Indy Eleven vs Rhode Island - 12.24

Summary

- Opponent: Rhode Island FC
- Location: Centreville Bank Stadium
- Attendance: 8,498
- Final Score: 1-0 L

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

- Substitution: Amoh 78' (Williams, R.); Kizza 79' (Murphy); Collier 85' (Zalinsky)

- Unused: Hunsucker, McRobb, O'Brien, J., Soumaoro

- Scoring Summary:
RI - Own Goal 64' (Musa)

- Bookings:

IND - Ofeimu 19' (Yellow)

RI - Herivauz 23' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 45'+2' (Yellow)
RI - Fuson 54' (Yellow)
RI - Mabika 88' (RED)
IND - Amoh 90'+2' (RED)

- Referee: Rodrigo Albuquerque

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

Based on nearly every single statistic of the game shown on the Match Center, this game should have finished in a nil-nil draw. Possession was nearly equal. Passing accuracy, passing in opponents' half, crosses, were all nearly equal. Shots, shots on target, blocked shots, and shooting accuracy were all exactly equal. 

Yet, one mistake, rather one mishit ball from Musa that found the back of Indy's own goal became the deciding moment in the game. Two teams who have bounced back and forth with each other from one side of the playoff line to the next found themselves in a physical midfield battle for control of the tiebreaker between the two teams should it come to that late in the season. As it stands after tonight's 1-nil victory by Rhode Island, both teams are even on Head-to-Head (1W-1L), even on Goal Differential in head-to-head (1-nil, nil-1 results), Wins in Regular Season (7), and Goal Differential in Regular Season (-7). The difference, that pushes Indy back on the wrong side of the playoff line is that Rhode Island has one more draw than Indy to give them one more Total Points. 

With all three of Indy's new signings in the starting lineup, Indy's defensive effort was admirable, with the obvious notable exception of the goal scoring counterattack. Coach McAuley likes to talk about the performance not matching the result and I think this game was a prime example of this. Indy deserved a point on the road tonight. Indy's final six games are a daunting stretch with two games against the Conference leaders (Louisville and Tulsa), a game against a third-place team (Loudoun), and a game against a playoff team (Pittsburgh), with only two of the six games against [current] non-playoff team. However, even Indy's final opponent in Orange County is just barely out of the Western Conference playoff race. It's going to take a spectacular stretch run from Indy to make this year's playoffs. 

Indy return to action at home next Sunday to face Birmingham, another one of the teams currently below them on the table. It's absolutely vital that Indy pick up three points from the game or they may find themselves out of the playoff race even before they face the tougher opponents.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

With three new faces in the back line and goalkeeper, Indy needed to a solid effort in the midfield to provide cover in front of the new players. In what became a defensive battle, the trio of Blake, Lindley, and Murphy once again proved their worth even in the loss. Their leadership and effort deserved to be rewarded with a draw, but they'll have to make due with getting the GBGB again. 

Indy Eleven vs Charleston Battery - 12.23

Summary

- Opponent: Charleston Battery
- Location: Patriots Point
- Attendance: 5,012
- Final Score: 2-1 L

- Starting XI: Sulte, Ofeimu, O'Brien, J., Musa, Rendon, McRobb, Murphy (C), Schaefer, Bryneus, Soumaoro, Kizza

- Substitution: Blake 60' (Bryneus); Williams, R. 61' (Kizza); Foster 61' (McRobb); Lindley 76' (Soumaoro); Collier 88' (Murphy)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Hunsucker, Neidlinger

- Scoring Summary:
CHS - Jennings 38' (Penalty Kick)
CHS - Jennings 67' (unassisted)
IND - Blake 72' (assist Ofeimu)

- Bookings:

IND - McRobb 30' (Yellow)
IND - Murphy 38' (Yellow)
CHS - Myers 45'+4' (Yellow)
CHS - Ycaza 57' (Yellow)
IND - Schaefer 65' (Yellow)
IND - Foster 70' (Yellow)

- Referee: Nabil Bensalah

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

First Half - Indy Passes

Jack Blake will likely have one of the Goals of the Week for the Championship. But is there much else to talk about in this one as Charleston continue their recent dominance over Indy with a 2-1 win? If you look at the stats... You know what? Don't look at the stats. This was about as one-sided an affair as can happen. All stats pointed one direction. Towards the end of the game, Charleston's defenders played keep away in their own half just salting away the game. 

