Indy Eleven begin Rivalry Week with loss to FC Cincinnati

INDIANAPOLIS – Perhaps the most enticing perk of the Indy Eleven’s move to the United Soccer League (USL) is on full display this week: the regional rivalries.

Indy, FC Cincinnati and Louisville City FC – three of the best sides in the league – are all nestled within two-hour drives of one another. This week, the Eleven get to host both regional foes within a four-day span.

Indy started off its official Rivalry Week with a high-octane 3-2 loss against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. The setback was only the Eleven's second of the season, the other also having come at the hands of Cincinnati.

"It was an exciting game," Eleven head coach Martin Rennie said. "It was a slow start from us. I thought we came back into the game well."

The visitors wasted little time striking first. After an Indy foul inside the penalty area, Cincinnati captain Kenney Walker scored in the seventh minute to grab a short-lived lead. Oddly enough, Walker was also culpable for Indy's equalizer soon thereafter.

In the 24th, Indy forward Jack McInerney leveled it 1-1 after pouncing on a bad giveaway by Walker. McInerney missed his initial effort, then slotted home the rebound.

Another penalty call, this time in Indy's favor, allowed the hosts to snatch a lead. Forward Soony Saad went down during a rough challenge and left back Ayoze converted the penalty kick.

FC Cincinnati midfielder Corben Bone and forward Jimmy McLaughlin linked up on a respective pass into space and finished just minutes before halftime to tie it.

The second half wasn't quite as eventful, but Bone added a winning strike in the 54th minute to go with his assist to put Cincinnati up for good, 3-2. The Eleven brought on a few subs -- Nathan Lewis, Matt Watson and Justin Braun -- in search of another equalizer. All three turned in active shifts, but a tying goal didn't come.

"We just wanted to make sure that we got a little more attacking zip," Rennie said. "Nathan gave us that, and I thought Justin gave us that as well. Matt Watson controlled midfield a lot more."

FC Cincinnati generally looked better, mostly controlling the midfield while getting more out of its ventures into the final third. FC Cincinnati won the possession battle and connected on more passes, but the Eleven held a narrow edge in shot statistics.

Disappointed with the final score, Indy right back Brad Ring took responsibility, explaining that his main focus was to be solid defensively.

"Obviously, we didn't do a great job of that as a team, letting in three goals tonight," he said. "It's a disappointment. We're not going to win, or even get results out of games, letting in three goals. Getting two goals, for us, should be enough to get some sort of result, so it's on the defense."

The Eleven will return to Lucas Oil for a noon kickoff Saturday against defending-champion Louisville City FC.