Superb Defensive Effort Results in Second Clean Sheet in Last Three Outings
September 3, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Indy Eleven News Release
HAMTRAMCK Mich. – Indy Eleven moved its undefeated streak to three games after a scrappy 0-0 draw against its newest rival, Detroit City FC, on the road this evening. The result marked the second shutout in the last three games for Indiana’s Team and goalkeeper Tim Trilk, who needed to make just a pair of saves thanks to a thorough defensive effort by the Boys in Blue throughout the 90 minutes at Keyworth Stadium.
With injuries and suspension limiting his options, Indy Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry looked to field a squad mixed with fresh legs and the ability to keep its recent energetic and pressing approach .His first XI reflected such needs, with forward Rodney Michael and midfielder Wilfredo Rivera getting their first starts of the season on the evening, while captain Ayoze made his first start since leaving Indy’s match at FC Tulsa on Aug. 20 early due to injury.
Indiana’s Team succeeded in making the first half a stalemate. Indy Eleven center back Jesus Vazquez beat Maxi Rodriguez to a headed cross to the back post in the 8th minute, his clearance off the underside of the crossbar that was ultimately cleared from danger marking the most dangerous of limited looks from both sides during the opening stanza. Curling shots from the top of the area that ultimately missed frame by Indy striker Juan Tejada in the 14th minute and Detroit’s Rhys Williams four minutes later were the most speculative looks of the rest of the half for both sides, who combined for six combined shots and zero on goal during a stingy first 45 minutes of play.
The second half started in a similarly stingy fashion, although Lowry inserted Solomon Asante for Michael at the halftime interval and Stefano Pinho for Rivera just before the hour mark in an attempt to insert more experience in attacking prowess. The sides traded some of their most dangerous looks just prior to the hour mark, with Eleven goalkeeper Tim Trilk saving the first shot on goal of the evening by Antoine Hoppenot in the 56th minute, and Robby Dambrot sending a shot into the side netting just two minutes later.
Hoppenot’s side-footed volley in the 72nd minute flashed wide, while Rodriguez’s deflected effort that was impacted by Eleven midfielder Justin Ingram’s lunging tackle was saved by Trilk save four minutes later, allowing the visitors to keep a late game-winner in play. Hoppenot’s sliding challenge on Sam Brown in the 88th minute drew the second half’s only caution and scrummed members of the two sides together temporarily, but the bad feelings quickly subsided and an unusual nine minutes of stoppage time ensued shortly thereafter.
Of course it was the familiar Eleven foil Hoppenot who nearly scratched across the game-winner in the 92nd minute, but his effort from the arc missed the left post by about a foot. In the 95th minute the Eleven had its most dangerous look of the half when Asante fired from distance, but Deoitr goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher collected the shot on his line without a rebound, nullifying Indy’s lone chance on goal of the evening. The two sides played out the final four minutes of stoppage from there without much danger, resulting in a sharing of the spoils from a gritty affair that kept the interval between the two squads at 14 points.
Indiana’s Team returns home next Saturday, Sept. 10, when its gauntlet against Eastern Conference playoff-positioned squads continues against Birmingham Legion FC at 7:00 p.m. ET.
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