Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 2025 Jagermeister Cup

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion 
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 9,028
- Final Score: 1-1 D (Indy 7-6 in penalty kicks)

- Starting XI: Sulte, Bryneus, Musa, O'Brien, J., White, Rendon, Murphy, Lindley, Quinn (C), Foster, Amoh

- Substitution: McRobb 67' (Bryneus); Collier 82' (Foster); Williams, R. 82' (Amoh); Blake 88' (Murphy)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Hogan, Kizza

Scoring Summary:
IND - O'Brien, J. 28' (assist Bryneus)
BHM - Tabort Etaka 90'+4' (unassisted)

Penalty Kicks:
IND - Williams, R. (FAIL) X-0
BHM - Pasher (Goal) X-1
IND - Blake (Goal) 1-1
BHM - Laszo (Goal) 1-2
IND - Lindley (Goal) 2-2
BHM - Hernandez-Foster (Goal) 2-3 
IND - Quinn (Goal) 3-3
BHM - Tabort Etaka (Goal) 3-4 
IND - McRobb (Goal) 4-4
BHM - Damus (FAIL) 4-4
IND - Rendon (Goal) 5-4
BHM - Suarez (Goal) 5-5
IND - Collier (Goal) 6-5
BHM - McIllhatton (Goal) 6-6
IND - O'Brien, J. (Goal) 7-6
BHM - Centeno (FAIL) 7-6

- Bookings:

IND - O'Brien, J. 50' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 69' (Yellow)
IND - Murphy 88' (Yellow)
BHM - Pasher 90'+6' (Yellow)

- Referee: Brad Jensen

- Adage goals: One.

Thoughts and Opinions

I wasn't at the game, and in all transparency, I decided to not watch the game. I only watched the highlights and looked at the stats. Somehow, I have a sneaking suspicion on how the game went based on just those two things. Indy scored early, and whether they began to bunker immediately or later, the defensive bunker did happen. I'm sure of it. There have been enough games this season where it has happened that I feel confident, even having not seen the game, to know that it started happening. After the 60th minute, Indy didn't have a single shot, while Birmingham had 7 in that same amount of time. Indy has struggled to close out games from winning positions. cross all competitions, Indy has held scored the opening goal 12 times. Counting last night's game against Birmingham, they have conceded a late goal or stoppage goal in 4 of those 12 games; 33% of the time, Indy has been unable to hold onto their lead. The same thing happened last night, and it took Sulte making a save in the 8th round of the penalty kicks to gain the slightest advantage over Birmingham in the Jagermeister Cup Group 3 standings. Indy could have solidified their spot in the Cup's knockout round, but instead find themselves still in a position where they have to get a win against FC Tulsa to make sure they move on out of the group. Tulsa is currently sitting 3rd in the Western Conference table, so a win is by no means a guarantee. The game last night was a much better opportunity against a fellow struggling Eastern Conference opponent and Indy squandered that chance.

Indy return to league action this coming Saturday when a different Western Conference opponent comes to town. Monterey Bay, sitting 6th place in the Conference, have had good results in their other games against Eastern Conference teams, so Indy's going to need to have a good game to get a result. Indy are closing in on the midpoint of the season and have officially reached the point where they can't keep giving away points and wins.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Photo: Don Thompson Photography

Again, I wasn't at the game, but from the highlights and looking at the stats, is there anybody else besides Sulte that can be given the GBGB? Between the 6 saves in regulation that kept the game in Indy's favor, and the final save in the penalty kick portion of the Cup game, Sulte seems to be an obvious choice. 

 

Photos: Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 12.10

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Protective Stadium
- Attendance: 
- Final Score: 1-0 W

- Starting XI: Sulte, McRobb, Musa, Ofeimu, Hogan, Blake, Murphy, Quinn (C), Rendon, Lindley, Amoh

- Substitution: O'Brien, J. 69' (McRobb); Kizza 69' (Amoh); Bryneus 77' (Lindley); Soumaoro 77' (Blake); Collier 90' (Quinn)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Foster

Scoring Summary:
IND - Lindley 4' (assist Blake)

- Bookings:

BHM - Centeno 16' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 27' (Yellow)
BHM - Damus 70' (Yellow)

BHM - Hernandez-Foster 75' (Yellow)

BHM - Torres 76' (Yellow)
IND - O'Brien, J. 90'+1' (Yellow)
IND - Murphy 90'+4' (Yellow)

- Referee: Elton Garcia

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Both needed points from the game. Both really needed a win from the game. There had never been anything but a draw in the history of the series between the two clubs, with the record even for both teams with 6 wins and 6 losses. Based on past experience, it would have been a good bet that one of the teams was going to get the full three points. Indy fans rejoiced the continuation of that trend thanks to a 4th minute strike from Cam Lindley that gave Indy an early lead that they wouldn't relinquish. 

In the first of two games between these two teams in the month (today's league game and at Indy as part of the Jagermeister Cup group play at the end of the month), and the first of three games on the season, both teams had to deal with some squad adjustment due to injuries and international call-ups. One of the beneficiaries of those adjustments for Indy was Cam Lindley who picked up his first league start of the season. With the start, Lindley overtook Franco for Games Played in team history. More importantly though, Lindley made the best use of his start by blasting a shot into the lower left side of the goal from well outside the 18-yard box. 

