PREVIEW:

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview
Indy Eleven at Puerto Rico Football Club - #PRFCvIND
Saturday, April 8, 2017 – 7:30 PM ET
Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel – Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Watch/Listen Live:

• National TV: beIN SPORTS
• Streaming Video: beIN Sports Connect ($)

Follow Live:

• In-game updates: Follow @IndyElevenLive on Twitter
• Official stats: NASL Opta MatchCenter

 

Match Notes:

• Indy Eleven notes
• Puerto Rico FC notes

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS…

“Indiana’s Team” will return to the Bayamon, Puerto Rico area for the first time in the 2017 season to face off against Puerto Rico FC in the second leg of back-to-back matches. Your “Boys in Blue” look to settle some unfinished business after drawing against the Puerto Rican side in a 3-3 thriller on April 1 in Indy’s home opener. Despite a Man of the Match performance from Eleven forward Justin Braun, which saw him score two of the home side's goals and tally an assist for Ben Speas’ home debut goal, the team couldn’t fend off the advances of Hector Ramos, Connor Doyle, and former Eleven member Walter Ramirez.

Our trip to Puerto Rico this Saturday will mark the first time Indy Eleven returns to the away team’s turf since Puerto Rico FC’s inaugural match in July 2016. Hector Ramos scored late in the match, nearly securing Puerto Rico’s first club win at home, only for former Indy forward Souleymane Youla to score the equalizer in stoppage time just moments before the official blew the final whistle.

Being the newcomers, Puerto Rico FC looks to prove themselves after joining late in the 2016 season. Despite their late start, Puerto Rico FC managed to finish sixth place for the Fall Season and 10^th overall with 24 points, a point below Minnesota United FC, who joined MLS for its 2017 season. During their offseason, Puerto Rico FC managed to accumulate a seven-game winning streak and made an impressive run in the Caribbean Club Championship before ultimately falling short of qualifying as finalists. 

Undaunted by the draw at home, head coach Tim Hankinson is certain his squad will be prepared to secure the club’s first win on the road in 2017.

“The familiarity of playing them in the first game last Saturday gives us a more realistic look of what they’re about, their patterns of play, the targeting of Ramos…It gives us a training plan for the week.”

 

WHO TO WATCH INDY ELEVEN EDITION: FW JUSTIN BRAUN

After an impressive Man of the Match performance in front of the home crowd for the first time in the Spring season, Justin Braun is ready to keep the ball rolling this Saturday. In his first season with Indy, Braun netted eight goals and five assists, making him one of the league's most lethal forces to be reckoned. When working in tandem with strike partner Eamon Zayed, the forward was especially dangerous and he'll get that chance again as the pair return to the pitch in the third game of the season - the first time they will start up front together.

After last season’s championship run, Braun is already looking forward, and the Salt Lake native can be credited for scoring two of the club’s four goals in the first two matches of the 2017 season.

 

 

WHO TO WATCH PUERTO RICO EDITION: FW HECTOR RAMOS

Puerto Rican native and national team forward Hector Ramos begins his second season with Puerto Rico FC. Ramos was PRFC’s leading goal scorer last season with a total of eight goals and four assists and continued proving his attacking prowess after racking up a goal and an assist against Indiana’s Team on April 1. With a threat like Ramos on the pitch, our defense would do well to ensure he is properly marked in the defensive third.

Before coming to Puerto Rico FC, Ramos has spent his career hopping around several of Puerto Rico’s top clubs, including Sevilla Bayamon and Puerto Rico Islanders. In addition to his club play, Ramos has made 32 appearances for Puerto Rico’s national team and is the current leading goal scorer for the squad, netting 18 times.

 

MATCH UP TO MARK: MF BRAD RING vs. MF WALTER RAMIREZ

One of the two remaining “Eleven Originals” Brad Ring will square up against former Eleven teammate Walter Ramirez in the midfield this Saturday. Ring and Ramirez were both a part of Indy Eleven’s inaugural squad in 2014, shortly before Ramirez was released later that July.

During Ramirez’s stint as a “Boys in Blue”, he made a total of seven appearances, five of which were starts, and played a total of 440 minutes before being signing with Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Now having played two games this year with PRFC, Ramirez has tallied one goal and is hungry for more.

“Eleven Original” Ring returns to Indy for his fourth consecutive season. The Indiana University alum has become a cornerstone for Indy’s midfield, making a total of 62 appearances and tallying three goals. Prior to joining the “Boys in Blue”, Ring’s experience spans across two MLS sides - San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers. The veteran leader also donned the captain’s armband for Indy during the team’s home opener on April 1.