Indy Eleven vs Sacramento Republic - 10.09

Summary

- Opponent: Sacramento Republic FC
- Location: Heart Health Field
- Attendance: 8,763
- Final Score: 3-1 L

- Starting XI: Oettl, Boudadi, Jerome, Diz Pe, Dambrot, Blake, Lindley, Quinn, Asante, Tejada, Guenzatti (C)

- Substitution: Robledo 70' (Tejada); King 76' (Dambrot); Vazquez 87' (Lindley)

- Unused: Trilk, Rissi

- Scoring Summary:
SAC – Cicerone 3' (unassisted)
SAC - Cicerone 8' (unassisted)
IND - Dambrot 51' (assist Lindley)
SAC - Cicerone 86' (assist Lewis)

- Bookings:

SAC – Felipe 7’ (Yellow)
SAC - Gurr 35' (Yellow)
IND - Tejada 52' (Yellow)
SAC - Sanchez 62' (Yellow)
IND - Robledo 90'+1' (Yellow)
IND - Boudadi 90'+3' (Yellow)

- Referee: Alexis Da Silva

- Adage goals: THREE!

Thoughts and Opinions

With Rebellon out with a hamstring and Fjeldberg off to Colorado Springs, and Martinez not available for selection due to the agreement between Indy and Sacramento as part of Martinez's contract, Macca King was thrust into a game day lineup. However, Coach Lowry fielded just three other field player subs plus Trilk. Indy built this year's lineup for quality not quality, but right now that is being testing with limited number of players available to come off the bench. With a starting game temperature of 95-degrees F, not having a lot of bodies capable of sharing the burden meant Indy had to manage their effort. Which meant that Indy's normal high press had to be more conservative.

Not that it mattered.

Two minutes and 19 seconds. A third minute goal by Sacramento, when Indy's absolute unwavering decision to play out of the back meant Oettl was out of his box, put a poor pass towards Jerome that bounced off of him, and Cicerone chipped Oettl to get the scoring started. Indy just keeps making it hard on themselves by giving up early goals and forcing them to chase the game. They exacerbated the hole by giving up a second goal in the 7th minute on a scramble play that bounced around after Oettl didn't make a catch on a cross, and Cicerone calmly slotted his follow-up shot to his follow-up shot to the right side of the goal.

The chances continued to build for Sacramento, finishing the first half with 11 shots to Indy's 1, but Indy's shot didn't happen until the 45th minute. This was about as dominant a first half against Indy as we've seen this season. Indy barely looked in this game in the first half. It wasn't until Indy managed to get a 51st minute Lindley corner kick that Dambrot headed past Vitiello that Indy looked like a team that realized they were playing the last undefeated team in the league, and began to try and play at the same level. 

Yet, they're not. A late goal from Sacramento put the game to bed, and continued Indy's ongoing trend of not being disciplined for the entire 90-minutes. Sacramento's third goal was the absolute definition of guys switching off because a guy is in an offside position, and allowing a guy who is onside to receive the ball. I think there was a slight legit argument that Archimede being in that offside position was affecting the play, but it goes to guys playing to the whistle and not playing to what they think should be whistled. 

Indy are not at the same level as the elite teams in the league. They have the proven talent, but that talent isn't getting results here in Indy. Tonight, I saw someone on Twitter say "something has to change." What? What can change? I don't think it is time to even discuss whether Lowry should be on a hot seat. So throwing that out, what changes can be made on the roster? King for Fjeldberg doesn't solve the goal scoring issues. Indy really only has 18 legit game day players, and they're all getting their chance right now to consistent results. I don't get paid to win games for Indy Eleven, but it feels like they're missing a legit #10 and a legit poaching goal scorer. The only way you change that is with trades or more budget. 

Indy finishes yet another California road trip with a loss. To further extend the bad news is that Indy has to play yet another California team this season. Indy finished their early season run against Cali teams with a 0W-0D-4L record (3 GF vs 10 GA), and still have to face another California team on July 1st against San Diego. Indy return home to play Colorado Springs just over a week after the King/Fjeldberg trade, and Lindley's first chance to play against his former teammates. Indy need to string a few wins (or at a minimum positive results) together or Indy's season motto of #ItsTime will be transitioning from It(is) Time to It(was) Time.

Weird post-game note: The top three teams in the Eastern Conference all have NEGATIVE goal differentials. This league is weird. 

The Game Beckons Game Ball

It feels weird to even consider giving the GBGB to Oettl when the team gives up 3 goals, but he was forced to make 7 other saves on the night. Was it Lindley? Was it Jerome in his first start of the season? How about we just leave the GBGB unawarded tonight as one more thing that was lost in California this season?