Indy had 45 passes in the first half, and an 86% to 14% deficient in possession. Those aren't typos. Add in a botched header from O'Brien that went over Sulte (who I'm sure you've heard is 6'-7" tall) that Jennings tapped in from 1-foot out, and Indy looked like they had no chance of winning this game.

Indy stay on the road next weekend in Rhode Island, who also lost tonight to allow Indy to maintain their precarious position in the final playoff spot.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

C'mon man.

Indy Eleven vs Hartford Athletic - 12.22

Summary

- Opponent: Hartford Athletic FC
- Location: Trinity Health Stadium
- Attendance: 4,966

- Final Score: 2-0 W

- Starting XI: Charles-Cook, Ofeimu, O'Brien, J., Musa, Foster, Lindley, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Amoh, Williams, R.

- Substitution: Sulte 45' (Charles-Cook); Schaeffer 61' (Murphy); Rendon 62' (Amoh); Collier 77' (Foster); Kizza 77'  (Williams, R.)

- Unused: McRobb, Soumaro

Scoring Summary:
IND - Blake 3' (unassisted)
IND - Foster 76' (assist Williams, R.)

- Bookings:

HFD - Siaha 65' (Yellow)
IND - Williams, R. 77' (Yellow)

- Referee: Jeremy Scheer

- Adage goals: None.

Thoughts and Opinions

One of these teams came into the game on a 7 game undefeated streak (9 if you count a couple of Jagermeister Cup results), while the other came into the game losing 5 of their last 8 (6 if you count the "draw" against Greenville as a loss, which fans will tell you was definitely a loss). To say the two teams came into the game in different form would be stating the obvious. The Hartford team that hosted Indy tonight came into the game in markedly different form, particularly at home, than when they were supposed to host Indy early in the year on April 12th. At that time, Hartford had lost 4 times in league play. Since that rescheduled game, Hartford have only lost 4 times. The question coming into the game was whose run of form was going to continue. 

For the second game in a row, Indy scored early before some of the 5,000 fans had even found their seat. Blake blasted a volley from deep in the 18-yard box that had Siaha rooted to his spot and could just watch it go passed him to get the scoring started. Knowing that the previous meeting between the two teams included 8 goals, nobody assumed the goal scoring was finished. Yet it was just a single additional goal from Indy on a counterattack from Williams and Foster that secured a 2-nil victory on the road to get back above the playoff line and only three points tonight's above who still sit in 5th spot. There are just 5 points separating 5th place and "sitting at home during the playoffs" 9th place. Tonight's three points for Indy were vital.

Indy got an early lead and then salted away the game by being organized on defense, countering when available, and being a slightly more physical team on the duels. It's stressful to watch as an Indy fan considering how many points they have conceded from winning positions this year, but it was effective tonight despite getting bombarded in the second half.

Indy return to action on the road on Saturday against Charleston. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

On a night when Indy needed to play as a unit defensively, it seemed like it was Ofeimu's name that kept being mentioned in a positive way throughout the game. Ofeimu finished with 18 of the team's 56 clearances (or just under 33% of the total). For a solid defensive effort, Ben gets tonight's GBGB.

Indy Eleven vs Louisville City - 12.21

Summary

- Opponent: Louisville City FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 10,230

- Final Score: 3-1 L

- Starting XI: Charles-Cook, Ofeimu, O'Brien, J., Musa, Rendon, Lindley, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Foster, Williams, R.

- Substitution: Amoh 54' (O'Brien, J.); Kizza 76' (Williams, R.); Collier 76' (Murphy); Bryneus 85' (Foster)

- Unused: Sulte, McRobb, Soumaoro

Scoring Summary:
IND - Williams, R. 2' (assist Quinn)
LOU - McFadden 45' (assist Wilson)
LOU - Lambert 49' (assist McCabe)
LOU - Totsch 56' (assist Jones)

- Bookings:

LOU - Lambert 65' (Yellow)
IND - Foster 74' (Yellow)

- Referee: Greg Dopka

- Adage goals: Two (and a half).

