Late Penalty Conversion Salvages Draw for Indy Eleven in 2015 Opener
April 4, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release
Indy Eleven vs. Atlanta Silverbacks
(Indy Eleven)
ATLANTA (Saturday, April 4, 2015) - Midfielder Don Smart's penalty kick deep into second half stoppage time salvaged a point on the road for Indy Eleven in its 2015 NASL season opener, resulting in a 1-1 draw with the Atlanta Silverbacks.
The home side would go up two minute into the second half on Shaka Bangura's opportunistic finish off a failed Indy Eleven clearance. However, Smart would be set up for a dramatic finish for Indy Eleven (0W-1D-0L) late into stoppage time, when defender Jaime Frias was fouled as he carried into the penalty area.
"We did leave it until the end like we had a tendency to do last year, but I'm proud of the way the guys fought until the last minute and how we responded in the second half after going down," said Indy Eleven head coach Juergen Sommer.
The first 45 minutes were largely spent with both sides slugging it out in the midfield, resulting in few offensive opportunities of real danger. Atlanta did manage to get a handful of quality services into the Indy Eleven area on set pieces, but most went begging for a fellow Silverback and none forced Eleven goalkeeper Kristian Nicht into a save.
Indy Eleven's best chance of the first half was their last, as midfielder Dylan Mares hit a stinging shot from the top of the area in the 43rd minute that forced the Silverbacks' rookie netminder, C.J. Cochran, into a leaping, one-handed save.
Atlanta went on top roughly 90 seconds after the halftime whistle, when Bangura took advantage of a loose ball inside the Eleven area. The Sierra Leonean forward darted deep into the area to get on the end of a failed Indy clearance off a free kick, slotting low and just inside the right post to put the home side up 1-0 in the 47th minute.
Indy would wrestle away control of possession more and more as the second half progressed, and it was Mares nearly pulling the visitors even with another chance from 20 yards out the forced another one-handed stop by Cochran in the 70th minute.
It appeared Indy Eleven would head back home with nothing to show from the opener until the 92nd minute, when defender Greg Janicki's long diagonal out of the back found Jaime Frias streaking down the left flank. His first chested touch took the ball into the area, where he was tripped by a sliding Silverbacks defender, resulting in a point to the penalty spot without hesitation by referee Mark Geiger. Smart stepped up with confidence and sent Cochran diving to the left before finishing coolly inside the right post.
Just seven days remain until Indy Eleven's 2015 home opener at Carroll Stadium next Saturday, April 11, against the New York Cosmos, featuring legendary Real Madrid striker Raul. Limited amounts of full season and partial season ticket packages remain, while single game tickets are also going fast but remain available, starting at just $10. For full ticket information, visit www.IndyEleven.com/tickets or call 317-685-1100.
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 Indy Eleven vs. Atlanta Silverbacks |
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North American Soccer League Stories from April 4, 2015
- Cosmos Best Strikers 1-0 to Win Season Debut - New York Cosmos
- Late Penalty Conversion Salvages Draw for Indy Eleven in 2015 Opener - Indy Eleven
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- Tampa Bay Rowdies Open Season with 3-1 Win over Defending Champions - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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- Strikers Come up Short in Season Opener in Front of Record-Breaking Crowd - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Silverbacks Share Points with Indy in Opener - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Carolina RailHawks Claim Victory in Season Opener - North Carolina FC
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- Smits to Go on Temporary Loan to Montreal Impact - FC Edmonton
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