Indy Eleven Battle to the End in Defeat against FC Cincinnati, 3-0
September 30, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
CINCINNATI, OH - Heartbreak on the road as the "Boys in Blue" fell to FC Cincinnati, 3-0, in the team's third series matchup of 2018. A skewed result hasn't deterred Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie as "Indiana's Team" continues its fight to secure a 2018 playoff position.
"It sounds like a lopsided game because of the scoreline, but it wasn't a lopsided game, it was quite an even game," Rennie said. "But, goals change games and they got goals at good times."
Both sides put on a high-energy display in the first half. Back-and-forth play sparked fireworks as both teams found hard looks at each other's goals. Eleven defender Reiner Ferreira led the charge with a shot from distance in the 10th minute that forced a stretched save from Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Newton. Indy continued to ask questions with another shot 10 minutes later, this time from midfielder Dylan Mares in side Cincinnati's 18-yard box. Newton came up strong with a falling save once again and kept Mares from scoring his third goal of 2018.
Despite Indy's offensive efforts, it was the "Orange and Blue" that gained the lead in the first half. FC Cincinnati forward Danni König and midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin had scoring opportunities in the 25th and 28th minute, respectively. Of those chances, König's shot was saved by Eleven goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams and McLaughlin's soared just wide of the right post. However, the clean scoreline was spoiled in the 34th minute when forward Fanendo Adi converted McLaughin's central pass into a low, bouncing goal at distance. The goal was Adi's third in eight appearances for Cincinnati. Eleven forward Elliot Collier tried level the score in the 40th minute, but Newton pushed the Chicago Fire loanee's shot out of play.
Indy moved into a dangerous position inside Cincinnati's box three minutes after the start of the second half, but a slew of shots and deflections kept the ball from crossing the home side's goal line. König took advantage of the shift in Indy's attacking momentum and found space for a goal in the 65th minute thanks to a long, forward pass from McLaughlin. FC Cincy found the final goal of the night nine minutes later when forward Russell Cicerone's shot took an unfortunate deflection off Eleven defender Carlyle Mitchell's outstretched boot and into Indy's netting. Eleven substitute forward Soony Saad and defender Kevin Venegas attempted to put their team on the scoresheet in the 88th and 92nd minute, but Newton saw his side through to a shutout with more saves.
"I'd say that our play in the final third would need to improve," Rennie said. "...Their goalkeeper had a great game. [He] made some really important saves at important times."
Not wanting to dwell on dropped points, Rennie looks to pick up the pieces and move forward to prepare his squad for the next fixture.
"The mistakes that we made cost us the game, so we have to cut those mistakes out," said Rennie. "We also have to be much more dangerous in our attack and in the final third, so when we have those chances we have to take them."
"Indiana's Team" will return home for the final time of the 2018 regular season to host Bethlehem Steel FC next Saturday, October 6. Fans can get tickets to the 7:00 p.m. kickoff for as low as $15 at IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling (317)685-1100.
USL Regular Season
Indy Eleven 0:3 FC Cincinnati
Saturday - 7:30 p.m.
Nippert Stadium - Cincinnati, OH
Scoring Summary:
CIN - Fanendo Adi (Jimmy McLaughlin) 34'
CIN - Danni König (Jimmy McLaughlin) 65'
CIN - Carlyle Mitchell (Indy Eleven own goal) 74'
Disciplinary Summary:
IND - Nico Matern (Yellow card) 31'
CIN - Danni König (Yellow card) 31'
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2, L-->R): Owain Fon Williams (GK); Reiner Ferreira, Ayoze (C), Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette; Dylan Mares, Nico Matern (Juan Guerra 79'), Matt Watson (C), Kevin Venegas; Elliot Collier (Soony Saad 76'), Jack McInerney (Eugene Starikov 66')
Indy Eleven bench: Ben Lundgaard (GK); Brad Ring, Brad Rusin, Juan Guerra, Ben Speas, Eugene Starikov, Soony Saad
FC Cincinnati lineup (4-4-2, L-->R): Evan Newton (GK); Matt Bahner, Dekel Keinan (C), Sem de Wit, Pa Konate (Blake Smith 53'); Russell Cicerone, Tyler Gibson, Michael Lahoud, Jimmy McLaughlin; Danni König, Fanendo Adi (Tomi Ameobi 88')
FC Cincinnati bench: Mark Village (GK), Tomi Ameobi, Nazmi Albadawi, Blake Smith, Kenney Walker, Emmanuel Ledesma, Patrick Barrett
"Boys In Blue" fall to newly crowned 2018 Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions
Indy Eleven Battle to the End In Defeat Against FC Cincinnati, 3-0
"Boys In Blue" fall to newly crowned 2018 Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions
R): Evan Newton (GK); Matt Bahner, Dekel Keinan (C), Sem de Wit, Pa Konate (Blake Smith 53'); Russell Cicerone, Tyler Gibson, Michael Lahoud, Jimmy McLaughlin; Danni König, Fanendo Adi (Tomi Ameobi 88')
FC Cincinnati bench: Mark Village (GK), Tomi Ameobi, Nazmi Albadawi, Blake Smith, Kenney Walker, Emmanuel Ledesma, Patrick Barrett
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