Indy Eleven vs Memphis 901 FC - 09.09

Summary

- Opponent: Memphis 901 FC
- Location: AutoZone Park
- Attendance: 3,515
- Final Score: 2-1 L

- Starting XI: Panicco, Hackshaw (C), Cochran, Timmer, McQueen, Ingram, Aguilera, Law, Powder, Fjeldberg, Arteaga
- Substitution: Ayoze 69' (Powder); Brown 70' (Aguilera); Jerome 76' (Cochran); Briggs 76' (Ingram); Pinho 84' (Fjeldberg) 
- Unused: Trilk, Michael

- Scoring Summary:
MEM - Carroll 34' (assist Seagrist)
MEM - Kissiedou 58' (assist Kelly)
IND - Fjeldberg 66' (assist Arteaga)

- Bookings:
IND - Hackshaw 42' (Yellow) 
MEM - Paul 45' (Yellow)
IND - Ingram 74' (Yellow)
IND - Law 80' (Yellow)

- Referee: Matthew Thompson
- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

Let's start with my requisite statement that games in baseball fields are terrible. That being said, AutoZone Park did look slightly better than other baseball fields we've seen, but only marginally. That's not true. One half of the field, while not very wide, looked really nice. The other half looked like Oakland Roots' bicolored field. The infield side of the field was the side Indy was attacking in the first half, but didn't have a lot of possession in that portion of the field in the first half. I thought that would change in the second half when Indy was able to attack the side of the field that didn't have a pitcher's mound, but Indy only managed 3 shots (1 on target) in the second half. 

I'm sure in a detailed review of the video of this game, there were some good things from Indy. However, in general, as a whole, this game felt like a regression back to Indy's losses early in the season. Despite being a well-rested team having not played in two weeks, Indy looked like the more lethargic team at times in this game. Memphis just seemed like they wanted it more for large chunks of the game. 

It also seemed like when Indy made a mistake, they were punished for it. They were lucky that they weren't punished more often, but the two goals that Memphis scored were because MEM were playing harder or smarter. The goal in the 34th minute resulted because Indy was unable to clear a corner as MEM continued to recycle the ball. Indy was fortunate to have not conceded a goal that led to the corner as MEM carved through the defense that required some last ditch defending from Cochran on a Seagrist shot. For the goal in the 57th minute, which was Indy's first corner kick of the game, as Indy tried to do their own recycle of the corner, a poor pass from Cochran was taken by MEM to the other end of the field as if the Indy defense wasn't there and as if Panicco was completely surprised about the shot.  

This is one of those games that could have gone a long way to putting Indy firmly in the top of the table. As it is, Indy slides back down towards the playoff line, with the top 4 teams starting to create some separation. The good news for Indy is that they come back home next weekend to play a struggling to get results team in the New York Red Bulls II. Before that, the women's team will look to maintain their win streak as they play Racing Louisville in Louisville.  

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Somehow, he's only credited with 2 saves, and despite the effort on the second goal, I think the GBGB still needs to go to Panicco. Not sure if he would tell you that he played a good game, but given the chances that MEM was able to create around the Indy goal, he needs to be rewarded for keeping the game to just 2 goals.