Thoughts and Opinions

Whenever Coach McAuley was asked in the days leading up to tonight's game about the Indy and Louisville rivalry, he always said something to the fact that the games, the rivalry, is important to the fans, so the team has to make it important to show well for the fans. There's some subtlety in that response that wasn't overlooked by me. In sports, but particularly in a league like the USL Championship where players often come and go on a yearly basis and coaches often have just a short of tenures, the rivalry between the players, many of whom may have been former teammates, needs to be cultivated season to season. Coach McAuley understands supporter culture.

Louisville City understands winning games. Sitting in first place of the Eastern Conference with just a single league loss all season. A club that has historically been synonymous with winning has done a lot of it this season, came into Carroll Stadium and this season's first edition of the LIPAFC, with a 14W-6D-1L record. Tonight's game increases Louisville's win total for the season and their win total in the head-to-head matchup with a 3-1 despite going down early. 

To their credit, Indy came out of the gates swinging with a 2nd minute goal through good interplay between Blake, Quinn, and Romario. Williams received the ball in the box from Quinn and his first touch pushed the ball away and around his defender. Then it was just a matter of pushing the ball around Fernandez. With less than 1:30 on the clock, Indy was leading the top team in the league. Indy's offense was on a different level in the first 10 minutes than fans have seen much of this season and Danny Cruz started getting his bench warming in the 12th minute to send a message to the Louisville players on the field that being behind, and losing, to Indy was not acceptable. It was half-hearted warming up, but their presence was to make his team aware that he was not afraid to make an early change if necessary.

In a classic example of possession does not necessarily translate to being the dominant team, Louisville dominated the possession in the first half (63 to 37%), but Indy was making the most of their limited possession with the more dangerous opportunities on goal. By the 30th minute, Indy had 5 shots, 4 of which were on target to Louisville's 1 shot, which wasn't on target. At half, that statistic was 6/4 for Indy to Louisville's 9/1.

The issue for Indy all season has continued to be their inability to consistently put away their chances and then, by extension, putting the game out of reach for their opponents. Despite the shot on target advantage for Indy, Louisville put their one single shot they had on target into the goal to send the teams into the halftime locker room knotted at one goal a piece. Despite a 67% shots on target statistic for Indy versus an 11% shots on target stat for Louisville, the two teams were even. Prior to McFadden's goal in the 45th minute, Rendon had been trying to funnel McFadden away from McFadden's right foot, allowing left-footed crosses. On the goal, McFadden finally got Rendon to bite and pushed the ball away from Rendon towards the center of the field and put a perfect shot to the far upper ninety. Indy actually looked the better team through much of the first half and still found themselves with very little to show for it.

Within 5 minutes of the teams returning back to the field, Louisville found a goal on just their second shot on target in the game from a header from Lambert. Indy came out of the locker room a little flat compared to their first half effort and Louisville immediately made them pay for it.

Indy going to Indy. Louisville going to Louisville. 

Minutes after the goal, Coach McAuley once again showed his intentions for games at home in front of the Brickyard Battalion. He pulled O'Brien from the backline and inserted Amoh. Indy was going to look to score goals. If the team was going to go down, they were going to try and do it by hoping they could outscore Louisville. At which point Louisville said, "try us." In the 56th minute, Louisville converted a long throw in to a slip header from Totsch that floated over Charles-Cook to the far post that was left open as he pinched towards the near post. After an early goal from Indy, Louisville put three goals on the board in 11 minutes of game action. Whatever ideas of upset Indy had in mind after their early goal, Louisville wiped it away to show they still own this "rivalry."

In what will be one of Indy's toughest stretch of the season, Indy have no time to think about the loss. Wednesday, they head to Hartford who have 9 positive results out of their last 10 games, including a 7 game undefeated streak after former Indy Eleven player Adrian Diz Pe headed home a 90'+3' tonight against North Carolina to get a win. After that it's a trip to Charleston next Saturday to face the 2nd place team in the Conference.   

Louisville clinched a spot in the playoffs with the win (only needed a draw to do it though) with 8 games remaining in their regular season. Indy, once again, dropped below the playoff line with 9 games remaining in their regular season. I said it recently, but I honestly don't know where Indy finds a win in those games. Away games at Hartford, Charleston, and Rhode Island before coming home to face Birmingham (that might be Indy's best chance). Indy then face Tulsa, who Indy beat 2-1 at the end of July in the Jagermeister Cup, but will likely be hard to beat again, and then will go on the road to Louisville and Pittsburgh. Then it's just a final home game against the current #3 team in the Conference against Loudoun before finishing the regular season on the road against Orange County. 