Musa was given a introduction to the speed of former Indy player Tyler Pasher for Birmingham's first shot of the game. Sulte was able to parry away the shot for a corner kick, preventing Birmingham from getting on the board. The next time the two faced each other, Pasher's speed and footwork with the ball was more than Musa could handle and he had to drag down the speedy forward, resulting in a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. There was a foul on the restart, but Pasher doesn't seem to have lost any of his pace since his time in Indy. 

Half - Heatmap

Pace though, despite Pasher's periodic displays of it, was not the theme of the first half. Whether it was the heat of the Alabama night or tactics, but neither team looked inclined to put too much speed to their actions for chunks of the half. Obviously, there were the occasional bursts, but taken in its entirety, the half was played slowly and deliberately. Each team was above 85% passing accuracy for the half, with Birmingham at 87% in Indy's half of the field. The first half was spent mostly around the middle circle, with both teams content to let possession there happen there. If I was trying to be clever, I guess I could try to say "what happens at half field stays at half field" might be a thing. Not being clever, the first half really looked like two teams that have struggled for consistent results playing the first half trying to figure out how to get a result. Indy scored early and looked content at times to just let that one ride, without taking too many chances that would get them out of defensive shape. For a team that has conceded untimely goals, there's some logic to that, but the 86-minute bunker never seems to go that well. Birmingham, despite a 7-3 shot (most of those well off target), didn't look like they had any ideas on how to break the bunker. So to Indy's credit, the bunker did seem to work in the half. 

Early in the second half, Indy's passivity was not matched by Birmingham, who finally looked like they had a fire lit under them by Coach Mark Griggs during the halftime break. Whereas their first half position was hovering around the midfield circle, their line of conflict in the second half was further up the field. The change in their mentality led to some early shots, including one that rattled the post. 

Then the game, already at a measured pace, ground to an absolute stop when referee Elton Garcia stopped the game, reportedly, due to abusive language from the Birmingham fans behind the Indy goal. The delay added 7 minutes of stoppage time, but play did resume after some warnings from the public address announcer. 

Full - Shots

Despite being on the wrong end of nearly every statistical category (shots, shots on target, possession, duels, aerial duels, corners, passing accuracy, crosses, crossing accuracy, tackle success rate), Indy were on the right end of the score, getting a much needed 1-nil win on the road. It wasn't the 3-3 fireworks from the last game, but Indy's ability to make Birmingham shoot from distance was the difference tonight. Birmingham outshot Indy 21 to 5, but many of those shots were well high or wide. They did seem to be narrowing that window as the game progressed so if they had some more time, maybe the 6 shots they had on target would have been more threatening. Regardless, Indy will take the win and get back to Indy as quickly as possible, knowing they finally have their second league win a full third of the way through the league schedule. Still a lot of season to go, but as the saying goes, "if you want to get out of a hole, you have to first stop digging." Indy did that tonight with the win.

Indy now have 10 days off before returning to The Mike to face another team desperate to get positive results when Pittsburgh makes the trip to Indy. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

The guy has been getting mop-up minutes in most games, but has seemingly continued to work hard during training, and has had a professional attitude about his minutes. A game winner on the road and a good shift in his first league start of the year means that Cam Lindley also gets the GBGB. I'm sure he'll enjoy the goal and the win a lot more than a recognition from me, but I continue to be impressed with Lindley and the effort he gives in his limited minutes this season.

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion FC - 11.33

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,540
- Final Score: 3-2 W

- Starting XI: Sulte, Musa, Ofeimu, Stanley, Neidlinger, Soumaoro, Blake, Quinn (C), Martinez, Foster, Williams, A.

- Substitution: Williams, R. 45' (Martinez); Wootton 55' (Soumaoro); Mines 72' (Foster); Collier 80' (Williams, A.)

- Unused: Oettl, Chapman-Page, O'Brien, J.

Scoring Summary:
IND - 14' (OG - Kavita)
IND - Blake 15' (assist Martinez)
BHM - Pinho 54' (assist Mensah)
IND - Wootton 86' (unassisted)
BHM - Zouhir 90' (assist Martinez)

- Bookings:

IND - Williams, A. 79' (Yellow)

- Referee: Matthew Corrigan

- Adage goals: One

Thoughts and Opinions

The season has come down to the wire, but the math had significantly simplified coming into tonight's game against Birmingham. If Indy and Birmingham finished level, Indy would secure their place in the playoffs. If Indy win, they secure they place their place in the playoffs, while also keeping alive their chances of hosting a playoff game. If Indy lost, the playoffs were still in play with a draw/win next week in Tampa Bay, but hosting a game would become a bit more difficult.

Photo: Don Thompson

Standing in Indy's way were Birmingham, a team that doesn't just have one former player on their roster, but three different players, each of who were in the starting lineup tonight. Crognale has anchored the Birmingham defense for nearly the entire time since his departure from Indy, while Tyler Pasher and Stefano Pinho were available to bring the firepower up top and in the midfield. Pinho and Pasher sit in the Top 10 in Indy club history for Goals (Pinho tied for 7th, Pasher alone in 2nd), Points (Pinho 10th, Pasher 2nd), Pasher is 9th in Assists, and the two are in the Top Five in Game Winners (Pinho tied for 5th, Pasher at #1). With those players on the opposing side trying to prevent Indy from securing a playoff position, Indy fans had bittersweet emotions. Our players are #IndyForever, but not during the 90-minutes of the game, and definitely not when those 90-minutes take place at Carroll Stadium with a playoff spot on the line.

