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GAMEDAY: Indy Eleven vs. Minnesota United FC

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Published Jul 8, 2016

GAMEDAY: #INDvMNU

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview

Indy Eleven vs Minnesota United FC
Saturday, July 9, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium - Indy Eleven

 

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  • Vote for the Indy Eleven “Man of the Match” on the @IndyEleven Twitter feed immediately following the match

Media Game Notes:

Last Time Out – Puerto Rico 1 : 1 Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven began their 2016 Fall Season trek away from home at Puerto Rico FC in a one-all draw with the expansion side. 

A first half that featured plenty of action, PRFC began the match on the forefront and looked likely to be first on the scoresheet. Kicking their way through the opening 45 minutes, the physicality was upped a notch as the match matured though neither team were able to capitalize on a limited number of chances in a scoreless first half.

After a flurry of chances for the "Boys in Blue," the hosts did eventually end up opening the scoring as forward Hector Ramos nicked in a cross from Kyle Culbertson in the 74th minute to swing momentum back in their favor. Continuing to battle back, though, "Indiana's Team" pushed against the grain to create a few chances in the final 15 minutes and right at the death, they got the goal they were looking for. Defender Nemanja Vukovic swung in a lifted cross off a set piece, and there to meet it on his NASL debut was forward Souleymane Youla. The Turk nodded the delivery across the line and Indy Eleven ended up stealing an important point away from home.
 

Last Time Out - Minnesota United FC 5 : 1 Carolina Railhawks

Minnesota United FC made quite the statement in the opening game of the fall slate with a 5-1 thrashing of Railhawks FC at home last Saturday night. 

Two goals from Christian Ramirez, both within five minutes of each other, got things off right for the hosts, and the midfielder also bagged an assist on Stefano Pinho's finish in the first minute of added time to make it 3-0 at the end of the half. In the 47th minute, Tiago Calvano added a fourth goal to fully boost the rout, and Christian Ramirez completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute on the back end of a cross from midfielder Danny Cruz.

The consolation goal for Railhawks FC came in the 90th minute from Matt Watson, but it was hardly enough to put a dent on Minnesota United FC's party as they highly impressed in the fall opener.
 

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Eleven on Revenge Watch

Though the 4-2 win over Minnesota United FC on May 21 in the Spring Season was as sweet as the club had seen in history, the problem with every big win is the return - and there is none bigger than Saturday for the Loons. As Indy Eleven hoist the Spring Season trophy pregame, no doubt the former spring champions will look on with a glimmer of revenge in their eyes ahead of one of the biggest clashes of talent in the Fall Season.

Despite being just 1/22 of the way through the second portion of the year, this match has a lot of promise. Firstly, it features the two top goalscorers in the league in Christian Ramirez and Eamon Zayed. The former jumped to the top of the charts with his first week hat-trick, while Zayed sits solely in second after his hat-trick to end the spring against Carolina. From a team standpoint, the game also features two of the best defenses in the league as the Eleven have conceded just nine goals in eleven matches to the Loons' 13 goals in the same frame. 

With Saturday night's contest being the fall home opener and against one of the fall's strongest sides, "Indiana's Team" can circle this match on the calendar as a must win.
 

Spring Season Champs Means Little in Fall

It would be all too easy for Coach Hankinson's side to sit back and coast through the fall - after all, winning the spring means automatic placement into the four-team playoff in November - but that isn't the mindset. Hunger is the mindset, and the desire to push forward and keep their place as the team to beat in the NASL.

Champions, unbeaten, etc. it's all great. But when the Loons travel to Indianapolis for the first of two meetings between the sides in one week, the "Boys in Blue" have the challenging task of putting it all at the back of their mind. Knowing that this week is the first of a few where the team is in action multiple times in a seven day span, the Spring Season feat must serve only as a motivational reminder of where this team has been, but also where they can go moving forward.
 

Indy Eleven OG's: How Brad Ring, Don Smart, and Dylan Mares keep riding the Eleven wave
 

Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: GK Jon Busch

He's one of, if not the, best 'keepers in the league with one of the best defenses in front of him, but Saturday's task at hand for Jon Busch may be his toughest in an Indy Eleven uniform so far.

The Loons are red hot right now and have plenty of attacking options at their disposal, while Indy Eleven will be missing their stalwart and captain Colin Falvey in the center of defense due to injury. While Cory Miller has proven an incredibly effective replacement, it's likely that "Buschy" will be facing a few shots on goal Saturday night - just as he could have been had Falvey been fit. 

Regardless, the 18-year MLS vet will have a big test on his hands (and feet) on Saturday night. 
 

Who to Watch, Minnesota United FC edition: FW Christian Ramirez

An easy pick for Player of the Week, Minnesota United FC forward Christian Ramirez was the star of the show on Saturday in his video game-like performance that featured three goals and one assist in their 5-1 win. 

Ramirez, who now leads the league in goals (8), is capable of scoring from any angle and has proven to be more than your typical bundle of a forward. His first goal against Carolina was a dipping volley that Railhawks FC 'netminder Akira Fitzgerald had no shot to save, while his second goal was a simple capitalization on a defensive error that allowed him to slot home. Before completing his hat-trick, Ramirez laid off for midfielder Stefano Pinho for the team's third goal of the game, and he finished off the day by tapping home from two yards out for the last of the Loons' five goals.

With a lethal combination of pace, skill, and finishing ability, Ramirez is the one to watch Saturday night.
 

Match-up to Mark: FW Eamon Zayed/Justin Braun vs. GK Sammy Ndjock

While plenty has been said about Minnesota's attacking threat, it's Indy Eleven forwards Eamon Zayed and Justin Braun who present an equally tough-to-handle tandem. Two of the top scorers in the league, Zayed and Braun bring different assets to the game that bring plenty of problems to the opposing defense and 'keeper. 

Zayed is tall, strong, and physical, but also possesses the innate ability to slip in behind a defender like a true poacher. Meanwhile, Braun is quick, but also physical, and has an intelligence element in his game that makes him tough to mark, and tough to follow. 

Loons 'netminder Sammy Ndjock has been excellent this year and proved as much in last week's win over Railhawks FC, but if Zayed and Braun get plenty of touches on the ball Saturday night, he may have as much to deal with as he did in the 4-2 Eleven win in May. 

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