Seriously? Other than maybe Birmingham, what are the odds Indy would be considered a favorite in any of the other 8 games? 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Earlier this year I gave the GBGB to the entire midfield (and wingbacks) for their 2nd half effort against Rhode Island. Tonight, the entire midfield (and wingbacks) get it again for their 1st half effort against Louisville. They were very much in sync with each other, switching locations and switching the side of the attack with enough fluidity, pace, and soccer IQ that it had Louisville's Cruz get his bench out of their seats to start warming up within a quarter-hour of the start of the game. It's the play that I think we all know is possible with this midfield, and they were doing it against the best team in the league. The 2nd half was more of a challenge defending set pieces, but the first half midfield (and wingbacks) looked great. In a 3-1 loss, a great half effort is enough to get tonight's GBGB.

Photos: Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Miami FC - 12.20

Summary

- Opponent: Miami FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 9,942

- Final Score: 3-2 W

- Starting XI: Charles-Cook, Ofeimu, Hogan, Musa, Rendon, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Foster, Amoh, Kizza

- Substitution: Lindley 45' (Murphy)

- Unused: Sulte, Bryneus, Collier, Hunsucker, O'Brien, J., Soumaoro, Williams, R.

Scoring Summary:
MIA - Bonfiglio 21' (assist Vazquez)
IND - Blake 45'+ (Penalty Kick)
IND - Hogan 51' (assist Lindley)
IND - Blake 69' (assist Foster)
MIA - Hoyos 90'+1' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

IND - Murphy 28' (Yellow)
IND - Ofeimu 35' (Yellow)
MIA - Romero 39' (Yellow)
MIA - Bonfiglio 72' (Yellow)
MIA - Knutson 77' (Yellow)

- Referee: Carlos Rodriguez

- Adage goals: One.

Thoughts and Opinions

Not surprisingly after looking like the lesser team Wednesday night in the Jagermeister Cup, Indy came out of the gates with energy. Getting reamed by your coach three nights ago will do that. Coach McAuley also showed his intent with a three forward lineup of Foster, Amoh, and Kizza. The energy and the adjustments worked as the Indy came out ahead with a 3-2 win, breaking their 4-game losing streak, on a night when Cam Lindley was honored for his 100th cap for the team.

Indy immediately put their intentions of getting a positive result out of the game with a header from Rendon that hit the crossbar and bounced just short of the line on the field side of the line instead of the goal side of the line. The near goal seemed to settle Miami. With both teams playing in a proverbial 6-point game, the game starting to become wide open. The back and forth eventually led to Miami getting on the board first on a counterattack after stopping Indy's counter. The ball found Vazquez in the middle of the field with acres of space in front of him. As Indy's defense retreated, Vazquez pushed a ball to his left as Bonfiglio ran from the right in front of him with Musa unable to keep up with Bonfiglio. The striker put his left foot through the ball over a lunging Musa and out of the reach of a diving Charles-Cook who got the start over Sulte. 

Blake put a spectacular volley on target to put the fear into Campisi and the post, but Campisi managed to get himself in front of the ball to push it away for what ended as a throw in. It looked like that might be Indy's last chance before the halftime whistle, but Indy was able to level the game in stoppage time. Kizza picked up the ball in the middle of the field with acres of space around him. Heard this before? With the Miami defenders retreating, Kizza put a ball out to the right to Foster. Foster put his head up and placed a perfect ball back on the left side in Blake's path. Blake took a touch which put him in front of the Miami defender who clattered into Blake inside the box setting up a stoppage time penalty kick. Blake went hard and to the left, which Campisi was unable to stop. The goal sent the teams the locker room even, which was probably a fair result.

Immediately after the break, Coach McAuley subbed out Murphy for Lindley. Sitting on a yellow with the way Miami was playing, McAuley felt like it was important to make sure the midfield was solid. After being honored pregame for his previous 100th appearance, Lindley made his coach look smart by putting a perfect free kick towards the 6-yard box. Hogan found his way around his defender to get his head to it to put Indy ahead early in the second half. 

Indy fans have learned this season that the game is still entirely in doubt with a one-goal lead. The team continued to push and eventually found a third goal, and the eventual game-winner, in the 69th minute as the ball found Foster in acres of space. There seemed to be a trend to the goals tonight. Foster started toward the goal but instead threaded a perfect pass through two Miami defenders that found Blake to his left. Blake took a settling touch to his left and blasted a shot passed Campisi for the team's third goal.

