gameday: #TBRVIND

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview
Indy Eleven at Tampa Bay Rowdies
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium - St. Petersburg, FL

Watch/Listen Live:

• Local TV: MyINDY23
• National TV: OneWorldSports
• Streaming Video: OneWorldSports.com

Follow Live:

• In-game updates: Follow @IndyElevenLive on Twitter
• Live stats: Visit the NASL.com MatchCenter for in-depth Opta statistics
• Vote for the Indy Eleven “Man of the Match” on the @IndyEleven Twitter feed immediately following the match

 

Team Records

Indy Eleven:​

• ​Fall Season: 9W-4D-6L, 31 pts, 3rd place
• Combined Season: 13W-10D-6L, 49 pts., 3rd place

Tampa Bay Rowdies: ​

• Fall Season: 5W-7D-7L, 22 pts, 9th place
• Combined Season: 9W-11D-9L, 38 pts, 6th place

Click here for the complete NASL Fall Season standings

Media Game Notes:

• Indy Eleven game notes
• Tampa Bay Rowdies game notes
   

Last Time Out – Indy Eleven 3 : 0 Carolina Railhawks FC

It was all Indy Eleven on Saturday night as the "Boys in Blue" put a major dent in Carolina's postseason aspirations with a 3-0 thrashing at Carroll Stadium.

Coming out with caution, it was a relatively even start between the two as they battled for quality chances in front of goal. Indy got the first sniff in front of net when Dylan Mares latched onto a botched clearance by Railhawks defender Michael Daly, but he could not place his effort further from 'keeper Bryan Sylvestre and the chance subsided. For the visiting side, Nazmi Albadawi presented the best chance of the half after taking a pass from fellow midfielder Matt Watson and dribbling towards the top of the box from the flank, but he followed the move with an effort that Eleven 'netminder Jon Busch saw away. However, just as the half was dying down, Justin Braun separated the two sides beating Sylvestre off an Ubiparipovic pass for the opener, the second time he found the back of the net just before the half at home against Carolina. At the break, it was 1-0 in favor of the Eleven.

The second 45 minutes saw a little more action on Sylvestre's goal, though it would take some time for Indy to build through. Maintaining a stronghold on chances for Carolina, Indy held the lead well through possession and chance creation that frustrated their opponents into a few silly fouls that only favored Indiana's Team. After Nicki Paterson was brought on in place of Sinisa Ubiparipovic, the Scot then found himself on the scoresheet for just the second time in 2016 but from a familiar arrangement. Winning a foul just outside the box, Paterson was over the ball like he was against Minnesota United FC - this time in a slightly more central position. Instead of going for the top corner though, the midfielder cleverly rolled it under the wall to beat the 'keeper and give his side a 2-0 lead. Then, approaching the end of the match, substitute forward Souleymane Youla added a third goal - a tap-in from a Don Smart pass - to ensure the three points. The lone blotch on the match, however, was in the form of a red card shown to Youla just a minute after his goal for lashing out at an opponent.

The three points delivered keeps Indy in third place in both the Fall and Combined Season standings with just three games left to play.

 

Last Time Out - Miami FC 2 : 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 

Another Floridian derby in Miami saw the Rowdies steal a point from hosts Miami FC in a 2-2 affair at FIU Stadium. A match that carried pretty significant postseason implications for both sides, Tampa arrived knowing that, with the Fall Season locked up by the New York Cosmos, they needed a good result against the South Beach residents to keep their own hopes alive of reaching the fourth place spot.

The first half was a blur as three goals in eleven minutes from Miami FC's Jaime Chavez (16'), Poku (21'), and Rowdies' forward Georgi Hristov (27)' saw a high-scoring affair turn into a chess match by the end of the half. Both sides were presented with even more chances in the opening 45 - counting 12 in total that didn't find the back of the net - but those were either missed, blocked, or saved by one of Miami FC's 'netminder Daniel Vega or Tampa Bay Rowdies 'keeper Matt Pickens.

The second half was also a burner as the pace picked up in the Sunshine State, and one of the highlighted plays of the game came from one of the highlighted players of the game as Joe Cole was again in the heat of the action - this time setting up teammate Juan Guerra for the equalizer in the 67th minute. Late chances fell for both Cole and Miami FC defender Rhett Bernstein, but neither hit the target as the match ended in a fair 2-2 draw.

 

One Last Round in the Sunshine State

It's been said before, but if it's up to head coach Tim Hankinson, it won't be said again. The state of Florida has been less than hospitable to Indy Eleven in 2016 with the "Boys in Blue" taking just five points out of seven encounters against the four clubs down south. 

Last Wednesday, Indy was dealt a change in fixture due to Hurricane Matthew imposing itself on Jacksonville and the surrounding area, moving the match from Saturday the 8th to Wednesday the 12th. The change meant Indy had to adjust preparations and travel accomodations, but Indiana's Team still performed well defensively to earn their (then) eighth clean sheet of the season in a 0-0 draw with Armada FC.

As the Fall Season wraps up and perspective shifts to the postseason where Indy has already locked up a spot, Wednesday's game against the Rowdies may perhaps be more about keeping their staunch defensive shape against a solid attacking side as the team seeks another three points.

 

Who to Watch, Indy Eleven edition: MF Duke Lacroix

Up for NASL Young Player of the Year, Lacroix has been more than impressive as both a starter and an impact substitute for coach Hankinson's team throughout the season.

In 20 appearances including six starts for the University of Pennsylvania graduate, Lacroix has contributed one goal and one assist while creating nine chances. Scoring against Fort Lauderdale in the fall and notching an assist against Carolina in the Spring Season finale, Lacroix's explosive pace and change of direction makes him one of the tougher men to mark in the league. Now heading to Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the native of Egypt, New Jersey has the venue to show his stuff as Al Lang Stadium - the home of the Rowdies - stands as one of the wider pitches in the league.

Just one goal off matching his 2015 totals, Lacroix will look to be in the thick of things on Wednesday against a Rowdies defense that has allowed six goals in their last four matches.
 

Who to Watch, Tampa Bay Rowdies edition: MF Joe Cole

Midfielder Joe Cole has made quite the impact on the league since his arrival ahead of the 2016 Fall Season. With seven goals and seven assists in 22 total appearances this year, Cole is on good form and is coming off an assist against Miami FC on Saturday night.

The 34-year-old was the center of attention when the Rowdies traveled to Indianapolis just a few short weeks ago, and with his team still chasing the fourth and final spot for The Championship, will likely be at the apex of the midfield and attack again on Wednesday. It will be up to Indy Eleven's midfield and defense to limit his space and close the angle as he aims to penetrate and move towards goal.
 

Match-up to Mark: DF Greg Janicki vs. FW Georgi Hristov

It's always good to have a defender of Janicki's pedigree back in the line-up, where he has now found himself after returning from a long injury layoff that spanned over a month. Part of a backline that helped secure the Spring Season title, Janicki will likely see more time on Wednesday night against a prolific Rowdies attack led in part by forward Georgi Hristov.

The Bulgarian forward boasts an impressive scoring record heading into Wednesday's game having netted ten times in 29 appearances this season, including a goal in Saturday's crucial 2-2 draw with Miami FC. Having not scored since July 9, Hristov went on a tear beginning a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Fort Lauderale on September 24 and has since scored two goals in his last three matches in total. 

If nothing else, it will be a battle of positioning and strength when Janicki and his backline clash with Hristov and the Rowdies attack at Al Lang Stadium.