NASL Indy Eleven

Eleven Falls to Carolina RailHawks 1-0

September 27, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release


5&id1ca1b1eb00&eee02f21f4a NASL Fulltime Recap - Indy Eleven 0 : 1 Carolina RailHawks

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, September 27, 2014) - The Carolina RailHawks made a 53rd minute goal by Nazmi Albadawi stand tall tonight against Indy Eleven, riding the midfielder's tally to a 1-0 victory in front of 10,285 fans at a sold out Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

The hard-earned three points kept the RailHawks in the driver's seat for the fourth and final spot in The Championship with now five games remaining, while the loss kept Indy Eleven's search for its elusive first home win in NASL play going with just two tries remaining during its inaugural campaign.

Both teams looked to be cautious during the first 45 minutes, with both goalkeepers being warmed up with half-chances but not having to save shots that carried any real danger on goal. Carolina had cause for concern for another reason in the 40th minute, when an injury forced defender Jordan Graye to be removed from the match in favor of Kwame Watson-Siraboe.

The game would finally find its turning point with a quick strike conjured up by RailHawks midfielder Enzo Martinez and Albadawi. On a fairly routine break up the field it took just one pass by Martinez to put Albadawi a step behind the Indy backline, and the Carolina defender found picked his corner well, finishing low and to the right of Eleven goalkeeper Kristian Nicht to put the visitors up 1-0.

Indy Eleven looked to spark its attack with the additions of Jamaicans Jermaine Johnson and Don Smart midway through the second half, but the team's offense continued to struggle to find quality chances. Nicht stood tall, but so did his opposite number Akira Fitzgerald when need be, as he needed just two saves to record his sixth shutout of the 2014 season.

Indy Eleven (3-7-3, 12 pts. in Fall Season; 3-12-7, 16 pts. overall) will take to the road next Saturday, Oct. 11, when its travels to Long Island to face the New York Cosmos (4-4-4, 16 pts. in Fall; 10-6-5, 35 pts. overall). Kickoff from Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University is set for 8:00 p.m. ET for a match that will be carried live online via the NASLLive.com subscription package and also screened at eight locations across the Hoosier State at official Indy Eleven Watch Parties .

INDY ELEVEN HEAD COACH JUERGEN SOMMER

On the debut of defender Marco Franco:

"We had a new face tonight, Marco Franco played right back for us and had a great game. A lot of composure on the ball and defensively was very sound. Took good positions, took us forward often and well. So I'm really happy for Marco, I thought he came in and did a fine job."

On the center back tandem of Cory Miller and Erick Norales:

"Cory has brought so much energy and so much pressure to the back line. He really competes for the ball and really goes for it quickly, closes down space. He's a real handful for forwards to get around and in the aerial battles I haven't really seen anyone beat him yet. So it's great that he's that aggressive and he's really forward thinking, kind of putting out fires instead of falling back. I thought Erick had a solid performance now. Just a solid, athletic presence is what you get from Erick, game in and game out. So we're slowly starting to get all of the guys back into full fitness."

CAROLINA RAILHAWKS HEAD COACH COLIN CLARKE

Overall thoughts on the match:

"We didn't play particularly well. That one bit of quality in the final third of the field was the difference in the game. We were back and received a lot of long range shots, and we were not very good on the counter attack, but absolutely delighted that we got the three points that keeps us in the hunt for The Championship."

On the importance of the three points for the playoff race:

"It's very important. It's a dog fight between us, Fort Lauderdale and Edmonton, but we are in control. We are right now on that fourth spot. We have to win our games and after that whatever happens, happens. We got to go play Ft. Lauderdale and Edmonton in our next games, so it's going to be exciting."

On the defensive play of his team tonight:

"We defended very well, but in the end some gaps opened up. It's never going to be easy. It's hard to go on the road and win games, but Indy was lacking the quality in the final third. We are happy to get the 1-0 and get out of here."

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 27, 2014


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