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GAMEDAY: Indy Eleven vs. FC Edmonton

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Published Jul 21, 2016

GAMEDAY: #INDvFCE

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview

Indy Eleven vs FC Edmonton
Saturday, July 23, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium - Indianapolis, IN


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Indy Eleven's Last Time Out – Minnesota United FC 2 : 0 Indy Eleven

In the words of Indy Eleven Public Relations director John Koluder, "all good things must... yadda yadda yadda."

After matching the best ever NASL unbeaten streak in their 3-0 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Carroll Stadium, Indy Eleven suffered their first loss since October 2015 and the first of their 2016 NASL campaign away to Minnesota United FC.

Christian Ramirez got in the scoresheet inside the opening three minutes from the penalty spot after Greg Janicki was judged to have brought down Danny Cruz in the box. After seeing his attempt saved by Eleven 'keeper Jon Busch last weekend, Ramirez made sure to bury his redemptive chance to put the Loons ahead early. Things went from bad to worse for "Indiana's Team" just three minutes later when outside midfielder Stefano Pinho bounced a cross into the area that Ramirez was there to finish off, securing his brace and further his side's lead to two after seven minutes of play.

One of the positives to come from Saturday's loss, however, was the NASL debut of Mexico legend Gerardo Torrado as he replaced Nicki Paterson to see the field in the second half of action. Making an immediate impact, Torrado began moving the ball around the park and was helpful in his team's attempt to claw back into the match, but the Eleven were unable to capitalize on any chances as the opportunity to set the unbeaten record slipped through their hands.
 

FC Edmonton's Last Time Out - FC Edmonton 1 : 0 Ottawa Fury FC

Quite the fight took place last Sunday when FC Edmonton welcomed fellow Canadian side Ottawa Fury FC in a 1 : 0 result that featured a lot more than just the one goal. 

Limited first half chances for both sides saw things scoreless at the break, but the second half featured plenty of action from the get-go. Featuring in the NASL Team of the Week for his performance, Eddies 'keeper Matt VanOekel put in an excellent shift saving two battered efforts at his net inside just before the hour mark, but things looked to turn for the worse immediately afterwards. After receiving a yellow card earlier in the match, a strong challenge from Pape Diakite saw him sent off with a half hour to play, leaving newest signing Kartsen Smith to help clean up the back.

Momentum shifted back the way of the hosts in the 82nd minute, though, when second half sub Sainey Nyassi drove up the pitch to swing in a low cross into the path of midfielder Nikolas Ledgerwood, who tapped home the first and only goal of the game to secure three points for the Eddies.

 

Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: MF Gerardo Torrado

After putting in a solid second half against MNU last weekend, midfielder Gerardo Torrado will likely see more of the pitch this Saturday night against FC Edmonton.

A hard-nosed player who runs the center of the park, Torrado will be useful in distributing the ball as well as holding down the area just in front of a back four who were beaten twice for the first time since Minnesota United's last visit to Carroll Stadium - a 4-2 win for the "Boys in Blue." Though head coach Tim Hankinson has had a number of players at his disposal in the midfielder, it seems as if Torrado has impressed in his time with the club so far and may have earned a consistent place in the rotation depending on how "Coach Hank" wants to attack the Eddies in their return to Carroll Stadium.

If Torrado is fit and ready to fire, expect to see him for at least the same amount of time on Saturday night, if not more than he featured against the Loons.


Who to Watch, FC Edmonton edition: MF Jake Keegan

While FC Edmonton have had a number of different goalscorers in the fall season, one man has stuck out as a consistent chance creator in the side: midfielder Jake Keegan. 

This is Keegan's first year in NASL action as he signed with the Canadian side following a stint in the Irish league, but the New York native has already impressed tallying up four goals and one assist in 13 appearances. An attacking threat that moves in waves behind the strikeforce, Keegan will look to disrupt the area just in front of the defense and create chances in limited space.

In his last visit to "The Mike," Keegan was on the scoresheet in a one-all draw that saw FC Edmonton steal a point away from home. All signs will point to him being heavily involved in the action when the two meet again in the hot heat of Indianapolis.


Match-up to Mark: FW Eamon Zayed vs. GK Matt VanOekel

Though on a bit of a dry spell, forward Eamon Zayed still sits near the top of the league scoring charts and is confident he can fire home this weekend as "Indiana's Team" looks to bounce back from their first loss of the year. However, in his way stands Eddies 'netminder Matt VanOekel, who has impressed in the fall season with two clean sheets in three matches.

Zayed has been working closely with his strike partner Justin Braun on how they can continue to link up and exploit space, something the tandem proved excellent at in the Spring Season as the Eleven were crowned champions. Now the battle becomes how the pair can stay similar in mindset but variable in attacking threat with forwards Jair Reinoso and Souleymane Youla looking to put their name on the scoresheet given the chance.

There is no doubt Zayed wants to be back firing, and told IndyEleven.com's Scott Stewart that as chances would come, he would be sure to finish.

"As soon as the match finished in Minnesota, I couldn't wait to get back on the pitch and fight again. We've been working, training really hard still, and don't believe that we've been set back by our first loss. The extra work on the training ground, the extra work put in watching film, it all paid off in the spring and will continue to as the fall goes on. We're confident and we can't wait for Saturday night."

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