Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 13.21

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 8,898
- Final Score: 2-2 D

- Starting XI: Dick, Mitrano, Herbert, Craig, Hafferty, Quinn (C), Lindley, O'Brien, J., Blake, Kizza, Rendon

- Substitution: Mesanvi 52' (O'Brien, J.); Sharp 76' (Mitrano); Sing 76' (Kizza); Rasheed 77' (Craig);

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

- Scoring Summary:
IND - Hafferty 20' (unassisted)
BHM - Pasher 40' (assist Diarbian)
BHM - Williams 66' (assist Vassell)
IND - Sing 90'+8' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

BHM - Williams 32' (Yellow)
BHM - Cole 87' (Yellow)

- Referee: Atahan Yaya

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

Thoughts and Opinions

Indy went from 100-degree temps (but it's a dry heat) in Phoenix last week to 90-degree temps tonight in Indy with 70% humidity. Last year, it seemed like Indy constantly struggled with rain being an issue during games, but this year, the Carroll turf has spent more time with blazing temperatures than it has been under water. During last night's Purdue football game, former player Ryan Kerrigan, who is now doing commentary for BTN, was asked what advice he could offer for players in this kind of heat. Basically, "stay hydrated, drink even if you don't feel thirsty, and take salts." That's for football where players have short bursts of action, but admittedly, with much more gear. How players in this version of football routinely deal with this level of heat always impresses me. I did yard work this morning, which wasn't on a turf field that I've measured in the past at 137-degrees, and I went through a large glass of water and two large Gatorades. While I'm at it, I tip my hat to Zeke too because, damn, that costume has to be stifling.

The first real opportunity for Indy happened in the 6th minute, when Rendon jumped a pass between the Birmingham back line and immediately put it to an on-rushing Kizza who one-timed his shot, but his shot went straight to Koleilat. Minutes later, a similar chance was there but Blake's shot couldn't make it passed the first line of defenders. Like many a game this year, Birmingham looked to play a more possession-based style, but it was Indy who was getting the better of the chances at goal. Those chances were finally rewarded in the 20th minute when Hafferty blasted the ball from outside the box. From the tactics camera angle (the one behind the goal), it looked like the ball was likely headed to the upper left corner, but a deflection from Washington put the ball into the right side of the goal. Despite the deflection, the goal was still awarded to Hafferty in just his 3rd game with the team after his transfer from Lexington.

Birmingham equalized before the half by doing what Indy has done. Allow the other team to possess the ball, counter with pace, and then get one of your top players to blast the ball out of the reach of the goalkeeper. When that top player is Pasher, the goal is something that a lot of Indy fans have seen over the years. Pasher made a run into space just outside the 6-yard box around Craig and then put his left boot through the ball in a way that made it impossible for Dick to react. An adage goal by the visitors in the 40th minute and the two teams went into the halftime locker room knotted in a 1-1 draw. The halftime stats looked like two teams that were tied, with stats nearly identical to each other.

Fitting for a stadium that includes a 9-lane track around it, the early stage of the second half turned into a track meet going both directions. Both teams looked like they knew that the second goal could be the winner and the sooner they could get it the better. It meant that the ball didn't spend a lot of time in any one half, but it was slightly tilted to Indy's offensive half. That was until Birmingham pulled a bit of Indy-transition style offense as Peter-Lee Vassell attacked the Indy defense straight through the middle of the field and laid it off perfectly for Romario Williams who made no mistake about it and blasted it into the goal before Dick could react to it. That was just 1 of 2 shots by Birmingham in the second half, but it put the visiting side in the driver's seat to get the result.

Distribution - Final 25 Minutes

Indy found themselves chasing the game. 

The good news for Indy fans was that the track meet mostly stopped as it was generally one-way traffic towards the Birmingham goal. The Legion managed the one shot after their goal, but Indy's effort in the final 25 minutes resulted in 5 shots, 2 of which were on target, plus a third that ended up being the game tying goal, not counting the goal that was taken off the board that Herbert headed in but was just offsides nor the goal that went through Koleilat's hands but was ruled a foul on Sing. Indy finished the game with a 36 to 7 crosses advantage, many of which came towards the end of the game. 

