'Cheap giveaways' and 'poor choices:' Nashville SC falls to Indy Eleven in second match-up

Nick Gray | For USA TODAY NETWORK -Tennessee

Lex Luthor, Cable, Indy Eleven.

Nashville SC has not yet solved its archenemy, and episode two formed a similar arc compared to the first.

Indy Eleven scored twice in the first half Tuesday — both as a result of counter attacks — and left First Tennessee Park a 2-0 winner over Nashville SC, a first for an opposing team in USL play.

"I think it was easy to see we dominated the ball," Gary Smith said. "Goals change games."

Indy's Karl Ouimette scored on a corner off of a corner won from a counter in the 16th minute. Justin Braun scored the second Indy goal against the run of play, beating a mispositioned Matt Pickens on a tight angle.

Indy scored twice as a result of counters in April's 2-1 win over Nashville SC in Indianapolis. Soony Saad scored both goals in that game but did not appear in the lineup or on the bench Tuesday.

Nashville owned possession, made 27 crosses to Indy's 1 and created 15 scoring opportunities. But Nashville had few premium chances of those 15 as Indy filled the middle of the field and won 63 percent of 50-50 balls in the first half and 55 percent of those chances overall.

Episode three will have to wait until a possible matchup in the playoffs.

Boys in gold feel blue on the right side

Matt LaGrassa and London Woodberry began the game on the right side, at right midfield and right back respectively.

The combination can work efficiently depending on the matchup. Both struggled in the first half against Indy Eleven, a team that loves to counter with speed.

Smith said Woodberry was rewarded for a good performance last week against Louisville City and liked LaGrassa's form playing in several different parts of the formation. But the duo missed the mark.

"(London) is an experienced individual, a good athlete, a good defender and very capable," Smith said. "Matt has offered us a very good combination and platform that we have seen good success from in recent weeks. There was no reason to suspect that wouldn't be the case again."

LaGrassa and Woodberry are often — and best — used as central players, with LaGrassa playing as a central midfielder in most of his 11 starts. Woodberry has played as a right back in two other starts but, combined with LaGrassa, did not provide much down the right side as Indy Eleven took the lead.

Indy scored its second goal as Justin Braun beat both on the right and finished a tight-angled shot past Matt Pickens.

"As that first half unfolded, there were far too many cheap giveaways and some poor choices," Smith said. "As I've said, (we had) a lack of cutting edge when we've seen real invention and appetite around the penalty area."

LaGrassa moved into a midfield role in the second half while Woodberry was subbed out in the 60th minute for Taylor Washington.

Not-so-comeback kids

Nashville SC has not recovered from deficits this season.

In four games that Nashville has trailed in all competitions, it has not evened or taken the lead in any match. That trend continued Tuesday.

"Soccer is a fickle game at times," Michael Reed said. "As great of moments that we had, they put away theirs and we didn't put away ours. We have to find a way to win."

Man of the match

Indy's Ayoze Garcia assisted on both goals and cleared an Alan Winn shot on goal away from danger in the second half.