A two-goal lead. Still not safe.

Indy conceded a second goal to the visitors in the 90'+1' when a shot from outside the box looked like it deflected off of Ofeimu, which then hit the post before being pushed passed Charles-Cook by Hoyos. It's difficult to tell from the camera angles whether Hoyos was offside when the initial shot was taken, but it demonstrates the need for Indy to take the chances they're given. If they hadn't scored the third goal, we would be talking about another late-game collapse. Instead, the late Miami goal made the 6 minutes of stoppage time an anxious one for the fans, but the losing streak came to an end with a 3-2 win at home. It doesn't fix the disappointment from Wednesday, but it does help push the team back up over the playoff line and gives Indy the tiebreaker against Miami, which might come into play as the season winds down.

Indy return to Carroll next weekend for the year's first edition of LIPAFC as Louisville comes to town. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I may have been tough on Foster and his first half effort from Wednesday's game, but he was dynamic tonight. He didn't make it onto the scoresheet, but his effort tonight directly lead to two of the three goals. I've said it many times in this segment. It's not always the player that jumps out from the stat sheet. Blake, while clearly struggling at times lately to be the player we know he can be, scored twice tonight for a brace. Clearly that seems deserving, but I'm going to give Foster the edge because of what it meant to the team's goals and how it differed from what I feel we normally see from him. Foster is dynamic. He went passed Knutson in the 77th minute like Knutson was stuck in quicksand. With nothing left to do, he had to pull on Foster's jersey to prevent the attack. In real time, I thought there was an argument for a red card because Knutson stopped a scoring opportunity with no other defenders around. Being that dynamic and speedy with the ball causes fits for defenders. However, I have often thought that Foster holds onto the ball too long and tries to do too much. Tonight, Foster had his head up and found guys in better positions. With Foster's speed, sometimes doing the exact opposite is more effective. Tonight, that effectiveness gets him the GBGB.

Photos: Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Greenville Triumph - 2025 Jagermeister Cup Quarterfinal

Summary

- Opponent: Greenville Triumph SC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 4,043
- Final Score: 1-1 D (6-5 Greenville in Penalty Shootout)

- Starting XI: Sulte, O'feimu, Hogan, Musa, Rendon, Quinn (C), Lindley, Murphy, Blake, Williams, R., Foster

- Substitution: Kizza 45' (Blake); Bryneus 71' (Murphy); Amoh 72' (Williams, R.); O'Brien, J. 85' (Lindley); Soumaoro 85' (Rendon)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Collier

Scoring Summary:
IND - Williams, R. 55' (assist Rendon)
GVL - Own Goal 90' (Quinn)

Penalty Kicks:
GVL - Evans (Goal) 1-X
IND - Foster (Goal) 1-1
GVL - Fricke (Goal) 2-1
IND - Amoh (Goal) 2-2
GVL - Herrera (Goal) 3-2
IND - Hogan (Goal) 3-3
GVL - Zakowski (Goal) 4-3
IND - Ofeimu (Goal) 4-4
GVL - Patti (Goal) 5-4
IND - Quinn (Goal) 5-5
GVL - Soto (Goal) 6-5
IND - Bryneus (FAIL) 6-5

- Bookings:

IND - Blake 12' (Yellow)
GVL - Evans 21' (Yellow)
IND - Foster 68' (Yellow)
IND - Ofeimu 76' (Yellow)

- Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

- Adage goals: One. One massive adage goal.

Thoughts and Opinions

I don't have an official stat to back this up, but it feels like soccer in this country is littered with examples of teams who have won the Supporters' Shield (or their league's version of it) only to finish the season without any Cup or Playoff hardware. While Indy have absolutely zero chance of having the best record in the league, and dropped out of the U.S. Open Cup awhile ago, the Jagermeiser Cup stood as a chance for the team to play for some hardware. Standing in their way in tonight's quarterfinal match was Greenville Triumph, the surprise team from Group 6 that included USL Championship sides Charleston Battery and Tampa Bay Rowdies. Greenville continue to sit as the lone League One side in the competition after a late goal pushed the teams back to level and then to the Penalty Shootout, which the visiting side won 6-5 to advance in the tournament.