Whatever you want to say about tactics, towards the end of the game, tactics went out of the window. Indy secured the point with the stoppage time goal due entirely to their effort. Yes, they were chasing the game and yes Birmingham was trying to ride out their result, but Indy fought through the evening's heat to put consistent pressure on the Birmingham goal in pursuit of the equalizer through sheer effort. It's no secret that Indy does rely on possession or the "beautiful game" to get results. Indy want to be stingy defensively and attack with speed and numbers. If you're sitting back trying to absorb pressure, you're playing right into Indy's advantages; tall defenders ready to head or boot the ball back up field when you try to clear, a trio or experienced midfielders (Blake, Lindley, & Quinn) who are experts at distributing the ball around and offering crosses, and speedy forwards ready to get on every ball pumped their way. That was the majority of the last 25 minutes. At some point, every team breaks. It took until the 90'+8' for Indy to get their official 2nd goal, but it wasn't because of a lack of effort.

If there's one thing that this season should have emphatically taught Indy fans, it's that what you do with your possession is drastically more important than an actual possession advantage. Indy actually won the possession in this game (barely...50.7% to 49.3%) mostly because of all the possession at the end of the game, but Indy was highly effective with their possession. And for all that Birmingham wanted to play "pretty," their two goals were scored on counterattacks in very much the same "ugly" style that Indy plays. Put the ball in dangerous areas, quickly, and give yourself chances to score goals all while maintaining discipline on defense. That's Indy. It didn't get them a win tonight, but it probably should have as the more than doubled Birmingham in shots and shots on target. 

There were a ton of draws tonight across the league, so Hartford's midweek win against Charleston is really the only game that affected the conference standings, bumping them up ahead of Indy and Rhode Island, but having played one more game than the two teams behind them. Indy would have definitely preferred the win, but they beat a team below them to keep that separation as we get into the final weeks of the season. 

Indy head out west to play New Mexico next Friday before returning home to play the rescheduled game against Brooklyn (on a Tuesday) and then a Sunday game against the Oakland Roots. I don't expect much from the New Mexico game given the United's current run-of-form having lost just once in their last 13 games, but the next 5 games after the NMU game are all against teams below their respective playoff cut lines (Brooklyn, Oakland, Miami, Rhode Island, and Loudoun). Indy have to maximize the number of points they can get in that run of games, because they finish with Tampa Bay (who already clinched a playoff spot tonight), Louisville (who are going to want to make amends for their recent loss to Indy), and Charleston (who are also going to want to make amends for their earlier loss to Indy), and only the Tampa Bay game is in Carroll Stadium.  

Game Beckons Game Ball

I debated going with Hafferty. Given his time in Indy, he's quickly put himself in my good graces as one of the best players on the team and that's saying something with a team that includes Blake, Lindley, Quinn, and Rendon. I'm not sure how he wasn't getting more time in Lexington because he looks amazing in McAuley's system. With limited training minutes, he's just come in and done his job. 

However, tonight's GBGB winner edges out Hafferty by just a hair. When it came down to the end of the game with Indy in full attack mode, I kept noticing the midfield players look to find out where Rendon was located. Despite having Sharp, Sing, Mesanvi, and Rendon all floating around the forward line, the midfield seemed to feel most comfortable with the idea that it would Rendon that was most capable of making a play for them. In the end, his final shot was inches from going in, but it was that shot that lead to the salvaged points. The GBGB is subjective, and tonight's subjectivity was lead by who it seemed like some of the other players had faith in. So Hafferty was deserving, but it was Rendon who gets tonight's GBGB.

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 13.06

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.

Indy Eleven vs Birmingham Legion - 12.25

Summary

- Opponent: Birmingham Legion FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,375
- Final Score: 2-1 W

- Starting XI: Pruter, Zalinsky, Musa, Ofeimu, Schaefer, Lindley, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Kizza, Williams, R.

