Indy Eleven vs Detroit City FC - 11.32

Summary

- Opponent: Detroit City FC
- Location: Keyworth Stadium
- Attendance: -
- Final Score: 0-0 D

- Starting XI: Sulte, Stanley, O'Brien, J., Ofeimu, Musa, Neidlinger, Quinn (C), Soumaoro, Foster, Martinez, Williams, A.

- Substitution: Blake 71' (Williams, A.); Lindley 79' (Foster); Wootton 87' (Soumaoro); Collier 87' (Martinez)

- Unused: Oettl, Chapman-Page, Mines

Scoring Summary:
NONE

- Bookings:

DET - Murphy 39' (Yellow)
IND - Soumaoro 57' (Yellow)
DET - Diop 69' (Yellow)
IND - Musa 69' (Yellow)
DET - Rodriguez 78'  (Yellow)

- Referee: Gerald Flores

- Adage goals: None

Thoughts and Opinions

In what was the 4th meeting between Indy and Detroit City in the 2024 season, both teams had a lot on the line. With any result other than a loss, Detroit would have clinched a playoff spot. With a win, Indy would clinch a playoff spot. Despite the two teams sitting third and fourth in the table, with the rest of the table breathing down their necks, getting three points was vital to maintain a goal of hosting a playoff game. With the 0-0 draw, Detroit clinched their spot in the playoffs, whereas Indy will have to wait for other results tonight or next week to officially clinch their own place in the postseason. The draw keeps the teams behind them still breathing down their necks.

There aren't many seasons where two teams play each other four times before the playoff starts (not counting the old NASL days or the 2020/2021 seasons), but this afternoon's meeting between Indy and Detroit was the fourth when you count the preseason game held at Grand Park. If you count that result, Indy held a 2W-IL record coming into the game with a +4 goal differential. However, the difference between that preseason lineup for Indy and this game's lineup is stark. Indy had just 3 players start the preseason game also start this game (Stanley, Martinez, and Williams, A.), one player is no longer with the team (Boudadi), and four players today weren't even on the roster then (Ofeimu, Musa, Soumaoro, and Foster). To say this was a different squad facing Detroit than what faced them in late February is an understatement. 

Detroit held a 67% to 33% possession advantage in the first half, which felt much like the game against Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup for Indy. Afterwards, McAuley described his tactical decisions during that game as feeling confident that the substitutions he could make in the second half gave him confidence that he didn't need the team to consistently press in the first half. He also felt in that game that as long as Indy kept it close, Indy would have a chance. Given the fact that this was the third game in eight days, Indy clearly came in with the intent to defend and then counter, and then see what could happen late.

What happened late was much of the same as what was seen through the entire game. Indy content to defend, forcing Detroit to take long-range shots, none of which ever really threatened Sulte outside of a two-shot sequence in the first half that could put the young goalkeeper up for Save of the Week again. Indy had a late free-kick opportunity that Blake put just a couple yards wide of the goal after getting the ball up and over the wall, but the scoreless draw remained intact. If you were looking for two teams in nearly a lock playoff positions to go toe-to-toe in an offensive display, this wasn't the game for you. If you like a display in grinding out a road result in the third game in 8 days, then you would have loved this game. As someone who would have liked to see a bit more out of Indy to try harder to get the three points, the game felt like a bit of a disappointment. 

Indy return to Carroll Stadium next Saturday for the final home game of the season against Birmingham. Whether they have solidified their position in the playoffs before the game might dictate how the game is played. Though, Indy really need positive results, and probably wins, to be able to lock in a home playoff game, so I fully expect Indy to be more proactive offensively than they were tonight.  

The Game Beckons Game Ball

For his fully extended parry save in the first half that kept this game even (but also probably prevented this game from opening up more - an Indy team chasing a result would have likely made this game go end to end), tonight's GBGB goes to Hunter Sulte. With the clean sheet, Sulte moves into a tie in team history with Evan Newton with 12 clean sheets across all competitions. Only Jon Busch sits in front of him now, but is out of reach for this season. If Portland renews the loan next season, Busch's club record may be in peril.