Indy Eleven Shuts out Armada FC in Draw at Jacksonville
September 28, 2017 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release
Indy Eleven Shuts out Armada FC in Draw at Jacksonville
(Indy Eleven)
INDIANAPOLIS - Indy Eleven produced its sixth clean sheet of the year in halting hosts Jacksonville Armada FC at Hodges Stadium.
Head coach Tim Hankinson opted for Gerardo Torrado and Ben Speas in place of David Goldsmith and Paulo Junior in a starting XI otherwise unchanged from the team's 2-0 loss to FC Edmonton last time out. In defense, captain Colin Falvey stood alongside Cory Miller and the pair were called into action early on. In the 9^th minute, Jacksonville sniffed their first chance at goal when forward Tony Taylor drove forward on a breakaway. Taylor worked his way into the box and forced Falvey the wrong way on an attempted challenge only to see his effort on goal blocked by Cory Miller.
On the attacking side, Indy's best opportunities were produced on thecounter attack, and that began in the 13^th minute with midfielder Don Smart leading the charge. Surging down the flank, the Jamaican, nearing his 100^th appearance for the club, whipped in a low cross that the Armada FC back line repelled with Zayed waiting in a central position to tap the ball home. Indy continued their attacking spell with another chance for the forward Zayed in the 25^th minute. After wrestling with Armada FC defender Mechack Jerome, the Irishman found himself unmarked near the penalty spot but was inches away from toeing an effort on goal.
A humid night in Jacksonville, Armada FC midfielder J.C. Banks began to take advantage of his home territory. However, though he created a pair of chances for his side towards the end of the first half, he could not convert and the two sides went scoreless into the halftime break.
Jacksonville swapped forward Derek Gebhard for fellow frontman Tony Taylor to start the second half and the substitute immediately began to test the staunch Eleven defense. Near the hour mark, Gebhard found space dropping in to receive a pass and played a ball to J.C. Banks in an excellent attacking position. In behind the defense, Banks struck a low drive towards the far post but his effort cannoned off the post before eventually ending up in the arms of Indy Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch.
The best second-half chance for Indy came via Don Smart in the 76^th minute despite his side moving ahead frequently on the counter. Substitute forward David Goldsmith slid a clever ball to Smart just wide to the right, but instead of squaring the ball the midfielder opted to go for goal at the near post but managed a solid save from Armada FC's Caleb Patterson-Sewell.
In the end, "Buschy" was tested just once as Indy won over 80% of their tackles in shutting out Jacksonville Armada FC
Indy Eleven returns home to IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium to host Puerto Rico FC on Wednesday, October 4 at 7:00 P.M. ET. Tickets for the game - and all remaining 4+ NASL matches at "The Mike" in 2017 - can be purchased for as little as $11 online at www.IndyEleven.com
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 Indy Eleven Shuts out Armada FC in Draw at Jacksonville |
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North American Soccer League Stories from September 28, 2017
- Indy Eleven Shuts out Armada FC in Draw at Jacksonville - Indy Eleven
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