Aris Briggs' Dramatic Stoppage Time Winner Pushes Indy's Unbeaten Streak to Four Games
April 16, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - Indy Eleven extended its winning streak to two games and unbeaten streak to four tonight with a 2-1 win over Atlanta United 2 at IUPUI Carroll Stadium. Indiana's Team was hot early and late, going ahead on a Nicky Law goal in the 12th minute before finishing the job in dramatic fashion in stoppage time on Aris Briggs' 92nd minute game-winner.
The first home win of 2022 kicked off a five-of-six game home stint for the Boys in Blue that will run through the end of May. That run continues next Sunday, April 24, against defending USL Championship title-winner Orange County SC on Faith & Family Night, presented by He Gets Us.
The Boys in Blue started the match firing on all cylinders, their first prime scoring chance coming in the 10th minute. Forward Stefano Pinho, who netted three of the team's four goals leading up to the match, was fouled towards the top of the area by Atlanta's Nelson Orji, who was awarded a yellow card for the act. It would be midfielder Law who took the free kick from roughly 20 yards away, knocking it into the right side of goal to put Indy up in the 12th minute.
Atlanta generated its first scoring chance soon after, with midfielder Erik Centeno's shot sailing wide left of the net. Indy kept its foot on the gas, with a slew of chances around the 20-minute mark that got the Brickyard Battalion on their feet, including a beautiful delivery from Bryam Rebellon to Pinho that sailed just right of the goal. Late chances by Pinho and Raul Aguilera would narrowly go over the crossbar, and the score remained 1-0 in favor of Indy heading into the halftime break.
The Boys in Blue picked up right where they left off to start the second half, with Law delivering a pass to Pinho to create a chance and an ensuing corner kick. Atlanta responded with a chance of its own, as Centeno nearly caught Indy goaltender Elliot Panicco off-guard on a tough-angled shot that caught the wind and forced the netminder to spike the ball over the bar to keep it out of goal. Indy's next chance came on a 50-yard dash down the field from Fjeldberg in the 60th minute, but his impressive run and central cut ended with a wide effort.
Atlanta's attack came to life in the middle of the second half, and the persistence soon paid off. Forward Jackson Conway scored the equalizing goal in the 68th minute on a feed from substitute Grant Howard, evening the score at 1-1. Indy responded strongly by generating several chances, including a pretty shot from Fjeldberg that Atlanta goaltender Justin Garces just got his fingertips on to make the save. Following a questionable penalty no-call when Rebellon went to ground under heavy contact in the area, head coach Mark Lowry made a slew of changes, inserting Ayoze, Manuel Arteaga, and Alex McQueen into the lineup in hopes of generating a late offensive push.
Lowry's substitutions did exactly that, as 11 of Indy's 21 shots came after those 78th minute line change. In his first action at "The Mike" this season, Ayoze got things started by booting a corner kick towards the net in the 81st minute, with several shots resulting from his kick. It was Arteaga's home debut as well, and he got the fans on their feet with two shots on goal in the 86th minute. The flurry of activity continued into the final minutes of regulation, with Pinho and Law both seeing shots ricochet off the post and out, while Arteaga's fourth shot in just 12 minutes went awry.
Five minutes of stoppage time would be added, and Indy quickly continued its offensive barrage. A give-and-go from Law and Arteaga in the 92nd minute gave Briggs an open lane, and he converted on Law's pass from 10 yards out to give the Eleven a hard-earned lead. Briggs nearly put the nail in the coffin with a second two minutes later, only to see his 1-v-1 chance saved, but no insurance was necessary to allow the Boys in Blue a win in their second consecutive game.
The first home win for Indy Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry marked the first game of a three-game homestand, which continues with next Sunday's 5:30 p.m. ET kickoff against Orange County SC. Tickets for all Indy Eleven regular season contests at IUPUI Carroll Stadium are available starting at just $15 and can be purchased online at indyeleven.com/tickets. Fans who cannot make it to The Mike can follow the action on ESPN Deportes, MyINDY-TV 23, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/943exitos.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.
2022 USL Championship Regular Season - Matchday 6
Indy Eleven 2 : 1 Atlanta United 2
Saturday, April 16, 2022
IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
Scoring Summary:
IND - Nicky Law (unassisted) 12'
ATL - Jackson Conway (Grant Howard) 68'
IND - Aris Briggs (Nicky Law) 90'+2'
Disciplinary Summary:
ATL - Nelson Orji (yellow card) 10'
IND - A.J. Cochran (yellow card) 14'
IND - Sam Brown (yellow card) 27'
IND - Jonas Fjeldberg (yellow card) 29'
ATL - Howard Grant (yellow card) 90'+5'
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2): Elliot Panicco; Jared Timmer, A.J. Cochran (captain), Mechack Jerome, Bryam Rebellon (Alex McQueen 78'); Sam Brown (Justin Ingram 45'), Raul Aguilera, Noah Powder (Ayoze 78'), Nicky Law; Jonas Fjeldberg (Miguel Arteaga 78'), Stefano Pinho (Aris Briggs 88')
IND substitutes: Tim Trilk (GK), Karl Ouimette
Atlanta United 2 lineup (4-4-2): Justin Garces; Aiden McFadden, Bryce Washington, Nelson Orji (Efrain Morales 75'), Michael Ambrose; Brendan Lambe (Vicente Reyes 90'+3'), Nick Firmino, Robbie Mertz, Erik Centeno (Grant Howard 64'); David Mejia, Jackson Conway
ATL Substitutes: Dagoberto Romero-Garmendia (GK); Christiano Bruletti, Emenike Nwogu
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