As I said last week, Indy holding a possession advantage over any team in league play has been a rarity. To see a 60/40% disadvantage to a League One team is still a bit unexpected. In the first half, Indy could not hold onto the ball in any way and Greenville spent a large portion of the first half in Indy's defensive half of the field. Indy looked overmatched until around the 30th minute when they finally looked like they might get a foothold on the game. Not a strong foothold, but they did manage to get themselves into some dangerous locations. The plethora of whistles added another level of ragged play from both teams. Only 1 shot on target in the first half combined between the two teams and the half mercifully came to an end in a 0-0 draw. There were 25 fouls called, so there's that. 

Coach McAuley made no qualms about his feelings of the first half. He immediately subbed out Blake for Kizza after the halftime break. I wouldn't have wanted to be a player in the locker room, because I heard McAuley say that in his 1 and 2/3 seasons in charge, the first half was the worst effort he's seen from any team he's selected. Coach didn't say it, but from my perspective, only Lindley seemed to play with any kind of urgency required in a quarterfinal of a Cup game, and even he looked out of sync at times. I don't know if the team was overlooking their League One opponent, but it was definitely not good enough.

Tactically, McAuley had the team press the Greenville defense more and higher up the field, forcing the defenders to make quicker decisions than they had the entire first half. The press flustered the Greenville defense and the became tilted in Indy's favor. In the 55th minute, Foster, who had moved into the position that was vacated with Blake's substitution, turned and drove at the GVL defense. Foster laid the ball off to Rendon, who one-timed a cross that Williams one-timed into the goal. The goal was met with a simultaneous roar of applause and a sigh of relief from the Indy fans. 

Then Indy did what Indy has done all season. They couldn't hold onto a lead as a 90th minute Own Goal pulled the game level. In this competition, there are no Extra Time minutes, so the game went straight to a Penalty Shootout. The first five players for both teams scored. Soto then scored for Greenville while Bryneus had his shot saved by Rankenburg. In the span of about 15-20 minutes of time, Indy went from a spot in a semifinal game of a Cup tournament in back-to-back years to watching a League One side celebrate their victory in front of the goal immediately in front of the Brickyard Battalion.

Indy had the most points of any team in the Group stage and never actually trailed in the competition, including tonight, but find themselves wondering what might have been as they headed home. They were facing the lone remaining League One team. They were playing at Carroll Stadium after Greenville, who was originally scheduled to host tonight's game, couldn't acquire either of the two locations where they play. They were given two gifts before the game ever started. Somehow, they managed to go into the halftime locker room at 0-0 despite playing one of the worst halves of soccer they've ever played. They were ahead until the 90th minute when an Own Goal saw it all unravel. The penalty shootout occurred in front of the BYB. You almost have to try on purpose to not come out on top.

I honestly can't look at the schedule for the rest of the season and point to a game that I think should be an Indy win. Could they? Sure. Will they? Not in their current run of form with the mistakes that keep happening. They'll get their first chance to try and turn things around with a game this coming Saturday at home against Miami FC. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Lindley and it's not even close. Sure, Foster made the run, Rendon made the cross, and Williams scored the goal, but what I wrote earlier during halftime I stand by it postgame. For moments of the game, Lindley was the only one who showed any sense of urgency and effort. I don't know what kept him out of Coach McAuley's lineup for so long at the start of the season, but I would take 11 Lindleys every day of the week and twice on game day. 

There was a moment when an Indy counterattack stifled and the ball found its way to Lindley. He picked up his head, ready to start the second wave of the counter before Greenville could get reset defensively. Up field was Foster, 15 yards offside. Walking. He had a moment where he could have done a u-pattern to get back on side and start back up field before the defense was at his speed because Lindley was ready to get it to him. Instead, as he was lollygagging back on side (tonight's first but not last reference to the movie Bull Durham), Lindley was forced to recycle the ball around the defense and midfield. Greenville regrouped and everything had to start over again. 