Indy took a two-minute stretch in the first half to nearly put the game out of reach. A Quinn centering cross was helped along by Martinez, and then Birmingham's Kavita tried to redirect the ball, but redirected it into his own goal to start the scoring. A minute later, the ball was cycled around to Martinez who went to the endline, but instead of sending the ball into the box with no set target, he pulled the ball back slightly to get a ball to an on-rushing Blake. Blake, instead of one-timing a shot, took a second touch to put the ball into a better shooting position and then put it out of the reach of Van Oekel to double the advantage. The next 30 minutes were played to a nil-nil stalemate, but the damage had been done and Indy went into the locker room in a playoff-hosting position thanks to the other results around the conference. The results from the night maintained that position, putting Indy's playoff hosting fate into firmly into their own hands.

Halftime Shots

Proof that possession and shot differences don't always tell the story of the game, Birmingham held a 57% to 43% advantage in possession and a 12 to 3 advantage in shots when the teams went into the halftime break. However, that possession was skewed into Indy's attacking half and the majority of Birmingham's shots were either in non-threatening areas from distance or were well off target. It's difficult to argue with a 2-goal lead, particularly when you're forcing the opponent into difficult shooting positions. Indy was a little sloppy with their passes towards the very end of the half, but a two-goal lead allows some cushion for some mistakes. However, I'm sure the halftime talk from Coach McAuley was related to the fact that an early second half goal by Indy would likely put the game out of reach, but an early second half goal by Birmingham would change the entire tenor of the game. 

It took less than 10 minutes for that momentum goal to come to fruition. Unfortunately for Indy fans, that goal was provided by former player Stefano Pinho, and Indy found themselves needing to do a gut check to determine if they had it in them to get the full three points. While the draw would solidify a playoff spot, Indy watched Louisville seal the Players' Shield on the Carroll Stadium turf on the last home game and wouldn't have wanted to watch a win evaporate tonight too to prevent the option of securing a home playoff game. That kind of letdowns in back-to-back weekends would start to work against the team's psyche going into the playoffs. 

After the goal, the field tilted to Birmingham's offensive side of the field, forcing Indy to rely on their defending. Indy has generally been a solid team when they're in "park the bus" or "defending for life" mode. Tonight would be no different for most of the second half. While Birmingham, fighting for their playoff lives, continued to pepper shots towards Indy's goal, they continued to do so from outside the box. It wasn't until the 90th minute when Zouhir put a wicked shot on frame from 35-yards away that sent Hunter to his right before the ball knuckled back to the space that Hunter had vacated to give the visitor's a second goal and life in the dying minutes of the game. Indy had managed a third goal through Wootton in the 86th minute, so the Birmingham goal was disappointing given the time in the game, but still maintained Indy's ability to get all three points from the game. A few minutes after Zouhir's goal, he once again put a long-distance shot on frame, but this one was low and Hunter was able to parry it away to solidify the 3-2 win. 

Birmingham had one more shot on target in stoppage time, but shortly after referee Matthew Corrigan blew the whistle and Indy survived Birmingham's late comeback attempt. With the win, Indy have secured their place in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in the team's history, and the first since Martin Rennie's first and second seasons in 2018 & 2019. Indy have only lost once in the last 9 games to put themselves in this opportunity to host a playoff game. After the rough start to the season and the slump after the 8-game win streak, Indy have consistently been getting points to close out the year. If you're looking for downsides, which I'm apt to do, Indy haven't been able to string together wins during the recent run of form. That might be nit-picking though at a place in the season where every point has been valuable and needed.

Photo: Drew Thompson

Indy head to Tampa Bay next weekend with the chance to secure a home playoff game. If I'm doing my scenarios and math correctly, a draw in Tampa Bay secures the home playoff game as it would put Indy at 52 points, Rhode Island can only reach a max of 51 points, and Tampa could only get to 52 if they beat Indy. So a boring nil-nil draw provides at least one more game in Carroll Stadium this year. A 4th place finish would see Indy face off against one of those two teams depending on those teams they finish their seasons. Tampa Bay play Hartford in their makeup game due to Hurricane Helene before hosting Indy at the IMG Academy, while Rhode Island finish at home against Miami, which season results would indicate should be a win for Rhode Island. The Rhode Island/Miami game starts 30-minutes after Indy and Tampa Bay kickoff, so Indy will have to play their final game with the assumption that Rhode Island gets all three points against Miami. Tampa Bay has struggled in recent weeks, so a draw seems doable. However, there is enough talent on Tampa Bay's team that Indy need to head to Tampa looking for a dogfight.  

(Random) Final Thoughts

Indy should have had a 4th or 5th goal late that would have made the end of the game less nervy, but Collier sent his shot from just beyond the penalty spot high and into the BYB, while Romario Williams also had a decent chance, but got a little bit too cute with the ball and never got a proper shot off despite being yards away from the goal. As Coach McAuley tries to create a winning culture (something that every new coach has said they need to do), he indicted post-game that he values the team's resiliency and determination to hold onto results (Louisville game notwithstanding). 

Neidlinger marking Pasher early. "Hey Kid. They tell me your the youngest player in club history to score a goal. I'm second in the club in goals scored. Try keeping up with me." - Pasher (maybe) Neidlinger was pummeled with attacks in the second half as Birmingham sent wave after wave of their attack up the left side where Neidlinger was defending. To his credit, the young professional played really well. McAuley indicated that Logan began to tire late in the game, but nearly caught enough of a second (or third or fourth) wind to get a shot off in the 84th minute that nearly found the goal. 

