On Sunday Indy Eleven hosted their first international friendly as they took on Liga MX side, Monarcas Morelia. Although the crowd was smaller than Indy has become accustomed to for soccer games, the atmosphere was still electrifying.
As fans walked into the stadium they were greeted by a mariachi band with fans dancing in line waiting for their ticket to be scanned. The loyalty of both fan bases were ever present as well. Morelia fans stood up to cheer and applauded their team when they entered the field for warm-ups. Morelia’s new Manager, Enrique Meza, newly signed goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo, and legendary defenseman Joel Hiqui was given the loudest reception by their fans.
The Eleven fans did the same when their ‘Boy’s in Blue’ came on the field. During the game, when the Eleven made a good pass or had a shot, fans of Indiana’s team encouraged their players to continue to push forward while Morelia fans jeered. When Morelia made a good play, their fans praised the team and the Eleven fans returned the favor.
The game ended in a 0-0 draw, but the score line did not show the attacking style of play both teams displayed.The Eleven came out in their customary 4-4-2 formation, with a diamond in the middle, and Morelia started in a 5-3-2 style.
At the game’s initial whistle, Morelia recorded two quick corners. They tried to continue their momentum to start the game but Indy Eleven responded in the 7th minute. Wojciech Wojcik was on the receiving end of a Jamie Frias cross, only for his header to sail just above the cross bar.Two minutes later Brian Brown had a chance after beating a Morelia defender but Saucedo was there to stop any ideas Brown had about scoring.Indy Eleven’s best chance of the first half came in the 20th minute as Victor Pineda’s shot from the left side of the field forced Saucedo to stretch near post for the save. Morelia’s best opportunity in the first 45 minutes, came in the 33rd minute when Carlos Ochoa was one-on-one with the Eleven’s Kristian Nicht. But, Indy’s goalkeeper was there for the save.
Both teams came out in the second half with several substitutions. The biggest changes for Indy Eleven was Keith Cardona replacing Nicht in goal and Judson McKinney making his Indy Eleven debut as the right back. The closest either team came to scoring was after the hour mark as both chances came from free kicks. In the 65th minute Dieter Villalpando shot from a set piece hit the far post but was cleared by the Eleven. In the 71st minute, Corey Miller’s header from Osman Melgares forced a save from Felipe Rodriguez. Duke Lacroix was there for a rebound from Rodriguez’s save, but his attempt went wide.
I was impressed with both teams but two players stood out for me during the 90 minute game. For Morelia, it was Cirilo Saucedo. His playing style fit that of a former field player before he was put in between the posts. At times Saucedo was at the halfway line with the rest of the defense playing as a traditional sweeper. On occasion, Saucedo took the throw in for his team. The most impressive play for Saucedo came in the middle of the first half. When a ball is played across the goal, soccer fans and players are accustomed to seeing a keeper dive on the ground to stop the ball. For Saucedo, he calmly slid feet first and cleared the ball with his right foot without any fear of an Eleven player pressuring him.I could see why the United States Men’s National Team wanted him to represent the team as one of the nation’s best goalkeepers.
As for the Eleven, Brian Brown continues to display a veteran approach at the young age of 22. His youthful exuberance gave him the ability to use his acceleration and speed to get behind Morelia’s defense or take on their defenders in one-on-one situations throughout the game. While his experience was on display with his ability to find his teammates feet in tight spaces, seams between defenders to push his team in the attack, or his calmness when the ball was at his feet.
This was a good exhibition for both teams as Indy Eleven starts their fall campaign next Sunday on the road against the NASL Spring Champions, New York Cosmos. Interim Head Coach, Tim Regan, will look to solidify is job on a permanent basis with a good showing against the Cosmos. Morelia will not start their Apertura season until the end of July against Cruz Azul, but it was a good first step for Enrique Meza’s team as they look to erase their disappointing Clausura season. I thoroughly enjoyed the game between Monarcas Morelia and Indy Eleven. Hopefully, the Eleven can host Morelia every year for a Sunday matinee, because the atmosphere and culture inside Michael A. Carroll Stadium was remarkable. Fans for both teams were able to see their heroes up close at an affordable price. After attending the Indy Eleven- Morelia friendly, buying a Morelia jersey is now on my top five soccer to do list.