Unfiltered Thoughts

Tonight was my 200th official game in attendance. There are some preseason games and an NPSL game that don't count that would get the number a bit higher, but my official number is 200. Between the men's team and the women's team, the club has played 442 games. That includes league games, playoff games, Cup games, and a few friendlies against Mexican teams and Detroit (which technically aren't "official" games, but if you sat in that heat for the game against Pachuca, it should count). I have written an article for every single one of those games, plus numerous articles about the stadium, and two different series (Top 5 Moments and The Soccer Life) that spotlighted players and fans. As such, this article will be my 605th article on this site. I have written millions of words about soccer and mostly about the Indy Eleven. 605 articles divided by 12 seasons (which isn't even complete yet) equals 50 articles a year, or roughly 1 article per week. Given that I more or less take most of Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb off, that's a lot of dual article weeks. There was a stretch this year in June during the W League season where I attended 4 games and wrote 6 articles in a 9 day span (Friday to following Saturday). This isn't my full-time job.

I'm fucking tired.

If you haven't seen the movie Bull Durham, I'm about to spoil the ending for you, because you should have already seen Bull Durham by now. At the end, Crash turns up on Annie's porch and she asks him "what happened?" He responds with, "I quit. I hit my dinger and I hung 'em up. ... but now I'm tired and I don't want to think about baseball and I don't want to think about quantum physics and I don't want to think about nothin'. I just wanna be."

I have been eyeing this 200th game milestone for awhile now as maybe my version of a "dinger." I have toyed with it for seasons, but I might be getting closer to stopping writing full-time on this site. I don't get paid for this site in any way. There are no ads. No paid subscriptions. I get press credentials, but I still buy season tickets; have since the first season. This was always intended to be a hobby. And you're hobby is supposed to be more enjoyable than what this is bringing to me right now.

I have listened to the team talk about a stadium since before they ever kicked a ball. I drove by the site of what was supposed to be Eleven Park before tonight's game and I saw an excavation crew working the construction site south of "Eleven Park," but the only visual activity that's happened on Ersal's site is that the massive piles of dirt have been leveled. I have listened to the team say they want to be a premier team in the country, not just this league, and yet stadiums are going up for teams around the country that have been around less time than Indy. Rhode Island. Colorado Springs. Lexington. You can keep going. Not to mention Detroit's building a stadium. Sacramento is building one. Pittsburgh is expanding theirs to 15,000 seats, presumably so that they will be able to play in the USL Division One (or whatever they end up calling it...I assume USL Premier League). All while Indy continues to play in the "Greatest Dive Bar in American Soccer" with absolutely zero public word on a status of a stadium after the Mayor of Indianapolis killed Eleven Park.

I watch the team fail year after year. The team has never made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, and I honestly don't see them making the playoffs this year.

I watch good men, good managers, leave every couple of years.

I watched the team lose to a lower league team at home in a penalty shootout after conceding in the 90th minute and was unfazed. I almost expected it.

It just feels like I'm not doing this for the fun of it anymore, and even in the good moments, it has become more of a job than I intended or wanted. I'm definitely finishing out the season, because that was what I agreed to do when I requested season credentials, but this off-season is going to get a hard look from me on what next season looks like.

Because I'm fucking tired.

Photos: Don Thompson Photography

Indy Eleven vs Loudoun United - 12.19

Summary

- Opponent: Loudoun United FC
- Location: Segra Field
- Attendance: 2,413
- Final Score: 2-3 L

- Starting XI: Sulte, O'feimu, Hogan, Musa, O'Brien, J., Lindley, Murphy, Quinn (C), Blake, Williams, R., Foster

- Substitution: McRobb 67' (Blake); Amoh 67'; (Williams, R.); Neidlinger 76' (O'Brien, J.)

- Unused: Charles-Cook, Bryneus, Collier, Kizza

Scoring Summary:
IND - Musa 51' (assist Murphy)
LDN - Ordonez 63' (assist Valot)
IND - Amoh 78' (assist Lindley)
LDN - Ryan 82' (assist Tingey)
LDN - Ordonez 86' (unassisted)

- Bookings:

IND - Williams, R. 40' (Yellow)
LDN - Awuah 45' (Yellow)
LDN - Ordonez 74' (Yellow)
IND - Amoh 90'+3' (Yellow)

- Referee: Atahan Yaya

- Adage goals: Two.

Thoughts and Opinions

Indy have historically dominated the series, but this isn't the same kind of Loudoun team that Indy has faced in the past. The home squad was sitting in 4th place in the table when the night's games kicked off, while Indy was looking up at the playoff line. Neither team has been in spectacular form in their past 7 games with Indy having a 2W-0D-5L record and Loudoun with a 0W-3D-4L record. Loudoun was the team tonight that reversed their fortunes in a 5-goal second half to get a 3-2 win despite Indy holding a lead twice.

