Hammy tweaks, tired legs not enough to slow Indy Eleven in comeback win

Kevin Johnston | Special to IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS – In a sport that allows only three substitutions, having to burn two early isn't ideal. Indy Eleven were dealt that hand Saturday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium when the injury bug struck less than 20 minutes into the match.

But thanks to a spirited comeback, Indy defied the odds to earn a 2-1 win over the Charlotte Independence.

Hamstring tweaks suffered by right back Kevin Venegas and forward Justin Braun forced Indy coach Martin Rennie's hand very early, leaving the hosts — already on fatigued legs — in a quandary. Playing its third match over an eight-day span and fourth over a 12-day span, even some of Indy's bench options had logged significant minutes recently.

Rennie decided on a pair of attackers to replace the injured starters: Ben Speas in the 10th minute followed by Eugene Starikov in the 17th. Tired and with only one sub left over the next 70-plus minutes, Indy dug deep to snag the three points.

"It was tough," Speas said. "It was really odd. You usually don't have even one (early injury), let alone two."

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Charlotte opened the scoring on a Jorge Herrera strike in the 50th minute as the visitors continued playing a weakened Indy side on about level or better terms after a solid first half.

But Speas and Starikov, thrusted into the fray, linked up to equalize for the hosts shortly thereafter in the 62nd. Left fullback Ayoze played a long ball toward the right corner to Starikov, who keenly headed the ball back to the middle for Speas to hammer home.

"There are a lot of games where you work hard and you do a lot of things that don't show up," Speas added. "So sure, it's nice to get a goal and get on the scoresheet. More importantly, it's nice to get the win. We needed that after a tough game on Wednesday when we felt we deserved more than what we got."

Eight minutes later, Indy's Carlyle Mitchell put his team up for good 2-1 with an authoritative header. The 6-2 center back rose up over his defender to bury an Ayoze service on a corner kick. A 77th-minute red card to Bilbal Duckett all but ruined the Independence's chances of a comeback of their own.

"That's the second time we've had a two-day recovery and the other team's had a whole week off," Rennie said. "And both of those games we've won, so I think that shows the determination and the fitness of the players."

Noblesville West Middle School teacher Jason Seaman and student Ella Whistler, both of whom sustained wounds in a May 25 shooting at the school, were recognized before the match during the first-kick ceremony.

For the Eleven, recuperation is finally within sight, but not before another midweek match Wednesday at the Charleston Battery. After that, they'll get a week and a half off before their next test, a July 21 road date at the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Now that the Eleven have wrapped up their three-match home stand, their next four are on the road.