- Substitution: White 65' (Zalinsky); Rendon 77' (Kizza); Collier 77' (Williams, R.); O'Brien, J. 90'+3' (Quinn)

- Unused: Hunsucker, Bryneus, McRobb, Soumaoro

- Scoring Summary:
BHM - Vassell 12' (unassisted)
IND - Kizza 54' (assist Quinn)
IND - Ofeimu 60' (assist Schaefer)

- Bookings:

BHM - Travis 33' (Yellow)
BHM - Turnbull 90'+3' (Yellow)

- Referee: Alyssa Pennington

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Indy has reached the point in their season where every game is vital to get as much out of it as possible. With Birmingham coming to town on a short week (though helped out by the Wednesday-Sunday gap versus the Wednesday-Saturday gap that today's game provided for them), and Birmingham's place below Indy in the table, this afternoon's game was a proverbial 6-point game for Indy to keep themselves within arm's reach of the playoff line while keeping Birmingham firmly in Indy's rear view mirror. Both teams came out of the gate clearly getting the message from the coaches that their respective seasons could be coming to a close sooner than either team wanted. Birmingham found an early goal from a spectacular free kick from Vassell from just outside the box, but the game remained wide open looking like there were going to be multiple goals possible. In the end, there were just two more goals with Indy pulling back two goals for a 2-1 win at home.

As the first half progressed, the energy from both teams remained, but very limited came out of the effort. The two teams had a combined 1 shot on target, which was Vassell's free kick goal in the 12th minute. When referee Alyssa Pennington blew the halftime whistle, the teams went into the locker rooms with Birmingham content to absorb pressure (Indy held a rare 60%/40% possession advantage) and counter, with Indy unable to unlock the pressure to get ay kind of legit attempt on target.

Within 10 minutes, Indy found their equalizer with some of their best interplay all game as they worked their way up the field, eventually resulting in a Quinn pass/cross along the 6-yard box that Kizza simply redirected into the goal. Indy then doubled their lead just six minutes later from a set piece near the right touch line. Quinn put the ball into a good place, Schaefer flicked it along with his head, and Ofeimu followed Kizza's lead and simply redirected the ball into the goal. At that point, the two teams had three shots on target and all three had resulted in goals. If the game was wide open in the first half, the game turned frenetic in the moments after Indy's second goal. Indy knew they needed the third goal to give themselves a cushion, while Birmingham knew they needed to push to try and get something out of the game.

Shots - Post 72nd Minute

Birmingham's substitutions in the 72nd minute flipped the field and they became the aggressor. Now it was Indy's turn to absorb pressure and counter. With a 2-1 lead for the home side, it became squeaky bum time for the Indy fans. Having witnessed multiple games this season end in shared or lost points after having a lead, a single goal differential lead has felt far from secure this year. 

Yet, neither team mustered another shot on target after those substitutions. Birmingham had just two shots, one that rolled precariously close to the post and out of reach of Pruter, but was Birmingham's closest thing to a shot on target the rest of the game. As the whistle blew, the two teams combined for 3 goals and 3 shots on target; neither goalkeeper was credited with a save.

Indy's win pushed them back into 9th place in the table after having Tampa Bay vault over Indy on Saturday night with their draw against North Carolina. It's tenuous, but Indy's win keeps them in the discussion for the final playoff spot from the Eastern Conference. Indy return to action this coming Saturday for the penultimate home regular season game of the year when FC Tulsa returns to The Mike to try and avenge their Jagermeister Cup loss to Indy. Since their May 3rd loss to Orange County, Tulsa have lost just three games (1 to Indy in the Jagermeister Cup, 1 to Birmingham also in the Cup, and 1 to Colorado Springs a few weeks ago) and have become the 3rd team to qualify for this year's playoffs, so Indy's gauntlet to close out the season doesn't get any easier. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

One of the new faces in the back line kept drawing my eyes tonight. Schaefer gets tonight's GBGB because his play stuck out to me as being effective. Looking at the statistics, it was good to see that my eyes didn't fail me. Schaefer didn't lose a single duel; he was 10 for 10 in duels won and 4 for 4 in aerial duels won. Throw in his assist on Ofeimu's goal, his 4 tackles, his 10 clearances, and his 2 interceptions, while not conceding a single foul, verifies that the loanee from FC Cincinnati 2 had a solid enough game to get the game's GBGB.

Photos - Don Thompson Photography

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