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USL Indy Eleven

Match Preview: Indy Eleven Returns Home to Host Memphis 901 FC

October 4, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release


Indy Eleven vs. Memphis 901 FC

Saturday, October 5, 2019 - 7:00 P.M. ET

Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, IN

FOLLOW LIVE: Local/National TV: MyINDY-TV 23

Streaming Video: ESPN+

Radio (Spanish): Exitos Radio 1590 AM

In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Honda

SETTING THE TABLE: Indy Eleven: 17W-9L-5D, 56 pts., 5th in Eastern Conference

Memphis 901 FC: 9W-14L-7D, 34 pts., 12th in Eastern Conference

FIRST 2019 MEETING: Memphis 901 FC 0 : 3 Indy Eleven | Saturday, June 8

Three points came via three goals the last time the Boys in Blue faced Memphis 901 FC on the road in Tennessee. A first-half strike by former Boys in Blue Thomas Enevoldsen opened the scoring, followed by former midfielder Kim Do-heon and Tyler Pasher nabbing the second and third goals in the second stretch. Indy goaltender Jordan Farr earned his first USL Championship minutes after replacing an injured Evan Newton in the 72nd minute.

#MEMvIND: Highlights | Recap | Stats

LAST TIME OUT: Ottawa Fury FC 1 : 0 Indy Eleven | Wednesday, October 2

Indy Eleven ended their four-game, 13-day road trip Wednesday evening in a 1-0 loss at Ottawa Fury FC . Fury FC captain Carl Haworth delivered the game's lone goal in the 16th minute off a free kick that left Indy 'keeper Evan Newton stranded between the posts. The Boys in Blue nearly drew level after striking the post in the second half and a long-distance attempt in stoppage time, but were unable to change the score line.

#OTTvIND: Highlights | Recap | Stats

Memphis 901 FC 5 : 0 Bethlehem Steel FC | Saturday, September 28

A dominant performance from Memphis 901 FC saw the Tennessee based club put five goals past Bethlehem Steel FC last Saturday. Goals from Elliot Collier and Marcus Epps and a brace from Brandon Allen generated the hefty lead in the first half with Liam Doyle rubbing salt in the wounds in the second half adding the fifth. The victory was Memphis' fourth in the last five matches, as the side strives to finish its inaugural season with a playoff berth.

#MEMvBST: Highlights | Recap | Stats

#INDVMEM STORYLINES

Saturday night's fixture at Lucas Oil Stadium will be only the second time Indy and Memphis have crossed paths. The first meeting came midway through the 2019 USL Championship season on June 8 at Memphis, as Indy defeated the first-year expansion team 3-0 on the road.

Memphis 901 FC isn't the first expansion team Indy has faced this year. The Boys in Blue have also taken on year-one sides Birmingham Legion FC, Hartford Athletic and Loudoun United FC in addition to Memphis. Indy holds a 5W-2L-0D record against 2019 expansion clubs.

Pending a few other results going Indy Eleven's way on Saturday night, a victory against Memphis could see Indiana's Team jump as high as second in the Eastern Conference.

Indy Eleven has the chance to extend its home undefeated streak to 24 games, dating back to July 7, 2018, when the side plays Memphis 901 FC for the first time at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night. Indiana's Team is undefeated at home in 2019, having not lost in 15 games (11W-0L-4D).

A stiff home defense has spurred Indy to victory inside Lucas Oil Stadium. The side has only given up five goals when playing on home turf in 2019. Head Coach Martin Rennie's side has recorded 10 clean sheets as well inside "The Luke".

Defense in general has been the mantra for Indy in 2019. Head Coach Martin Rennie's squad is tied fourth in the USL Championship and tied third in the Eastern Conference for clean sheets recorded with 12. Indy is also sole possessor of second in the league and Eastern Conference for fewest goals conceded with 27, trailing only Nashville SC (25).

Memphis comes into Saturday night's fixture in good form having won five in their last six games. The expansion side has scored 14 goals and conceded five, recording two clean sheets in the process.

Memphis 901 FC defender Marc Burch is no stranger to life in Indiana. The defender spent 2002-04 with Evansville Purple Aces playing collegiately in the Missouri Valley Conference. He made 55 appearances for Evansville and scored seven goals. The long time MLS defender has appeared in 27 games for Memphis 901 FC, starting every game.

Memphis forward Elliot Collier will face his former team in Indy Eleven come Saturday night. The New Zealander made 11 appearances and scored one goal for Indiana's Team while on loan Chicago Fire SC (MLS). He's appeared 22 times for 901 FC and scored six goals this season.

Indiana Native and Memphis midfielder Cameron Lindley will return home on Saturday night. The Carmel, Ind. native spent his youth career with Indiana Fire Juniors before playing collegiately with the North Carolina Tar Heels. He's made 16 appearances and scored one goal while on loan with Memphis from Orlando City SC (MLS).

INDY ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH | DF AYOZE The 33-year-old has been a staple on the left side of Head Coach Martin Rennie's lineup over the last two seasons, and the Spaniard's engine is still running strong. He's appeared in 26 of Indy's 31 games in 2019, starting 25 of those, but will most likely face Memphis 901 FC for the first time on Saturday night.

Ayoze's ability to score a goal isn't the only thing that makes him dangerous on the pitch, it's also his ability to create chances for his teammates.. He's played the most key passes for the Boys in Blue by a country mile, registering 75 opportunities, the fourth most in the Eastern Conference. That is a staggering 32 more chances than Tyler Pasher, who's created the second most (43). A statistic that should have fans excited for Ayoze's return to the starting XI after missing Wednesday's match due to yellow card accumulation.

MEMPHIS 901 FC PLAYER TO WATCH | FW BRANDON ALLEN Memphis 901 FC Brandon Allen added two more goals to his season haul in his side's last match against Bethlehem Steel FC. The brace against Bethlehem brings his tally to nine goals in 24 appearances, seeing the forward sit atop the Memphis goal scoring chart, three ahead of fellow forward Elliot Collier.

The 25-year-old forward has been on a good run of form in front of net in the last six matches, scoring five goals during the stretch. Allen has been accurate in front of goal, converting 30% of his attempts, scoring nine of the 30 shots he's taken in 2019. His next task is to break down a defense that doesn't give up many goals at home in Indy Eleven.

Indiana's Team finally returns home this Saturday, Oct. 5, when it hosts expansion side Memphis 901 FC for a 7:00 p.m. ET contest. Tickets and full details on Indy Eleven's "Fall Fest" themed evening at Lucas Oil Stadium - where the Boys in Blue will look to continue their club-record 23-game home undefeated streak - can be found at indyeleven.com/promotions or by calling 317-685-1100.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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