Indy Eleven Takes "Fight for First" vs. Minnesota United FC Via 4-2 Win
May 21, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - In a game fit for a fight for the top spot in the NASL, Indy Eleven managed to join Minnesota United FC atop of the standings - at least for a night - via a thrilling 4-2 win over the Loons in front of 9,076 fans at IUPUI's Carroll Stadium. The victory also allowed Indy Eleven to remain the league's lone undefeated side, a 3W-4D-0L mark improving the squad's record single-season unbeaten streak to seven games to begin the NASL's Spring Season.
Indy Eleven came out the aggressor in the first quarter hour with some nice build up play, but it was a counter-attack in the 16th minute that put the "Boys in Blue" on the board first. Defender Nemanja Vukovi? won possession in his defensive third and carried across midfield before playing Justin Braun into the area, where he was cleared out by Minnesota goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock coming off his line. However, Braun was able to push the ball towards goal, and Eamon Zayed beat a pair of defenders to slide the ball into the open net for his team-high third tally of the season.
Minnesota looked to have a golden chance just before the Indy opener when Danny Cruz found some space to fire from 12 yards out, but a sliding Greg Janicki would knock the ball off his foot to deflect out for a corner.
Both teams had quality chances to get on the board in the half's final five minutes, starting when Indy had two bang-bang shots in the 40th minute. Midfielder Dylan Mares sliced a shot past a diving Ndjock but off the base of the right post, and the rebound would bounce right to Braun, who pushed his shot from the top of the six wide left. A minute later Christian Ramirez contorted himself to get a high boot on Bernardo Anor's looping ball to the far left post, only to miss the chance from five yards out high.
Indy Eleven had a dream start to the second half thanks to Omar Gordon's NASL account opener four minutes into the stanza. The well-worked play saw Don Smart, Braun and Zayed work the ball down the right side and into the area, the latter trying to take a chance on frame but pushing the ball towards the endline. It was Gordon racing to reach the ball and, with Ndjock off his line, slotting on a near angle to double the lead for the Eleven.
But that two-goal advantage wouldn't last long, as Stefano Pihno woke up the Minnesota attack in the 54th minute with a scorcher from 25 yards out that gave Indy goalkeeper Jon Busch no chance as it whistled into the upper left side of goal, slicing the Indy lead to 2-1.
It was Venegas playing provider again for the Loons' equalizer in the 69th minute, as his corner kick service into traffic just outside the six found a crashing Damion Lowe, the center back adjusting to get a leg to the service and sweep a shot past Busch to even things up heading into the final 20 minutes.
The back-and-forth affair took another swing in the 75th minute when Braun finally managed to put one home. Ndjock did well to dive and save Vukovi?'s free kick from 25 yards, but Braun crashed the six and somehow snuck the rebound between the Minnesota 'keeper and the right post to put Indy back in front.
Eleven substitute midfielder Nicki Paterson looked to make an impact of his own on a free kick opportunity in the 84th minute, but his dipping effort from 25 yards missed just high - and Ndjock may very well have had a beat on it regardless.
Due to a clash of heads between Greg Janicki and Stefano Pinho with 20 minutes in regulation, eight minutes of stoppage time was added to the second half. It was Indy controlling things throughout, thanks in part to a pair of cautions and subsequent red card issued to Loons captain Justin Davis, the second for a foul on Mares that set up a free kick just a yard outside the area. This time Paterson was able to hit home, bending his shot into the right side netting to secure the biggest three points in Indy Eleven's short history - and a temporary spot on top of the league on 13 points with Minnesota, which remained in first by one goal in the goal differential department, and third-place Carolina.
Indy Eleven will return to Florida for a third time this Spring Season next Saturday, May 28, when it takes on Jacksonville Armada FC (1-1-4, 4 pts., 10th place) at 7:00 p.m., a match that can be seen live online via ESPN3. Following that game, another trip to the Sunshine State for a first meeting with Miami FC (0-3-4, 3 pts., 11th place) on June 4 and the home finale on June 11 vs. Carolina (4-1-2, 13 pts.) will close out Indy's chase for the Spring Season title.
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North American Soccer League Stories from May 21, 2016
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- Indy Eleven Takes "Fight for First" vs. Minnesota United FC Via 4-2 Win - Indy Eleven
- Minnesota United Drops 4-2 Result to Indy Eleven - Minnesota United FC
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