Indy Eleven vs Scorpions - 01.08

- Opponent: San Antonio Scorpions

- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Attendance: 10,285
- Final Score: 2-1 (loss)
- Starting XI: Nicht (Captain), Norales, Estridge, Hyland, Okiomah, Ring, Corrado, Moore, Smith, Ambersley, Spencer
- Substitutions: Smart (Estridge), Mendes (Spencer), Mares (Moore)
- Goals: Smith (74')
- Bookings: Corrado (7'), Ring (43'), Norales (80')










Heartbreak. 

That's the first word that comes to mind about this game.  Everything I needed to know about this game was displayed by Ambersley laying on his back near the center circle before the final whistle was blown, but after the game was unofficially over once the Scorpions scored a 93-minute goal to escape #TheMike with a win.  Dejected with the result knowing he had been given it everything he could to get the win and once again watching the ball finds its way into the net behind his own keeper.  Once again, effort was not the issue with this team.

The official stats show that possession was 50/50, but from my seat in the stands, that seems incorrect.  The Indy Eleven seemed to have the better part of the possession, especially in the waning minutes of the game.  The chant at the end of "I believe that we win will" seemed less like a belief and more like a certainty.  Watching the ball go in behind Nicht with only a handful of seconds left in the game was disheartening, especially after I saw Ambersley laying there in complete dejection. 

I have to maintain hope though.  I really think they outplayed one of the leading teams in the league. 

As we exited the stadium, Peter Wilt was there thanking people for coming.  As he shook my hand, I said, "we'll get 'em next time" and he responded, "you think so?"  I do.  There is talent on this team and they have played well this entire spring season.  They just seem to keep having some defensive lapses that doom them to ties and losses.  I have faith they will get those defensive issues resolved, though I'm as uncertain about which group of guys gets it done as apparently Coach Sommer is at the moment, because he had yet another different starting lineup this week.  Maybe the World Cup break will help solidify some of those positions.

Three more yellow cards this week and if I'm keeping track correctly, one of those cards was Erick Norales' fifth.  Remember, the NASL rules state that, "A player will be suspended for one game upon receiving his fifth yellow card – regardless of the nature of the infraction which resulted in his being awarded the yellow card." So I think Norales will be unavailable for the game next week against Atlanta.  Yes, the Norales who is one of only four players on the Indy Eleven roster that has started all nine games this season and started the season with a three-peat on the league's Team of the Week.  For a defense that continues to give up plays, the loss of one of the bright spots doesn't bode well.Oh, and Brad Ring picked up his fourth, so he's close to spending a game on the bench too.