I never would have thought that (mostly) healthy (or not red card suspended) Lindley, Gibson, Guenzatti, and Diz Pe wouldn't even make the 18 in a game as important as a game that would clinch a playoff spot. The depth of the team this year has taken on a new level.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

His minutes have kind of been all over the place this season, but when he's been asked to play, Wootton plays with a ton of energy and effectiveness. He was rewarded for his ability to step up when needed and rifled a shot past Van Oekel that became the game winner. I like to reward guys when the game rewards them and tonight that was Wootton. While the game-winning goal is better, the GBGB isn't bad either. 

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 11.14

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Protective Stadium
- Attendance: 
- Final Score: 1-0 W

- Starting XI: Sulte, Ofeimu, Chapman-Page, Diz Pe, Stanley, Lindley (C), Mines, Blake, Guenzatti, Martinez, Williams

- Substitution: Wootton 45' (Martinez); O'Brien, J. 70' (Diz Pe); Collier 80' (Williams); Gibson 80' (Blake)

- Unused: Oettl, Boudadi, Schneider

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Blake 34' (penalty kick)

- Bookings:

IND - Indy Bench 90'+2' (Yellow)

- Referee: Natalie Simon

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Alex Crognale, Tyler Pasher, Stefano Pinho. The Birmingham roster has a definite Indy flavor, but #IndyForever only applies outside the 90-minutes of the match. However much Indy fans love the club's second highest goal scorer, Pasher, and a top 10 club scorer, Pinho, doesn't score against Indy, that's a success.

In the early stages of this game, Indy actually looked like last year's Lowry-coached team. Plenty of possession, balls cycled around the Indy back three, and the team probing the Birmingham defense instead of trying to go over the BHM backline. Birmingham held the early possession, but as Indy settled into the game, they brought the possession percentage closer as they looked to find a way through the BHM defense.

Shortly after the hydration break, Mines took a ball to the endline that the BHM defenders argued had crossed over the line before crossing the ball to the penalty spot. Stanley made an awkwardly acrobat half bicycle kick and went back in the direction from where it came instead of towards goal, but the ball bounced off Rufe's hand. So the cross that went over the penalty spot, finished at the penalty spot as referee Natalie Simon pointed to the spot. Blake stepped over the ball, sent Van Oekel the wrong way, and opened the game's scoring with his 8th league goal of the season and 5th penalty kick. 

Blake's penalty kick held for the rest of the half, giving Indy the lead going into the locker room. Despite Birmingham's protestations of Mine's cross that preceded the goal, the replay showed that the AR was in perfect position to see the play and, I believe, made the correct no-call. Wootton replaced Martinez immediately after the halftime break, which often indicates an injury of some kind. Diz Pe left the game in the 70th minute with an apparent hamstring injury, so Indy's injury list could be adding a couple players after tonight's game.

Second half shots

The teams finished even in the second half thanks to 5 saves from Van Oekel (8 total for the game) and a shot from Etaka that ricocheted off the crossbar and away from danger. Indy was the better team on the night and deserved the win to extend their win streak to 7 in the league, to 9 in all competitions, and their undefeated streak to 11 in all competitions. It's amazing how long the streak has continued for Indy and they still can't crack the top 2 of the Eastern Conference table because of how well Louisville and Charleston have started the season. However, after Indy's 1W-1D-4L to start the season, the fact that they are even within arms reach of those two teams proves how well they are playing right now.

Indy return to Carroll Stadium on the 15th to play San Antonio, who they have already beaten earlier this year in the U.S. Open Cup. San Antonio is entrenched in a very crowded middle of the table in the Western Conference, but they're going to want to make amends for their earlier season loss. Indy's recent form, particularly at home, should still give them the advantage despite having recently seen San Antonio. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

When the team is on the kind of run they are right now, it's clearly a team effort. To achieve one of their rare clean sheets, "defense starts with the offense," but sometimes "defense starts with defense." The back three have been an integral part of this run, with some adjustments to the starters between games. While O'Brien has played well, I think tonight's introduction of Chapman-Page added a level of physicality that edges him for tonight's GBGB. He had some timely tackles, some of them on the razor edge of being incorrect, but that's what we're going to get from him. He goes all out and sometimes he gets it wrong. Tonight, though, he got nearly all of them right. 3 tackles, 4 clearances, and by far the most touches of the back line. He even had a shot on target. So while this win was a good team win, I think Chapman-Page deserves the GBGB for a man of the match type performance. 

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 10.23

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 7,194 (if you say so)
- Final Score: 4-0 W

- Starting XI: Trilk, Boudadi, Diz Pe, Jerome, Dambrot, Lindley, Quinn, Asante, Robledo, Martinez, Guenzatti (C)

- Substitution: Blake 71' (Robledo); Velasquez 71' (Asante); Chapman-Page 82' (Guenzatti); Pinho 82' (Martinez); Molina 89' (Dambrot)

- Unused: Crawford, Reveno

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Guenzatti 24' (assist Asante)
IND - Guenzatti 63' (assist Asante)
IND - Martinez 65' (assist Asante)
IND - Molina 89' (assist Velasquez)

- Bookings:

IND - Martinez 41' (Yellow)
BHM - Martinez 48' (Yellow)
BHM - Nwegbo 49' (Yellow)
BHM - Brett 61' (Yellow)
BHM - Smith 90'+1' (Yellow)

- Referee: Adam Kilpatrick

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Photo Credit: Matt Schlotzhauer

When the U.S. Women's National Team were defeated in penalty kicks on Sunday morning, there were a lot of discussions about an unprecedented loss by them going out earlier than any other USWNT in any major tournament. Ever. However, there was also this underlying discussion and tone that the result didn't match the performance. As I listened to it over and over again as I tried to make sense of their exit, I kept hearing Mark Lowry's voice in my head. He said it the night before the USWNT's loss, after Indy lost to Memphis:

"Only one team deserved to win that game, and unfortunately, the team that deserved it, didn't get it. Tactically, technically, we were the better team."

