Raul Aguilera's Second Half Equalizer Helps Eleven Gain Point from Home Opener
April 2, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - While it wasn't the win Indy Eleven was hoping for in its first run out at IUPUI Carroll Stadium in 2022, Raul Aguilera's 61st minute goal helped Indiana's Team gain a point from a 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy on Saturday evening.
Aguilera's first tally for the Eleven (0W-2L-2D, 2 pts.) cancelled out Michael Salazar's 35th minute opener for Galaxy II (1W-2L-1D, 4 pts.), ending in a result that allowed both sides to go two games undefeated.
Indy Eleven stormed out of the gate with forward Stefano Pinho pushing a shot just wide of frame 20 seconds in, and the Galaxy stated their intent with a pair of off target shots of their own within the first two minutes. Pinho had another chance off an Indy corner in the 7th minute, but his header literally on top of the back post couldn't make the angle.
In the ninth minute, Eleven right back Bryam Rebellon charged forward to get on the end of Jonas Fjeldberg's cutback from the endline, but his shot in space sailed high - a familiar theme for Indy's chances the rest of the half. Two solid looks by Fjeldberg and one from Aguilera all rose over frame in the middle of the half, perhaps indicative of a slippery Carroll Stadium surface combined with a fierce westerly wind at the backs of the Boys in Blue throughout the first 45 minutes.
The Eleven would rue the missed chances with 10 minutes to go in the half, when goalkeeper Elliot Panicco swiped away Cam Dunbar's backpost cross only as far as Salazar, who was lurking at the edge of the six and swept home from a near angle to give the visitors the 1-0 advantage. Despite holding a 9-5 advantage in shots in the opening half, Indiana's Team entered the locker room down the goal after being unable to put any of its chances on frame.
The start of the second half wasn't nearly as frantic as the first, but Aguilera's goal on the stroke of the hour mark sparked the match back to life. With LA goalkeeper Richard Salazar off his line to try and stop Fjeldberg's attempt at the penalty spot, Aguilera possessed, gained a sliver of space and placed a low shot towards an open net through traffic and inside the back post to even the proceedings.
The Eleven were unlucky to not take the lead for its own two minutes later when midfielder Sam Brown crashed the area to nod on Nicky Law's corner, but the chance bounced right to Salazar on his line. The Galaxy II netminder's prompt distribution created a 2-v-2 counter on the other end, with Remi Cabral's shot forcing Panicco into a key save at his near post.
The chances dried up from there for both sides through the rest of regulation, but Indy created one more quality look off its ninth corner of the night two minutes deep into stoppage time. Substitute Noah Powder - who returned from international duty with Trinidad & Tobago midweek - pumped in a threatening ball to the six that defender A.J. Cochran snapped with pace towards goal, but he couldn't steer it inside the near post, and the match would eventually come to its even finish.
Tonight's match kicked off a busy April for Indy Eleven that will see the Boys in Blue play at least five matches at its Carroll Stadium home, a welcome change from its three-game road trip to start the campaign. The Eleven are back to it in just three days' time with its return to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this Tuesday, April 5, against St. Louis CITY 2. The Second Round affair is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at "The Mike", which will be streamed on ESPN+. Specially priced tickets for that match are available for just $5 (Brickyard Battalion and Corner Sections of grandstand) and $11 (remainder of grandstand) and can be purchased at indyeleven.com/tickets - while all ticket purchasers from tonight's match will receive free tickets for Tuesday's match, courtesy of Central Indiana Honda Dealers.
Indy Eleven's next USL Championship regular season affair will come next Saturday, April 9, via an inter-conference meeting at Rio Grand Valley FC, kicking off at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Indiana's Team returns home on Saturday, April 16, when it welcomes Atlanta United 2 for a 7:00 p.m. ET kick that can be followed on MyINDY-TV 23, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/943exitos.com, and ESPN+. Tickets for all Indy Eleven regular season contests at IUPUI Carroll Stadium are available starting at just $15 and can be purchased online at indyeleven.com/tickets.
USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 1: 1 LA Galaxy II
Saturday, April 2, 2022
IUPUI Carroll Stadium - Indianapolis, Ind.
Scoring Summary:
LA - Michael Salazar (unassisted) 35'
IND - Raul Aguilera (unassisted) 61'
Disciplinary Summary:
LA - Josh Drack (caution) 11'
IND - Jonas Fjeldberg (caution) 12'
LA - Preston Judd (caution) 39'
IND - Justin Ingram (caution) 74'
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2): Elliot Panicco; Jared Timmer, Mechack Jerome, A.J. Cochran (captain), Bryam Rebellon; Nicky Law (Noah Powder 76'), Sam Brown, Justin Ingram (Aris Briggs 75'), Raul Aguilera; Jonas Fjeldberg (Alex McQueen 82'), Stefano Pinho
IND Substitutes: Tim Trilk (GK), Ecris Revolorio, Karl Ouimette, Rodney Michael
LA Galaxy II lineup (4-3-3): Richard Sanchez; Josh Drack (Dante Campbell 82'), Liam Doyle, Jalen Neal, Own Lamb; Taylor Davila, Hamza Barry, Remi Cabral (Duhaney Williams 65'); Michael Salazar (Adrian Gonzalez 86'), Preston Judd, Cameron Dunbar
LA Substitutes: Eric Lopez (GK), Marcus Ferkranus, Felipe Cobian, Victor Valdez
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