Half - Average Position

If you would like to see Indy hold a possession advantage, you haven't been watching Indy much this season. In league play, Indy have held the possession advantage just three times. Tonight was no different with Loudoun holding a 62/38% possession advantage (61/39% at halftime), as Coach McAuley arranged the team in a 4-4-2 lineup to keep everybody compact on the defensive side of the field. This isn't anything unusual this year, particularly on the road. Coach McAuley put the team in a position to keep Loudoun in front of them in defense and then try and work the counterattack. From Indy's perspective, Loudoun possession in undangerous areas is acceptable and permitted. However, Loudoun lived in Indy's defensive half of the field in the first half. All that possession in Indy's half allowed Loudoun to finish the first half with a 16 to 4 shot advantage, but somehow just a 3 to 1 advantage in shots on target. Indy's tactical style, particularly on the road, keeps Indy fans nervous, but it was effective in the first half.

Bend don't break. Punish the opponent when you get your chance, which is exactly what Indy did in the 50th minute from a corner kick. Murphy's delivery wasn't spectacular. Musa's header wasn't great. Loudoun's defense was worse. Indy did what the could in the first half to stay in the game and then found a lead. 

A lead that lasted just 12 minutes. Ordonez had been on the field for just 4 minutes when he found a shooting angle and opening to get the game back to level. 

A lead that lasted just 15 minutes. It took him a little bit longer than Ordonez needed to find a goal, but from a perfect Route 1 ball from Lindley, Amoh took a touch off his thigh to set himself up for a toe poke under Fauroux. 

A lead that lasted just 4 minutes. Loudoun responded with a goal from Ryan from close range to bring the home side back into the game.

A draw that lasted just 4 minutes. The end of the game became frenetic as both teams found opportunities and goals. The final goal of the game came from the second half sub, as Ordonez scored a brace by being a nightmare to defend in and around the goal. Sulte stopped Ordonez's first shot, but the ball deflected back to Ordonez who made no mistake with his second shot.

Full Time - Shots

An 86th minute goal left very little time for Indy to find a response. Even getting an 6 minutes of extra time, neither team found a shot on target after the final goal. McRobb had an opportunity from a corner kick, but his shot was well high of the goal. Loudoun held a 26 to 11 shot advantage and a 7 to 4 shot on target advantage, but the one that mattered most was that they had a 3 goal to 2 advantage. Indy held a lead twice and conceded each time. Indy bounced up and down over the playoff game as the game progressed, but finished the game in the same spot as when they started. If you've been watching the table, which I have been for several games now, and continued during this game, a Tampa Bay victory over Phoenix in one of the late (for Eastern time zone fans) games could push Indy further down the table as Tampa Bay would leapfrog three different teams to put themselves in a playoff position for the first time since Week 4. That's as much an indication of the closeness of the middle/bottom of the Eastern Conference as anything, but at this point in the season, every single negative result is making it that much more difficult for Indy to make the playoffs for a third year in a row, something they have never done in the history of the team. 

Indy don't have any time to lick their wounds as they have a midweek game at home in the Jagermeister Cup against Greenville Triumph before welcoming Miami to Carroll Stadium in a vital game to keep a tiebreaker in Indy's favor against another team that keeps hovering around the playoff line. Greenville is hovering around their own playoff line in League One so it's not like their the League One world beaters coming to Indy on Wednesday, but with a four-game skid for Indy (and losing 6 of their last 8), I have very little faith that Indy find a way to advance to the Jagermeister Cup semifinal.

The Game Beckons Game Ball

I don't like to give at least one player credit for having a good game, but where do you start? Literally the only play that stands out as a positive from all parties was the goal from Amoh and the assist from Lindley. Lindley's ball was perfect, Amoh's first touch and shot were perfect. Yet, are two touches in the span of 90+ minutes worthy of giving a GBGB? Williams and Foster had more offside calls than they had shots (on target or otherwise). Murphy and Musa's goal seemed to be more about poor defending from Loudoun than good soccer from the Indy players. Loudoun scored three goals and came back twice, so do any of the defenders really deserve it? I want to give somebody credit for a good game. I really do. I just didn't see any player that stood out as consistently playing well enough to get it. Maybe that's why Indy remains entrenched in a 4-game losing streak.