He even reiterated it last night after the game against Birmingham:

"The results haven't reflected the performances this season."

I've heard the refrain from him so often this season that I compare it to the old standby of "we need time to gel" as the reason why the results aren't happening. It's an excuse. 

As I watched the RE-CAP show with Christen Press and Tobin Heath on Monday (a must watch if you want to see how former USWNT players took the loss compared to you, a fan, took the loss. Tobin was fired up...), Christen said, "Aren't results part of the performance too? ... Can you say that's a good performance if you're not scoring?"

It's a valid and legitimate question. Performance doesn't get you out of the Round of 16 in the World Cup. Performance (so far) doesn't get you in the USL Championship playoffs.

Results get you into the quarterfinals. Results get you into the playoffs. 

Photo Credit: Matt Schlotzhauer

Positive results are what happen when you have a complete performance. That, a complete performance, is what Indy fans saw last night as Guenzatti found the back of the net twice on very similar crosses and headers past Spangernberg. Martinez, playing more up top and unencumbered by his recent wingback role, looked much more comfortable and I had fewer concerns about his decision making. He did pick up a silly yellow after continuing to play the ball into the goal after being called offside. That gives him 7 on the season, but he might have had one of those taken off his record for a run of good behavior. After rattling off 4 yellow cards in 4 games, he had gone 9 games without a yellow. So he might not be on yellow-card accumulation watch just yet. 

Indy looked like the better team for the majority of the game, despite the rare instance where Indy lost official possession battle. They put 4 goals on the board, and kept a clean sheet. That's a performance, and one the guys can be completely happy about.

It's just a shame that the boys put a complete performance together on a night when a 2.5-hour rain delay forced the game to start at just after 9:30 and not finish until 11:30. On a night where dozens of fans were in attendance instead of thousands. The game I saw last night against Birmingham is the kind of game, performance and result, that I had hoped we would see all season. 

Birmingham have been a streaky team this year, coming into this game with a 9W-10L-2D record, where they lost 5 consecutive games in the month of May. They made the trip to Indy sitting on a two-game losing streak. They weren't rolling into The Mike with a ton of confidence, but Indy was on their own two-game losing streak so both teams needed the win as the season reached its 2/3rd mark.

Photo Credit: Matt Schlotzhauer

At times this season, I have felt that you could time Indy's fast breaks with an egg timer. Indy were much more effective in this game in going and going quickly. I still think there were moments when the ball was pushed back when they had a chance to test BHM's defense, but it was better. Indy found multiple gaps in the BHM midfield as Diz Pe or Jerome sent crisp, direct passes through the first line of forwards/midfielders, and once Lindley or Quinn or Asante received the ball, they had space around them to turn and immediately break up field to find Martinez or Guenzatti. Add Robledo's effort into the mix and it was a lot for the BHM midfielders and defenders to handle. 

Conversely, Indy's team defense was extremely effective as guys covered for other guys, and the defense started with the guys up top pressing the ball. Let's not forget Trilk who had to make three saves, each of them difficult, but that he dealt with perfectly. 

This was a good result for Indy from a complete performance. The win puts Indy back above the playoff line for the time being, with the team immediately on the other side of the line up next on the docket when Indy travels to Miami on Saturday. A win on the road would do wonders for Indy's confidence, and help them push through the final third of the season to stay above the playoff line or move up the table. Was last night a sign of things to come, or just another high note on the pogo season? We'll known in a couple of days if Indy can continue complete performances with positive results.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Tonight's GBGB goes to the duo of Guenzatti and Asante. Solo has had his role adjusted lately to come off the bench and provide a late-game spark, but was in the starting lineup due to some squad rotation with 3 games in 8 days. Asante made full use of his minutes with a hat-trick of assists thanks to his superb crosses. Guenzatti regularly starts, but was rewarded for the effort he has shown all season with the team's third brace of the season, and first for a player not named Quinn. Asante became the first player in USL league history to reach the 50/50 mark (goals/assists), edging out Quinn who is an assist away from joining Solo at that mileston. Guenzatti took over 9th place in league history for goals scored. Those are some accomplishments worthy of the GBGB.

But wait, there's more. 

The first ever FOGBGB (Front Office Game Beckons Game Ball).

The below photo was the field during the heavy rains before the game, nearly completely submerged under water, with just a small strip of field down the middle that wasn't affected. Senior Director of Venue & Game Operations Morgan Kuehnle and her crew did an amazing job getting the field into a condition that was playable by the delayed 9:30 start time. When I walked into the stadium around 8:30, there was still an armada of operations staff in rain gear (except for Morgan who was in her standard suit) with squeegees, working hard to get the last of the persistent water off of the field. Without their effort, this game would not have taken place. Without their result, the team wouldn't have been able to get their result. Congrats Morgan for receiving the first ever FOGBGB.

