Injury bug strikes again
Coming into the game Indy Eleven was already without six keys players because of injury. In addition to Zach Steinberger being sent back to the Houston Dynamo for a weekend friendly, the Eleven’s options were severely limited. Of course, the injury bug decided it did not inflect enough pain on the ‘Boys in Blue’ and caused more issues against an overly physical San Antonio team. Just fourteen minutes in Dane Richards had to be substituted for Don Smart. In the 33rd minute Dragan Stojkov went down holding his shoulder after a challenge from Giuseppe Gentile. However, Stojkov was able to stay in the game before being subbed off in the second half.
photo credit: Trey Higdon. Twitter: @treyHigdon. Instagram: @NuclearSpaceman
San Antonio scored first in the 19th minute from a counter attack after the Scorpions cleared a ball away from danger and found Marvin Chávez. When Chávez received the ball the Eleven where in a numbers up position (5v3) in their own half. But Chávez was able to find Gentile who scored. The Eleven tied the game in the 69th minute when both teams were scrambling to gain control of the ball inside the San Antonio’s six. Marvin Ceballos was able chip the ball over Scorpions keeper Daniel Fernandes and two defenders to find Dylan Mares for the goal. It was Mares’s first goal since coming back from knee surgery and his 4th of the season. The Scorpions sealed the game in the 79th minute after Marvin Chávez received a long ball and laid a square pass to an unmarked Kris Tyrpak at the top of the box. Tyrpak was able to beat Keith Cardona near post with a left footed strike. This was Chávez second assist of the game and Tyrpak’s second goal in two games. A penalty kick should have been award to the Eleven in the 38th minute after Brian Brown took a forearm to the neck from Joseph Nane and then was tackled by Stephen DeRoux inside the eighteen yard box. However, the referee refused to blow his whistle.
Given the circumstances, Indy Eleven played well overall. Tim Regan was restricted in his ability to pick the strongest starting line-up and the Eleven had to settle for playing direct long balls to generate the attack. Surprisingly, the Eleven created better opportunities than the Scorpions in the first half, but failed to record a shot on goal. The difference came down to an Indy Eleven weakness that has plagued the team since their inception last year. The Eleven were beat frequently in the counter attack and resulted in two Scorpions goals. Even when Indy where in a numbers up position the Scorpions were still able to find gaps in the Eleven’s defense.
A bright sport for the Eleven was Corey Miller. His unwillingness to back down from the Scorpions extremely physical and at times dirty play, ability to clear the ball away from danger with his feet and head, and placed himself in opportunities to score from set pieces showed why he has been one of the best players for the Eleven this fall.
Photo credit: Matt Schlotzhauer
Now the Eleven will host a Minnesota United team who are unbeaten in their last eleven games. As for the Scorpions, they will travel to Canada to face fall season leaders, Ottawa.
Scoring Summary:
Giuseppe Gentile (SAS) 19’ – assist Chávez
Dylan Mares (IND) 69’ – assist Ceballos
Kris Tyrpak (SAS) 79’ – assist Chávez
Stats:
Shots off target:
SAS: 7
IND: 14
Shots on target:
SAS: 4
IND: 4
Corners:
SAS: 3
IND: 2
Offside:
SAS: 2
IND: 2
Possession:
SAS: 52
IND: 48
Fouls:
SAS: 11
IND: 14
Discipline:
Adrian Cann (SAS) 25’ – yellow
Sergio Pena (IND) 56’ – yellow
Cory Miller (IND) 72’ – yellow
Daniel Fernandes (SAS) 90’ – yellow
