I'm going to stop posting separate threads for each match, as there doesn't seem to be enough traffic to justify them. Anyway, on to May 19. Indy has had a bad week, between the disgraceful loss to an amateur team in the US Open Cup and Jon Busch's account of his departure from Indy Eleven, a story that (if true) reflects badly on the club in general and Martin Rennie in particular. But now it's back home to face Bethlehem Steel, a club currently three points below Indy in the table. This game starts later than usual, at 8 p.m. A win would be nice; at the very least, though, we need to see some movement of the ball through the midfield, rather than the hoof-and-hope that characterized Indy's play in Mississippi.
Sigh. Nothing quite says "minor league" like losing to a team from Bethlehem, PA (population: approximately 75,000) in front of vast swaths of empty seats. The team's play continues to be alarmingly disjointed. This was to be expected at the beginning of the season, with a new coach and an almost entirely new squad; by now, though, they should be figuring out how to play with each other. There's clearly some talent here; they really ought to be able to put in a better performance.
Our first game against an MLS reserve side happens this weekend, as Indy travels east to face NY Red Bulls II. New York is one of the better reserve sides, having won the 2016 USL Cup and having been semi-finalists last year. Right now they're level with Indy on points at 14. That said, I don't expect the game to resonate the way games against the Cosmos always did. Neither team had a US Open Cup match this week, so fatigue shouldn't be a factor. The game is Sunday afternoon at 2.
With much of the city’s attention (including my own) focused on today’s race, Indy Elevenlost to Red Bulls II this afternoon, 4-1, blowing a first half lead with a disastrous second half that saw a penalty, a red card (in a separate incident), and four goals surrendered. The final score might slightly overstate the degree of the mismatch, as RB II scored its final goal in extra time. But it was pretty bad by all accounts. Indy’s trajectory is not good. By the way, why do so many of the reports put Red Bulls Arena in “New York, NY” or “Manhattan”? It’s in Harrison, New Jersey. I don’t blame the team from moving away from the incredibly awkward “New York-New Jersey” branding that Metrostars used. DBut come on. (Can you tell I grew up in New Jersey?)
Given the current state of affairs, tonight's game against third-place Charleston is a stern test. Can Indy show some ability to play as a team? If not, it could be a long night. Off to LOS.
Absolutely vicious shot by Saad off a Rimg free kick gives Indy the lead just before the half. Otherwise, not an impressive half from either team.
McInerney gets a yellow card for getting hit on the face, as far as I can tell. Then Charleston scores almost immediately. Get your heads in the game, Indy!
Well, a draw is better than a loss. Still, what a frustrating way to end the game. Ayoze scored on a free kick from just outside the area about two minutes into extra time. Indy got the ball back moments after the kickoff and did exactly the right thing, working the ball into the right corner at Charleston’s end. But whoever was down there (I couldn’t see) did a lousy job of holding the ball or playing it off the Charleston defender for a throw or corner. Charleston got the ball back, moved it downfield at lightning speed, and, boom, the game was tied again. Indy did a better job in the second half of moving the ball into the final third. Once there, however, they continued to play as if they had no idea what to do with it. Indy didn’t score from open play and indeed barely threatened. If not for the brilliance of Saad and Ayoze on those free kicks, and Ayoze’s solid PK, this would have been another loss.
i watched the first half. it was a snoozer other than soony's golazo. i checked the score later, and we'd blown the lead. "typical" i thought to myself. i saw the final was 3-3 this morning. check the box score and saw we blew a second lead. typical.
Unfortunately so. I suppose it’s progress that we only surrendered three second-half goals, rather than the four we yielded on Wednesday.
Important game tonight, given Indy’s recent trajectory. EThe opponent, Atlanta United 2, is weak but not completely hapless; they’ve manage two wins and ten points so far this season. But this is a game that a decent team would win at home. A draw would be disappointing but barely acceptable (depending on the circumstances); a loss would signal something close to a crisis and would surely go a long way toward eroding goodwill among the fanbase toward the team in general and Coach Rennie in particular. Just win, guys.
A decent win: a clean sheet and two goals. Indy still struggles to score from open play, however--one of the goals was off an alert interception of a lazy Atlanta pass, a one-man goal by Watson, and the other goal was an open header at the back post off a corner. Nevertheless, a win is a win. A successful season depends in part on the ability to consistently take three points from weak opponents at home, and Indy accomplished its mission this weekend. Next up: can Indy do it again on the road against the worst team in the league, Toroto FC II(I?
So, how bad is the next opponent, Toronto FC II? They have no wins and two draws in 13 games. Their goal difference is -18, by far the worst in the league. They have failed to score in six of their 13 games. They have scored more than one goal three times in 13 games (and have lost all three of those games). They have kept only two clean sheets (both scoreless draws). They have allowed three or more goals five times, including each of their last three matches. Not that this bears directly on the quality of the players on the field, but the average attendance at home games is 1,044. And, remember, that's tickets sold, not seats actually filled. Is it going too far to call this a must win?
If Indy scores three goals, and no one sees them, do they really count? Apparently, Indy beat Toronto FC II 3-1 on Saturday in front of 1242 in Rochester. I say "apparently" because there's no video evidence (and little photographic evidence) that this actually occurred. Because of limitations at the Rochester facility where the game was played, the game was not streamed, and there are no video highlights. Even the recap on the club's website seems pretty bare-bones. From what little we know, however, it seems to have been a positive match for Indy. Three goals from the run of play (when did that last happen?): a terrific solo effort from Venegas and two for Braun from close range. The weakness of the opposition must be considered--this was the fourth straight match in which Toronto surrendered three or more goals. But you can only beat the team in front of you, and indy took care of business. Two straight wins help to dissipate some of the stench of the preceding matches, even if they both came against MLS B teams. Indy has a bye this weekend but has a tough road match next Tuesday at Nashville (unbeaten since Indy beat them in mid-April). A result here, and Indy can claim real momentum.
Low-quality highlights are now up on Youtube, so I guess the game did happen, after all. Venegas's goal is a nice piece of work from a difficult angle. All three Indy goals, seem to say more about Toronto's appalling defense than about Indy's attacking prowess.
Nashville had a tough loss to Louisville in the US Open Cup on Wednesday, but they have a bye this weekend, so there's not likely to be a hangover from that loss.
Having beaten the two teams now sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Indy turns its attention to a quality opponent, traveling to Nashville. The last team to beat Nashville in the league was, well, Indy, back in April.
tonight's match is on espnnews/espn3. woohoo. instagram spoiled the arg/nig game so we're watching this instead.