Photo Credit: Matt Schlotzhauer

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 10.14

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Protective Stadium
- Attendance: 
- Final Score: 2-1 L

- Starting XI: Oettl, Boudadi, Jerome, Vazquez, Quinn, Lindley, Blake, Robledo, Molina, Asante, Guenzatti (C)

- Substitution: Martinez 62' (Robledo); Rebellon 69' (Boudadi); Dambrot 88' (Molina); Sanchez 88' (Guenzatti)

- Unused: Trilk, Chavarria, Velasquez

- Scoring Summary:
BHM – Nwegbo 55’ (assist Asiedu)
IND - Guenzatti 56' (assist Robledo)
BHM - Martinez 89' (assist Brett)

- Bookings:

IND – Boudadi 8’ (Yellow)
BHM - Alves 21' (Yellow)
IND - Vazquez 24' (Yellow)
BHM - Crognale 62' (Yellow)
BHM - Asiedu 64' (Yellow)

- Referee: Olvin Oliva

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Indy and Birmingham came into the game with the same number of points on the season, with BHM edging Indy in the table due to the tiebreakers. The two teams, however, have been on different trajectories lately. Birmingham started the season reasonably well, but were on a five-game losing streak, while Indy came in with a 2W-1D-2L record (two game undefeated) in that same timeframe. One team wanted to change their fortunes, while the other wanted to try and build upon their recent successes.

Yet...

Indy's consistent ability this season to allow a goal on a defensive breakdown that keeps them from getting any points reared its head again tonight. Indy conceded in the 55th minute when Nwegbo took a shot through traffic that Oettl saw too late to be able to stop, and Indy, once again, was playing from behind. Though to be fair, at least it happened in the early stages of the second half and not in the early stages of the first half, which has been their issue earlier this season. 

They also immediately found their equalizer in the 56th minute by attacking and attacking quickly. Lindley put a ball over the top of the BHM midfield, where Robledo headed the ball to Asante, who quickly put the ball to the wings for Blake who one-touch crossed the ball towards the six-yard box. Robledo had continued his run and, I think, had a poor touch that worked its way directly to Guenzatti who was trailing the play, who one-touch shot the ball that, I think, he was trying to put to the left side of the goal, but it deflected off of Crognale to the right side of the goal, and away from the way that Van Oekel was leaning. 

Two minutes of intense action and goal celebrations, and things were right back where they started.

After the flurry of goals, Indy managed just two more shots, while Birmingham had 8. Indy continued their trend of having the possession advantage, but they weren't able to translate that to shots or goals; the on-going trend of the season. 

To counteract the goal scoring from the opposition, Lowry switched to a back 5, which seemed to stem the early goals and was giving Indy a chance in games. As the injuries and suspensions in the back line mounted, Lowry was forced to field a 3-5-2 tactical lineup to varying degrees of success. At least a few times, I watched Indy's defenders (including Blake, Quinn, and Lindley in that) raise their arms requesting an offside call, that was not going to come because there was another defender somewhere on the line easily keeping players onside. 

That includes a BHM attempt in the middle of the second half where the arms went up and players stopped. If it hadn't been for some poor shot attempts by BHM, the game would have been lost earlier. As it was, the same thing happened again in the 88th minute and Martinez put the ball over an on-rushing Oettl who did all he could to make himself big, but to no avail. 

Indy tried to see out the game, and instead head back to Indy with zero points and hovering just above the playoff line with two other teams who have the same point total. Both those teams have played one more game, but unless Indy can start to acquire points, the end of the season is going to be a nerve-wrecking one of fans.

Indy return to action next weekend to play Hartford Athletic for the second time in two weeks, though this time it will be in Hartford. The team will have Diz Pe and Rissi back, and the Dambrot and Rebellon both made it into tonight's game. So the team is starting to get players back to give Lowry more options, and Indy have a schedule that will allow guys to get back to match fitness before the games come fast and furiously in July. As we creep closer to the halfway point, Indy need to remain healthy, and stop shooting themselves in their own feet.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

This is a difficult game for me to pick a winner for the GBGB. Having watched my second Indy loss in the past two days, I don't really feel like working hard to find one. So, on a night when Indy needed to not concede for just a few more minutes but couldn't do it, I think I'm going to forego the GBGB tonight. 

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion FC - 09.34

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion FC
- Location: Protective Stadium
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 3-1 L

- Starting XI: Lewis, Vazquez, Jerome, Cochran, Dambrot, Timmer, Hackshaw (C), Revolorio, Asante, Tejada, Arteaga

- Substitution:  Rivera 70' (Tejada); Ayoze 70' (Timmer); Pinho 83' (Arteaga); Sanchez 87' (Asante)

- Unused: Trilk, Aguilera

- Scoring Summary:
BHM – Martinez 25’ (assist Dean)
BHM - Kasim 29' (assist Martinez)
BHM - Santos 61' (Penalty Kick)
IND - Pinho 83' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

IND – Hackshaw 45'+1' (RED)
BHM - Asiedu 55' (Yellow)
IND - Timmer 57' (Yellow)

- Referee: John Griggs
- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

To say this season didn't go as hoped is an understatement. No team that isn't a 2 team of the parent club plans to miss the playoff. However, when you win your 12th game of the season, but don't win again until your 25th game of the season, the odds are really high that you're going to miss the playoffs. The final nine games of the season for Indy Eleven were more about trying to find a consistent run of form than trying to realistically make the playoffs. The Eleven were better in the final ten games of the season going 6W-2D-3L, but were still inconsistent in that period. When they were bad, there were some terrible results, being outscored 12-2 in the losses.

