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GAMEDAY: #INDvFTL

LIVE: "Boys in Blue" FINALLY to get underway vs. Strikers after 3 hour delay
Published Jul 13, 2016

GAMEDAY: #INDvFTL

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview

Indy Eleven vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium - Indy Eleven

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Last Time Out – Indy Eleven 1 : 0 Minnesota United FC

Indy Eleven used big plays on both ends of the field late by midfielder Dylan Mares to capture its first 1-0 win of the 2016 season over the Loons. The "Eleven Original" Mares put his stamp on the game in the 78th minute when he intercepted Lance Laing's pass and took two touches before unleashing a 25-yard blast that beat Minnesota 'keeper Sammy Ndjock to the upper right corner.

Indy goalkeeper Jon Busch was huge on the night with four saves, the biggest coming in the 38th minute when he stoned NASL Golden Boot leader Christian Ramirez on his low PK attempt at the left post. For the one shot Busch couldn't get to en route to his fourth shutout of the season Mares was on the spot, heading Ramirez's point-blank header in the 90th minute off the goalline to preserve a massive three points for the "Boys in Blue." 

 

Last Time Out - FC Edmonton 1 : 0 Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale began a weeklong road trip north of the border on Sunday at FC Edmonton, dominating the run of play but falling by a 0-1 scoreline at Clarke Stadium. Eddies striker Daryl Fordyce made Fort Lauderdale pay for not capitalizing on its chances with a finish against the flow of the game in the 71st minute. 

The Strikers had the better of the possession (56-44), shots (12-6) and shots on target (6-1), but ultimately Fordyce would make good on the one good look on the day for the home side, taking an exquisite touch to settle Jake Keegan's long diagonal into the box before slamming a low shot past Diego Restrepo. 


-> TICKETS | Take Advantage of $2 Bud Lights for Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. Kickoff! <-


Eleven Shoot for NASL Record 13 Straight Unbeaten

Saturday’s 1-0 win over Minnesota extended Indy Eleven’s club record undefeated streak to 12 games (5W-7D-0L), putting it on the cusp of the NASL’s record streak of 13, set by the Carolina RailHawks (2011) and the New York Cosmos (2013-14).

If you want to get picky, the “Boys in Blue” have actually gone 14 competitive games without a defeat in 2016 when counting its two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contests (even its penalty kick defeat at the Chicago Fire in the Fourth Round technically goes down as a 1-1 draw). And while it doesn’t count officially, if you want to throw the team’s 1-0 exhibition win over Liga MX champion C.F. Pachuca onto the undefeated compilation as well, we won’t stop you.

Prior to this year, Indy Eleven’s previous club-record unbeaten streak was nine games spanning the 2014-15 campaigns. The club’s single-season best unbeaten runs were a pair of five-gamers that ended the 2014 Fall campaign and stretched across the 2015 Spring and Fall Seasons. 


Leaving It Late No Issue

Courtesy of Dylan Mares’ 78th minute game-winner last weekend vs. Minnesota, Indy Eleven has scored 10 of its 17 goals in league play – and earned 12 of its 22 standings points and a little thing called the Spring Season title – courtesy of finishes past the 70th minute of games, including an incredible 8-0 advantage across the final 15 minutes.


Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: DF Marco Franco

With Lovel Palmer back to full health, the Jamaican took back the right back spot that Marco Franco had admirably filled last Saturday night. But Palmer's (supposed) involvement in a post-game fracas saw him earn a red card, which will put Franco back into Coach Tim Hankinson's first XI against the Strikers.

Fort Lauderdale ran roughshod over the "Boys in Blue" in their first meeting of the season back on May 14, only a world-class performance by Jon Busch in goal allowing Indy to escape with a point from the 0-0 draw. With left-sider Nemanja Vukovic the more adventerous wing back going forward between the two, it will be interesting to see how much Franco stays at home to try and cut off the dangerous Strikers attack - or if Hankinson encourages Franco to put Fort Lauderdale off-balance by giving Franco the liberty to roam forward - which he is certainly comfortable doing - and making the visitors put more effort into defending.


Who to Watch, Strikers edition: FW Maicon Santos

We'll go with the obvious choice, not because the hulking Brazilian Santos is Fort Lauderdale's leading scorer with four goals, but because he was an absolutel menace the first time around at Lockhart Stadium. In that game back on May 14, Santos has a pair of his four shots stopped the inspired Busch and had another four "dangerous passes" to set up teammates. In short, Santos is a terror in the final third, and he'll get the full attention of the center back tandem of Cory Miller and Greg Janicki.


Match-up to Mark: MF's Brad Ring/Nicki Paterson vs. MF Jean-Marc Alexandre

It's less of a man vs. man match-up, more of a "center of the park" philosphy match-up. Alexandre is a big and bruising midfielder who can impose himself physically while still being a more than capable link between the back four and the attackers ahead of him, and it will be interesting to see how much support he'll get from his fellow midfielders in FTL's 4-3-3 alignment. Meanwhile, you know what you're going to get in the Paterson & Ring combo - smart passing, solid tackling and commitment to keeping the ball from getting to the back four while picking and choosing their chances to get up and support the attack. The middle of the field will be worth watching to see which side has gained control of the important piece of real estate. 

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