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NASL Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven Remains Undefeated with 2-1 Road Win at Rayo OKC

April 30, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release


YUKON, Okla. - Indy Eleven remained undefeated with more late-game dramatics, as defender Nemanja Vukovic's 77th minute goal lifted the visitors to a 2-1 win at Rayo OKC in the teams' inaugural meeting at Miller Stadium. The victory pushed Indy Eleven to a 2W-2D-0L mark and into third place on the NASL Spring Season table with eight points, while Rayo dropped to 1-1-2 and remained on four points, still in sixth place where it started the evening.

Indy Eleven had made its faithful accustomed to waiting until the bitter end for goals across its first three games, but forward Jair Reinoso wasted little time getting the visitors on the board in his first start for coach Tim Hankinson. After accepting a ball down the left flank from Vukovi=C4=87, the Colombian attacker cut just inside the area before unleashing a bending shot inside the right post that Rayo OKC netminder Daniel Fernandes could do nothing about.

Indy would be dealt an early injury blow in the 18th minute, when midfielder Brad Ring was forced from the match with an apparent ankle injury, and would be replaced by Duke Lacroix. That would shuffle Hankinson's formation, as the newcomer would push out left in midfield, sending veteran playmaker Siniœ=A1a Ubiparipovi=C4=87 back into a more accustomed central position.

Rayo OKC would dominate the possession in the opening 45 minutes, but would find most of its danger from set pieces, and that's also where it would find paydirt from in the 26th minute. After earning a free kick himself 25 yards out from goal, it was the captain Michel finishing the job by curling a one-hopper past the Eleven wall and inside the left post, beating a diving Jon Busch to even things up at 1-1.

Rayo OKC would have the best chance to push ahead for the remainder of the first half in the 36th minute, but Billy Forbes saw his shot from 20 yards out take a deflection before ringing off the left post.

Indy Eleven would have the first clear chance of the second half in the 50th minute as Eamon Zayed scrapped to work past two defenders inside the area and get 1-on-1 with Fernandes, but the OKC 'keeper did well to cut the angle and force the Irish striker to push his chance wide right. Forbes would continue to cause headaches in the 56th minute when he split the Indy central defense and nearly caught Busch in between thoughts, only to miss his chance wide right as well.

The score would remain even until Vukovi=C4=87's timely tally in the 77th minute, set up a minute earlier when he pushed past Pecka on the left sideline with a nutmeg and drew a foul on the Rayo OKC midfielder. Nicki Paterson's ensuing free kick looped to the far right post, took a deflection off an OKC defender and bounced right to Vukovi=C4=87, who swept home with his right foot from seven yards out to re-take the lead for Indy Eleven.

Rayo OKC would have one last good look to even the match five minutes deep into stoppage time when a ball over the top found a streaking Georgios Samaras at the top of the area. While the Greek international beat his defender inside, he couldn't track down his chest-trap, the first touch falling to Busch and ending the final threat for the home side.

Indy Eleven will return home to Carroll Stadium next weekend on Saturday, May 7, to take on FC Edmonton (1-1-2, 4 pts.). Tickets for "Furballs and Futbol" Night at "The Mike" are available starting at $11 in the Brickyard Battalion and East Goal Top sections at www.IndyEleven.com or over the phone at 317-685-1100 (Mon.-Fri., 9:00a.m.-5:00 p.m.). Fans can also purchase special tickets via the furballs.indyeleven.com link, with portions of the proceeds going to benefit the F.A.C.E. Low-cost Spay & Neuter Clinic of Indianapolis.

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North American Soccer League Stories from April 30, 2016


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