A starting lineup that included Revolorio, Jerome, Cochran, Vazquez, Dambrot, Timmer, and Hackshaw seemed like Coach Lowry was setting the team up for defensively heavy tactics. Yet, Timmer, Hackshaw, and Vazquez were extremely fluid in their positioning as they rotated between who was going to be in the defensive midfielder role(s) and who was going to be the left midfielder role of the diamond. Hackshaw was frequently seen up on the top line as well. The left side of the field was constantly in flux. The right side of the field was not nearly as fluid.

Defensive mistakes continue to be the thorn in the side of this team. Tonight's mistakes were by Vazquez who was involved in both of Birmingham's first two goals. Admittedly, BHM had been repeatedly knocking on the door before the goals, but mistakes being immediately punished by a goal has been a theme this year. 

A glacial pace from an offensive side in the final game of the season didn't help for how this game proceeded. Pass. Collect. Pass. Collect. Switch directions. Pass. Collect. Pass. Etc., etc., etc. BHM had little trouble with Indy's attack as the ball slowly went side-to-side for large portions of the game when in Indy's possession. 

Indy finished the first half with one shot and one less player. 

Arteaga with the one shot in the 20th minute. 

Hackshaw got tired of watching this shit too so he found a way to get out of it via a straight red in the 45'+1' due to throwing a poor punch at Alex Crognale. I think he was just trying to shove Alex, but the entire motion looked like a punch. 

This is the kind of season where Indy can't even throw a punch correctly.

With that, I'm finished. The second half will be whatever it is.

Indy are now, officially, finished with the match portion of the season, and will be spending the next couple weeks watching the playoffs on their couches like the rest of us. For many of them, they will spend that time wondering if they will be returning to Indy or packing their things and heading to other locales. I don't know what Coach Lowry's and the team's schedule looks as far as announcing those changes, but the guys tend to have their contracts through October. So I wouldn't expect to see any announcements from the team prior to that. Though you may start to see individual players' social media feeds start to give hints on their status prior to the team's announcement. Ayoze won't be the only one not returning though.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I'm writing this at halftime, so I'm inclined to just turn off my computer and call the end of the season right now. At this point of the game, Arteaga gets the GBGB. 

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion FC - 09.28

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,104
- Final Score: 4-3 W

- Starting XI: Trilk, Dambrot, Vazquez, Jerome, Timmer, Brown, Ayoze (C), Hackshaw, Asante, Tejada, Rivera

- Substitution: Aguilera 57’ (Ayoze); Rebellon 67’ (Hackshaw); Ingram 68’ (Tejada); Michael 90’+6’ (Asante)

- Unused: Lewis, McQueen, Rivera

- Scoring Summary:
IND – Hackshaw 11’ (assist Asante)
IND – Hackshaw 16’ (assist Asante)
IND – Tejada 31’ (assist Dambrot)
BHM – Martinez 35’ (unassisted – rebound from penalty kick)
BHM – Marlon 62’ (assist Martinez)
BHM – Marlon 71’ (assist Balarabe)
IND – Pinho 78’ (assist Asante)

- Bookings:

IND – Tejada 25’ (Yellow)

IND – Trilk 34’ (Yellow)

BHM – Marlon 38’ (Yellow)

BHM – Agudelo 40’ (Yellow)

IND – Brown 45’+5’ (Yellow)

IND – Ayoze 52’ (Yellow)

IND – Rebellon 73’ (Yellow)

BHM – Martinez 87’ (Yellow)

BHM – Crognale 90’+2’ (Yellow)

- Referee: Jeremy Scheer
- Adage goals: One

Thoughts and Opinions

Coming into tonight’s game, 8 of the Eastern Conference playoff positions were determined; 5 teams were already confirmed for the playoffs and 3 teams had already been eliminated. Birmingham had officially qualified as one of those five for the seven available playoff spots. By the end of the night, 2 more teams joined the eliminated ranks as Loudoun and Hartford joined Atlanta, Charleston, and NYRBII as teams who will be watching the playoffs from their couches. Indy is still, officially, capable of making the playoffs based on the math, but the realistic chances have dwindled with every non-Indy win, and every win by the other three teams remaining in the fight for the final playoff spots; Miami, Detroit, and Tulsa. In talking to, and listening to, Mark Lowry, he looks at every remaining game as much as a step towards next year as it is for any result achieved this year. Indy wants to win, but Lowry is trying to solidify the culture and the style of play that he expects to see from this team. That is not a short-term goal for Lowry:

"We're not a team yet. This is the harsh reality. We're a young team. It's almost like a first-year club with the rebuild that we're going through. We're not mature enough, or frankly good enough yet, to go and see games out 4 or 5 to zero. We're not there as a group. What we do have to show is the heart and desire to keep digging in, and moments of quality from some players to get us to the victory in the end. ... I thought the first 30 minutes were great and that's what we're capable of, but we're not a team that can do it for 90 minutes. We're gonna get there. I promise you we're gonna get there, it just takes time."

