INDIANAPOLIS (October 11, 2017) – Indy Eleven and the San Francisco Deltas looked set to share the spoils once again this season until an 81st-minute winner from Brazilian attacker Dagoberto handed the hosts all three points at Kezar Stadium.

Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson opted for a number of changes from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with the New York Cosmos, most notably starting forward David Goldsmith and midfielder Tanner Thompson over Eamon Zayed and Gerardo Torrado. Also back in the starting XI, midfielder Craig Henderson sat alongside Brad Ring in the center of the park, and he was first to leave his mark on the contest.

Just seven minutes in, Henderson collected a pass from Paulo Junior, who had an impressive spell on the right side, and drove forward towards goal. Unleashing a rip with his left boot, the Kiwi found the top corner and beat Deltas ‘keeper Romuald Peiser to open the scoring. However, similar to their goals against New York, Indy would concede quickly, giving up their first goal of the night just five minutes later with a 12th-minute own goal being given to Colin Falvey following a Deltas’ corner kick.

Both sides would test the opposition ‘keeper as the first half continued, with Indy Eleven coming closest as the Brazilian Paulo Junior tried to link up with the forward David Goldsmith just after the half-hour mark only for the Englishman to miss the pass by an inch. At the halftime interval, the pair were locked up, 1-1.

An eventful start to the second half, again it was “Indiana’s Team” who started quick out of the gate, with Brad Ring nearly created another opportunity for the sprightly Goldsmith only to see the flag raised for offside at the crucial moment. Minutes later, Nemanja Vukovic’s positioning as a wide midfielder created a chance for Henderson to add his second of the night, but his header was directed straight at Peiser. The closest the Deltas would come in the same span would be flashed efforts from Dyego and Heinemann, but both were held in as two of Jon Busch’s five saves on the evening.

With collecting three points for Indy Eleven being a vital part of their pursuit, the attack continued to seek an elusive late winner. However, it was the home side Deltas who found the back of the net instead, with Dagoberto taking two steps inwards before unleashing a curler that pinged off the inside of Busch’s far post to give his side the lead.

Despite a hard fight on the road, Indy Eleven falls to the San Francisco Deltas, 2-1, leaving them five points (32) off fourth place (37) in the Combined Standings with just three games to play and a game in hand for both playoff rivals New York Cosmos and Jacksonville Armada FC.

Indy Eleven returns home to IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium to host Miami FC for Hispanic Heritage night on Saturday, October 14 at 3:00 P.M. ET. Tickets for the game – and all remaining 3+ 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
San Francisco Deltas 2 : 1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, October 11, 2017
Kezar Stadium – San Francisco, CA
 
Scoring Summary:
IND – Craig Henderson (Paulo Junior) 7’
SFD – Colin Falvey (OG) 12’
SFD – Dagoberto 81’

Discipline Summary:
IND – Brad Ring 35’
IND – Craig Henderson 36’
IND – Tanner Thompson 42’
SFD – Jackson 60’
SFD – Dagoberto 84’
IND – Kwame Watson-Siriboe 90+1’
IND – Cory Miller 90+2’
 
Indy Eleven lineup (4-2-3-1, L-->R):  Jon Busch (GK); Cory Miller, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Colin Falvey ©, Marco Franco; Brad Ring (Sinisa Ubiparipovic 69’), Craig Henderson (Gerardo Torrado 80’); Nemanja Vukovic, Tanner Thompson (Eamon Zayed 61’), Paulo Junior; David Goldsmith

IND bench: Keith Cardona (GK); Daniel Keller, Adrian Ables

San Francisco Deltas lineup (3-5-2, L->R): Romuald Peiser (GK); Reiner Ferreira, Patrick Hopkins, Karl W. Ouimette; Kenny Teijsse, Greg Jordan (Dagoberto 70’), Tyler Gibson, Kyle Bekker, Jackson; Tommy Heinemann (Maxim Tissot 84’), Pablo Dyego (Devon Sandoval 78’)

SFD bench: Alex Mangels, Bryan Burke, Andrew Lubahn, Michael Stephens