San Francisco traveled to Indianapolis and secured an away point against an Indy Eleven team that has not lost at home since October 2015. Here are three things we learned from the game:

1) Kenny Teijsse is a revelation for the Deltas

The Dutchman has been one of the most consistent performers for San Francisco since the start of the season. According to NASL.com, he leads the teams in touches, duels, duels won and tackles. He has not only admirably held his own at left back for a staunch Deltas defense, but at every opportunity, he will press into the offense.

Teijsse’s strong run up the wing in the Deltas first game eventually set up Kyle Bekker’s goal, the first in team history.

It will be interesting to see how the former Dutch Eredivisie player also develops his understanding on the left side of the pitch with the dynamic Brazillian winger Pablo Dyego.

2) Nana Attakora is the defensive leader of the team

Deltas’ head coach Marc Dos Santos first priority building the team was having a stout defense. The Canadian international Attakora was among his first signings. He was named the team captain during the pre-season and has done nothing less than lead the way from the backline.

In Saturday’s match, Attakora was often matched up against Indy striker Justin Bruan, who is leading the NASL with two goals and two assists. His pressure successfully stymied Bruan. In an attempt to create space the striker started leaking out to the sideline during the second half far away from the central defender.

Besides often shutting down the opposition’s top attacking threat, Attakora is often the sweeper for the defense. He had seven clearances against the Eleven.

3) Head Coach Marc Dos Santos has built a solid team

After four games, it’s clear that Dos Santos has assembled a team that is strong defensively, organized, and players know their roles on the field.

“We want to be a team that is very compact, a team that is very aggressive without the ball, a team of players that are very determined so the character and personality is important here,” Dos Santos told the SFGATE last August when he was announced as coach. “The type of human beings they are to be humble enough to understand that this is an important part of our game.”

The back four of Karl Ouimette, Nana Attakora, Reiner Ferreira and Kenny Teijsse have been solid positionally the full 90 minutes. They have received coverage from the diligent work of defensive midfielder Cristian Portilla. Through four games the Deltas have only conceded two goals.

That has allowed front runners Tommy Heinemann, Kyle Bekker, Michael Stephens, Pablo Dyego, and (when he returns from suspension) Jackson, to press the opponents back line aggressively.

“On the offensive side, I want a team that is very fast,” Dos Santos noted. “We want to build a team that is fast in transition, that is quick going to goal.”

The Deltas’ aggressiveness often forces the other team onto their back heal, kicking square balls far away from Romuald Peiser’s net.

Despite ceding the majority of the ball possession in their first four games, the Deltas have outshot three of the four teams they have played (by a combined 47 shots to 32).

With a strong defense and an offense still learning to play together, it seems only a matter of time until the Deltas start scoring goals and turning draws into wins.









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Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Image 2 of 20 Tyler Gibson controls the ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Tyler Gibson controls the ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 3 of 20 Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed is dfended by the San Francisco Deltas Nana Attakora in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed is dfended by the San Francisco Deltas Nana Attakora in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 4 of 20 The Deltas' Thomas Heinemann and Indy Eleven's Justin Braun battle for a header in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) The Deltas' Thomas Heinemann and Indy Eleven's Justin Braun battle for a header in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 5 of 20 Image 6 of 20 The Deltas Pablo Diego reaches for a ball while defended by Indy's Marco Franco in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) The Deltas Pablo Diego reaches for a ball while defended by Indy's Marco Franco in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 7 of 20 The Deltas Kenny Teijsse and Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed keep their eye on a loose ball in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) The Deltas Kenny Teijsse and Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed keep their eye on a loose ball in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 8 of 20 The Deltas' Pablo Dyego controls a ball while defended by Indy Eleven's Craig Henderson in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) The Deltas' Pablo Dyego controls a ball while defended by Indy Eleven's Craig Henderson in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 9 of 20 Indy's Craig Henderson and San Francisco's Cristian Portilla fight for a loose ball in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Indy's Craig Henderson and San Francisco's Cristian Portilla fight for a loose ball in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 10 of 20 Image 11 of 20 The Deltas Cristian Portilla heads the ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) The Deltas Cristian Portilla heads the ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 12 of 20 Cristian Portilla heads a ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Cristian Portilla heads a ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 13 of 20 The Deltas Kenny Teijsse and Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed keep their eye on a loose ball in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) The Deltas Kenny Teijsse and Indy Eleven's Éamon Zayed keep their eye on a loose ball in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 14 of 20 Deltas goalkeeper Romuald Peiser smothers a ball pursued by Indy Eleven striker Justin Braun in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Deltas goalkeeper Romuald Peiser smothers a ball pursued by Indy Eleven striker Justin Braun in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 15 of 20 Image 16 of 20 Indy's Justin Braun is defended by the Deltas Reiner in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Indy's Justin Braun is defended by the Deltas Reiner in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 17 of 20 Indy's Brad Ring passes the ball away from the Deltas Kyle Bekker in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Indy's Brad Ring passes the ball away from the Deltas Kyle Bekker in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 18 of 20 Indy Eleven's Justin Braun is defended by the Deltas in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Indy Eleven's Justin Braun is defended by the Deltas in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 19 of 20 Tommy Heinemann heads a ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Tommy Heinemann heads a ball against Indy Eleven in their match held at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer) Photo: Matt Schlotzhauer Image 20 of 20 Three things we learned: SF Deltas vs. Indy Eleven 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

OTHER DELTAS NEWS:

– San Francisco returns to Kezar Stadium this Saturday to play the defending NASL champions New York Cosmos at 7 pm.

– For the first time this season, the team will be able to host a pre-game fan zone in the Kezar Triangle on the west side of the stadium. It will feature food trucks, a beer garden, family activities and games. The fan zone will be open from 5 – 7 pm with the last call at 6:30 pm.

– The Deltas announced Lyft as the preferred rideshare app for the team. Fans who travel to Kezar stadium by Lyft will have a designated drop-off point on Frederick Street right near the west entrance of Kezar Stadium.

“It’s crucial for the Deltas to partner with brands that have had an impact on San Francisco and the community,” said SF Deltas Director of Partnerships Matt Horwitz. “Lyft has done an incredible job with this, and we can’t wait to work with them moving forward.”

The rideshare is part of the team’s effort to encourage fans to take alternative means of transit to Kezar (the team has a secure free bike parking facility at the stadium as well). New Lyft riders can receive five dollars off their ride using the code SFDELTAS.