Photo Credit: Don Thompson (@DLTPhotog)

For the first time in the history of the club, a team has scored in the 11th minute of a game. Neveal Hackshaw becomes the answer to a club trivia question as he headed in the opening goal of the game from a corner kick from Asante. It took nearly the entirety of the 9th season, but the minute of the game that is symbolically important to the Eleven fans has finally received the goal treatment. Fortunately for Indy, it was the home squad that broke the seal. Five minutes later, Hackshaw and Asante combined for the exact same corner kick to goal scoring effort as Indy put a second goal past Van Oekel within just 16 minutes. Indy have struggled for the majority of the season, but they are starting to finally string together more of the good moments in a game than the bad ones. It isn’t going to change where Indy spends the postseason, but Indy is finally playing better soccer and getting good results to show for it.

The two-goal lead didn’t get Indy thinking about being defensive as they extended their lead in the 31st minute as Dambrot continues to bring energy to the squad and attacked multiple Birmingham defenders, and found Tejada. Tejada turned, found himself with space, and put yet another ball past Van Oekel. Dambrot reminds me of Nemanja Vukovic's time here in Indy. Sure, you can call him a defender if you want, but he’s just as comfortable pushing into the opponent’s defensive third and attacking the opposition's centerbacks as he is defending his own third.

With a three-goal lead, Indy continued to not take their foot off the gas, which created opportunities for Birmingham over the Indy backline. One of those balls allowed Martinez to get in uncontested on Trilk, who had to reach out and caught Martinez’s leg in the process, taking him down in the box. Trilk saw a yellow, while Martinez saw an opportunity to score from the penalty spot. Ultimately, Trilk saved the initial effort from Martinez, but the ball went right back to Martinez who was able to casually put the ball past a sprawled out Trilk. Trilk put an effort towards getting back to the ball, but was unsuccessful, bringing the game back to within a two-goal lead.

The 35th minute goal energized Birmingham and the game started spending more time in Indy’s defensive half as the game wound towards the halftime whistle. Birmingham nearly pulled another back in the 45’+5’ as BHM’s attack continued to tighten the screws, and a centering ball was pushed back the opposite direction and nearly found the net. Luckily for Indy fans, the ball slide harmlessly past the post and out for a goal kick. The whistle finally blew for the halftime break, with Indy holding a two-goal advantage and a rare halftime lead. 

Play after the break ratcheted up even further as the two teams added three more goals to the box score; BHM with two and Indy with a fourth. The first 5 or so minutes continued to be played in Indy’s defensive half as BHM exploded out of the half hoping that Indy would come out of the locker room a little too relaxed. Indy weathered the initial press from BHM and began to provide their own attacking opportunities. Yet, it was BHM that found the next goal in the game in the 62nd minute as Marlon slipped in behind Dambrot and Vazquez on a perfectly timed and weighted pass from Martinez, and then put a ball in the tightest of spaces between Trilk and the post. 

Indy controlled the first thirty minutes, BHM controlled the next thirty minutes, and the last thirty minutes was controlled by both teams with just enough of it controlled by Indy to get the win. Indy made life difficult for themselves due to a poor header from Timmer that allowed a break by BHM that tied the game at 3 after Marlon's second goal of the game in the 71st minute. 

How did Indy find themselves in the position after such a quick start? Part of it goes to Lowry's quote from above, but as he said later in the post-game interview, "that's the ebbs and flows. We're up 3-zero, they start pushing more, go 3-3. Got to 3-3, then they stopped because they got content with the score, and now we're pushing again." 

Photo Credit: Don Thompson (@DLTPhotog)

That push allowed Indy to find the game winner in the 78th minute. Pinho gets the goal, and Asante got the assist, but the goal was set up from the vision of Rebellon to get the ball to Aguilera, and then pure effort and desire from Aguilera to push the ball at BHM's defense before laying the ball off to Asante. Asante could have taken a shot on goal, but instead passed it across goal to an on-rushing Pinho. Good, pretty, effective soccer.

"Confidence is growing, belief is growing. Which is such an important thing in soccer. Once you have that belief and can back it up with a plan and the guys go out execute it, that's a really dangerous thing." - Lowry

Again, Indy aren't mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Yet. However, the 12-game winless streak has put them into a position where their fate doesn't rest in their own hands. If Indy could win out, they could get to 50 points. If they did that, they would leap frog Tulsa. Detroit would need to get a win and a draw in their remaining 6 games to meet that total and/or Miami would need to get a win in their remaining 5 games. It's not the easiest run of games for Detroit or Miami, but keeping them under that 50 point total seems unlikely. 

Indy is playing for next year and everybody knows it. Yet, it's good to see they're still going out there and competing with and getting positive results against the top teams in the conference and in the league. I don't know which players on this year's roster are going to be returning next year, but all the guys should view the next 6 games as an extended tryout for next season. Indy head to Monterey Bay next week to try and extend their winless streak and work their way onto next year's roster. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I want to give it to Hackshaw. Of course I do. A brace doesn't happen that often for Indy, and definitely not for a defender.

However, Asante was really good tonight. Three assists, 3 shots on target, 4 chances created, 83% accurate passes, +5 in duels won, and drew 5 fouls type of good. He's been good this season, but his corner kicks on Hackshaw's goals were spot-on. Not only did he do it once, he put the ball in the exact same spot minutes later. That's pin-point accuracy. His assist to Pinho at the end was in the only place it could go to keep it out of Van Oekel's reach, but still in front of the defender.

I feel bad about not giving Hackshaw the GBGB, but Asante deserved it just a bit more tonight.