INDY ELEVEN GAMEDAY & MATCH PREVIEW
Indy Eleven at Tampa Bay Rowdies
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL

WATCH LIVE:
TV: ONE World Sports (national)
Streaming Video:  In the Indianapolis DMA: http://www.oneworldsports.com (subscription necessary outside of Indy DMA - click here for map)

WATCH PARTIES:
Click here for the list of EIGHT Indy Eleven Official Watch Parties across Indiana
"HQ" Location: Union Jack Pub - Broad Ripple (all ages)

LISTEN LIVE:
Local radio (SPANISH): La Pura Mega 88.1 FM
Streaming audio (SPANISH): www.LaPuraMega.com

FOLLOW ONLINE:  
In-game updates: Follow the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Live stats: Visit the NASL.com MatchCenter 
Game Hashtag: #TBRvIND

Click here for the full NASL standings page
Click here to see the Fall NASL Schedule

TEAM RECORDS: 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 3W-3D-8L, 12 pts., 11th place
Combined Season: 6W-7D-11L, 25 pts., 11th place

Tampa Bay Rowdies:
Fall Season: 4W-2D-8L, 14 pts., 8th place
Combined Season: 9W-6D-9L, 33 pts., 5th place

GAME NOTES:  
Indy Eleven Game Notes
Tampa Bay Game Notes

 

HISTORY vs. TAMPA BAY

With a win and a draw over Tampa Bay in two meetings at Carroll Stadium earlier this season, Indy Eleven has squared its all-time series against the Rowdies at an even 1W-3D-1L heading into their season finale Wednesday night at Al Lang Stadium. 

Coincidentally, both meetings this season have marked the end of a coaching regime. Juergen Sommer made his final appearance on the Indy Eleven sideline during a 2-2 draw on May 30, followed by Thomas Rongen’s dismissal after suffering a 0-2 defeat at Indy on Aug. 19 – also a Wednesday night affair. The comeback draw in May might have actually marked the beginning of the end for Rongen’s tenure in Tampa, the two late standings points lost eventually costing Tampa Bay the NASL Spring Season title and sending the Rowdies into a tailspin to start the Fall Season.

ALL-TIME INDY vs. TBR RESULTS

Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ TBR       7:30 p.m.
August 19, 2015 vs. TBR              2-0 W
May 30, 2015 vs. TBR                  2-2 D

November 1, 2014 @ TBR            2-2 D
July 19, 2014 vs. TBR                  1-2 L
April 19, 2014 vs. TBR                 1-1 D

INFIRMARY UPDATE – INJURY BUG RETURNS

Midfielder Daniel Cuevas, who made his first home start in checkers against FC Edmonton, was relegated from the starting XI to the injury report after sustaining a right leg fracture during training. He joins midfielder Kleberson (right Achilles tear) and forward Charlie Rugg (sports hernia) as Eleven players who are listed as being out indefinitely.

Also on the report is midfielder Brad Ring, who is also listed as out after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot. Goalkeeper Kristian Nicht has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain, with no immediate timetable for his return.

CARDONA COMES BACK IN

The afore-mentioned Cardona enters Indy Eleven’s road trip to Florida this week with a 1W-0D-5L record, but a steady 1.50 goals against average across his six starts this season. That 1.50 GAA puts him in the middle of the pack of NASL netminders with as many starts in 2015 (10th out of 18)

After starting in three of Indy Eleven’s first 20 games in relief of Kristian Nicht, Cardona earned a three-game run between the posts earlier this month, during which he recorded a 1W-0D-2L record and a 1.00 GAA:​

• Sept. 2 @ MNU: 1 GA, 4 saves (0-1 L)
• Sept. 5 vs. JAX: 0 GA, 3 saves (3-0 W)
• Sept. 12 @ SAS: 2 GA, 4 saves (0-2 L)

The Sept. 5 win over Jacksonville marked his first professional win and shutout, while the four saves at Minnesota & San Antonio marked a career best for the 22-year-old New Jersey native. Cardona made his professional debut in the Sunshine State back on May 9 when he suffered the loss in a 0-1 defeat at Jacksonville.

DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME

It’s now or never for Indy Eleven if it wants to stay alive in the chase for The Championship. While fourth place FC Edmonton sits 9 points clear of the “Boys in Blue”, a six-point week in Florida would keep Indy within arm’s reach of the final spot, while a win and a draw would keep Indy at least within shouting distance. Despite sitting at the foot of the table, Indy Eleven could end up tied for 6th place with a pair of wins at Tampa Bay and Jacksonville and some help from across the league this weekend.

Click here to see the 2015 NASL Combined Season standings

WHO TO WATCH, INDY ELEVEN EDITION – MF SERGIO PEÑA?

At this point in the season, a mix of injuries, performance, and matchup have made predicting a lineup and singling out a player to watch pretty difficult. The notion behind choosing Sergio Peña for Wednesday’s must win game is this: somebody has to replace Brad Ring in the center of the midfield, and the hulking Honduran might very well be ready after returning to the Eleven bench against FC Edmonton the last time out following a 17-game absence. But is he truly ready to be a "plug and play" guy after such a long break from game speed? And is he ready fitness-wise to give enough minutes to justify a starting nod? 

Only interim head coach Tim Regan knows for sure, but Peña's versatility is something that he could certainly use at this point. He remains in a 7-way tie for 4^th on the Eleven scoring chart with two goals despite playing limited minutes, and his size works for both settling into a defensive posture (always more popular on the road) and getting some added value on the offensive end with his ability to get on the end of set pieces (and yes, by supplying the occasional threat from long distance). Either way, with two games in four days, Peña could eat up some valuable minutes depending on the situation.

WHO TO WATCH, ROWDIES EDITION – DF TAMIKA MKANDAWIRE

Tampa Bay’s “Ironman”, Mkandawire has played every single minute (2,160 for those counting at home) of the Rowdies’ 24 league rows in 2015 in central defense. The Malawi native and veteran of England’s lower divisions has been a mainstay since coming over to the Rowdies last July, and his steady presence has helped the Rowdies to the league’s third stingiest defense in 2015 with 32 goals allowed.

The “Boys in Blue” will have to find a way to unlock the Tampa Bay defense if they want to put their recent scoring woes behind them, and that will start with finding a way past Mkandawire. While Indy Eleven has scored twice against Tampa Bay in both previous meetings this season, the Rowdies have shutout their last two opponents at home, so one of those patterns will have to give on Wednesday night.