Indy Eleven vs Loudoun United FC - 11.18

Summary

- Opponent: Loudoun United FC
- Location: Carroll Stadium
- Attendance: 9,672
- Final Score: 1-1 D

- Starting XI: Sulte, Ofeimu, Chapman-Page, Diz Pe, Stanley, Mines, Wootton, Lindley (C), Guenzatti, Williams, A., Martinez

- Substitution: Gibson 45' (Lindley); O'Brien, J. 45' (Diz Pe); Williams, R. 45' (Williams, A.); Collier 60' (Mines); Neidlinger 84' (Guenzatti)

- Unused: Oettl, Henderlong, Schneider

- Scoring Summary:
LDN - 58' Leggett (assist Awuah)
IND - 74' Collier (assist Gibson)

- Bookings:

IND - Chapman-Page 28' (Yellow)
IND - Williams, R. 46' (Yellow)
LDN - Ryan 63' (Yellow)

- Referee: Brandon Stevis

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

This game marked the first game of the second half of the season. After Indy's rough start, who would have thought that Indy would finish the first half of the season in 3rd place? Thanks to their continued success in the U.S. Open Cup, Indy was forced into a mid-week fixture against Atlanta United on Tuesday. Loudoun, contrarily, hadn't played since before the July 4th holiday. 

2023 Rankings Chart

While the differences in freshness might have been a factor, this isn't your older brother's Loudoun United. Around this time of the season last year, Loudoun cemented themselves out of the playoff race, finishing just ahead of Hartford. However, at the midpoint of the 2024 season, Loudoun is hovering just above the playoff line with very similar statistics as Indy, with similar goal totals (30 to 26 advantage to Indy), goals conceded (25 to 20), shots on target (82 to 85), shots faced (70 to 75), and with Loudoun having a better edge in clean sheets (3 to 6). Amazing what having a consistent group of players and not being treated like a secondary endevour to the "mother" team will do for an organization. There's still an entire half of the season to go, but the visitors entered this game on a 7 game undefeated streak.

Whether it was a result of having 3 games in 9 days in high heat and humidity, the game felt very underwhelming to me from Indy's perspective. It was interesting to hear postgame that McAuley had similar thoughts. The effort to get the win in Atlanta on Tuesday could have taken the legs out of them, but Coach McAuley said that it didn't look to be the case during training leading up to the game. It just felt like from my perspective that Indy's movement was just too slow. When Loudoun was in defense mode, they had 11 guys behind the ball. As Indy tried to break down that compact defense, the passes and decisions weren't quick enough. As a result, Loudoun was able to just shift back and forth when Indy was in possession and slowly moved the ball from left to right and back across the backline. Indy's offense was very predictable for much of the game.   

Photo Credit: Don Thompson

The notable exception to this was the infusion of Collier in the 60th minute. Whether by instruction or just his nature during this game, Collier made an effort to attack the Loudoun defense. After the game, McAuley reiterated something he (and his predecessors) have stated from time to time. Tactics are numbers on a whiteboard. Once the game gets underway, the game is so fluid that it comes down to player understanding of the goals, and individual effort. Indy, as a team, didn't have the effort in the first half. Collier, with his inclusion into the game, was all effort. His goal leveled the game, turning what was starting to look like a rare loss in Indy's recent run-of-form.

Indy, despite not playing their best game, still accumulated points. Indy haven't lost a game since before the U.S. Open Cup run started with the game aginst the Chicago Fire II. One loss in 16 games across all competitions after starting the season losing 4 of their first 6 games. With teams like Louisville, Charleston, and Tampa Bay playing the way they are playing, getting points is important. Tampa Bay moved ahead of Indy in the table thanks to their result, but Indy keeps everybody ahead of them in arms reach and helps keep the teams behind them behind them with the point.

For now, I'm going to blame the poor effort from the squad on the number of games in a short period, one of them against an MLS side, all in hot weather. However, it's interesting to note from the statistics that I keep that this game was Indy's 2nd lowest long pass percentage of the season. The lowest on the season? The loss against Orange County. I had previously praised the tactical change from McAuley over Lowry and Rennie in that trying to play "the beautiful game" with passes, possession, and picking apart your opponent may not be realistic at this level of soccer on these types of fields. Statistically, in the past two league games, Indy seem to be getting away from what has made them successful in this run, which has been to attack with longer balls, crosses into the box, and trying to take the Carroll Stadium turf out of play. Watching the team pass the ball around the back trying to break down Loudoun, I wondered if the change was game specific or an evolution of the team's tactics. One that hasn't worked in Indy in the past, and was close to not working for a second home game in a row. I love the "beautiful game" as much as the next person, but it might not be what works for Indy, in this league, in this stadium. 

Guess we'll find out more next week when Tampa Bay, and their roster full of former Indy Eleven players, come to Indy.  

The Game Beckons Game Ball

Sulte came up big a few times, helping keep Indy in the game, so I was inclined to give him tonight's GBGB, but Collier's individual effort was clearly the difference maker for Indy tonight. His goal salvaged what had been an underwhelming effort from the team, just 4 days removed from securing their place in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Collier came into the game and did exactly what you want second half substitutes to do when you're trailing. Bring a shot of energy into the attack and change the tenor of the game. Collier did both of those things.

Photographs - Don Thompson Photography