow)
IND - Kibunguchy 73' (Yellow)
TBR - Myers 75' (Yellow)

- Referee: Trevor Wiseman

- Adage goals: Two
- Points Lost from Winning Position (Year To Date): 14

Thoughts and Opinions

Math is hard. Indy made the math harder by having two separate 3-game (at least) losing streaks throughout the season, the latest one against teams at or below their respective playoff lines. Miami FC made the math even harder by figuring out something and rattling off a 4-game win streak and unbeaten in 6, which took them from being a team that had a minimal chance of making the playoffs to one that could directly contribute to Indy missing the playoffs. With tonight's 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay, Indy lost a good opportunity because Miami lost to Loudoun tonight. Indy's math gets a little simpler though, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. They still need Charleston to beat Miami in Miami's last game of the season next week, so based on that result, Indy has to either win one of their final two games or win both. The math is relatively simple, the process of getting it accomplished is difficult.

In this game, Indy took an early lead with a 5th minute goal from Kizza on a pass from Quinn. Quinn didn't get official credit for the assist, but his pass, and Kizza's ability to out-hustle his defender, put him in on goal to get his shot beyond Tampa Bay goalkeeper Waite. 

Not surprisingly, Indy then defended for significant portions of a lot of the rest of the half, and, even less surprisingly, the teams walked to the halftime locker room with a 75/25 ratio of possession in favor of the visitors. Indy held a slight advantage in shots and shots on target, proving again that they can be effective with their significantly lower amount of possession. Indy's 60/40 duels success rate and 64/36 aerial duels success rate helped their cause, particularly in defending the 7 corner kicks that Tampa attempted was a big reason why Indy was able to keep Tampa Bay off the board.

That wouldn't remain the case. 

Second verse (half) same as the first. A lot of Tampa Bay possession, a lot of Indy defending, and a lot of Indy counterattacks. The main difference was that Indy took every opportunity that they could to slow down the game; a few seconds here, a few seconds there. No longer required to rotate players due to mid-week games, but still dealing with a ton of injuries, Indy tried to keep the guys on the field as long as possible by taking the time to allow them to not overexert themselves for the entirety of the full 45-minutes of the second half.

With a team like Indy, against a team like Tampa Bay, it's just not possible to think that Indy was going to be able to grind out a 1-nil win. Despite some extremely close-range opportunities from Rendon that Waite was able to save, eventually Indy was going to concede a goal. A cross from Cicerone who had acres of space around him put a perfect ball to the back post to an unmarked Myers to easily headed the ball into the goal to get the visitors onto the board and equalize the game. Watching the game, it seemed an impossible task for Indy to hold onto a lead for 85-minutes.

At that point, it was just a matter of whether Indy could maintain the point that their early goal provided them or whether the defense would once again concede to finish the game without getting any points to help their playoff cause. An 85th minute deflected goal by Myers from outside the box answered that question with a resounding thud. Tampa Bay added a third goal to make the scoreline more consistent with the way that game actually progressed.

After the game and after being told that Miami had also lost to not extend their lead in the table over Indy, Coach McAuley said "that actually makes me feel worse." Knowing Indy had a lead and a possibility of jumping back over Miami, the three conceded second-half goals stung a little bit more.

Indy still have a chance to sneak their way above the playoff line with just two away games remaining, but given the competition in the final two weeks of the season, it seems highly unlikely that Indy will extend their season into the postseason. Given the injuries that have plagued this team since the preseason, including the onslaught of them late in the season, and the lack of depth that has created with the roster, the fact that Indy is even in the conversation is a moral victory. Unfortunately, moral victories don't get you into the playoffs. 

Indy head to Louisville with a possibility of getting a trophy. Admittedly, it's a large, orange, and plastic road construction barrel, but at this point in the season with the playoff possibility dwindling, sometimes you have to take what you can. A win of the LIPAFC barrel could also push Indy into the playoffs if Charleston takes care of Miami the same night. There's a lot to play for in Louisville.

Don Thompson Photography