INDIANAPOLIS (September 17, 2017) – Indy Eleven traveled to Clarke Stadium for a Sunday afternoon showdown with FC Edmonton, with both still in the hunt for a playoff spot as the Fall Season slowly approaches its close.

Making two changes to the starting line-up that beat North Carolina FC by one goal midweek, head coach Tim Hankinson opted for forward David Goldsmith and midfielder Don Smart in place of midfielders Ben Speas and Gerardo Torrado (suspended).

In the games early goings, it was the visiting side who looked most likely to break the deadlock early with chances for both forward Eamon Zayed and Goldsmith falling inside the opening quarter of an hour despite neither being able to convert. The best chance of the opening half came right on the 30-minute mark for Zayed, but the No.9 failed to keep a cross from Smart close and saw the ball bounce off his left boot and over the bar from close range.

Against the run of play, it would take FC Edmonton only one minute to bounce back and open the scoring through midfielder Sainey Nyassi. Defender Nik Ledgerwood lifted a high ball towards goal off the set piece for Nyassi to chase, and the hybrid attacker took the ball down well before beating Busch at his far post.

FC Edmonton would take their one-goal lead into the half despite Indy creating an equal amount of chances.

Indy Eleven replaced forward David Goldsmith with midfielder Tanner Thompson at the halftime interval, shifting Smart forward with Paulo Junior and Zayed. However, as “Indiana’s Team” continued their search for a goal, the Eddies nearly doubled their lead twice through Ameobi and Nyassi. Indy was pushed to the brink on a counter attack in the 78^th minute. Ameobi broke to the endline and slid a ball across the six, midfielder Ben Fisk was clipped by Indy defender Cory Miller to win a penalty. Stepping up to the spot, set-piece specialist Dustin Corea doubled the lead with a chip down the center of the goal as “Buschy” elected to dive to his left.

In the dying minutes, an excellent opportunity fell the way of substitute midfielder Adrian Ables off a Nemanja Vukovic free kick, but a difficult volley for the player was sent just inches over the crossbar and FC Edmonton held onto their two-goal advantage to claim the three points.

Indy Eleven returns home to IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium to host Puerto Rico FC on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 P.M. ET. Tickets for the game – and all remaining 4+ NASL matches at “The Mike” in 2017 – can be purchased for as little as $11 online at www.IndyEleven.com or by phone at 317-685-1100. 

NASL Fall Season
FC Edmonton 2 : 0 Indy Eleven
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Clarke Stadium – Edmonton, Alberta, CAN
 
Scoring Summary:
FCE – Sainey Nyassi (Nik Ledgerwood) 31’
FCE – Dustin Corea 78’ (P)

Discipline Summary:
IND – Colin Falvey 69’
IND – Don Smart 80’
 
Indy Eleven lineup (4-2-3-1, L-->R):  Jon Busch (GK); Nemanja Vukovic, Cory Miller, Colin Falvey ©, Marco Franco; Brad Ring, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Ben Speas 62’), Don Smart; David Goldsmith (Tanner Thompson 46’), Paulo Junior (Adrian Ables 81’); Eamon Zayed
 
IND bench: Keith Cardona (GK); Christian Lomeli, Kwame Watson-Siriboe

FC Edmonton lineup (4-4-2, L->R): Tyson Farago (GK); Pedro Galvao, Matt Watson, Abdoulaye Diakite, Nik Ledgerwood; Ben Fisk, Allan Zebie (Mauro Eustaquio 72’), Ben McKendry, Sainey Nyassi (Nicolas Di Biase 81’); Daryl Fordyce (Dustin Corea 72’), Tomi Ameobi

FCE bench: Nathan Ingham (GK); Shawn Nicklaw, Jake Keegan, Netan Sansara