FC Cincinnati's win at Indy will seem more and more impressive as the USL season continues

As the final whistle sounded, Dekel Keinan and Forrest Lasso ran toward Evan Newton. The three embraced. Seconds later, in unison, they turned and faced the traveling supporters, shaking their fists in triumph.

On Saturday night, Futbol Club Cincinnati beat the Indy Eleven 1-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium. In a match meant to celebrate the climax of Indianapolis soccer to this point – a record crowd of 17,535 fans attended – the visitors played the spoilers and kept their unbeaten start to the United Soccer League season in tact.

It was a game where Cincinnati took what it wanted: Three points and more momentum to build upon. But its means of getting there showed further proof of the growth of the club's roster from offseason moves and hints at the potential that could lurk in the future weeks and months.

Offensively, Cincinnati had opportunities and flashes of bright spots, but it took a perfect cross from Emmanuel Ledesma and header by Emery Welshman in the 26th minute to give the visitors the lead.

As impressive as the goal was, which came largely against the run of play, the impenetrable backline and Newton's masterful goalkeeping earned FC Cincinnati its second clean sheet in as many matches.

Conceding a penalty to Jack McInerney after taking out his feet on a one-on-one, Newton stopped the Indy forward's shot in the 38th minute when he dove left. When the ball rebounded back into play, Newton stopped a second shot and the ball was cleared to safety.

Clearly Indy's best chance to score – the second-best chance came from a McInerney header off the post – Newton continued his goalkeeping brilliance that has virtually cemented the keeper, who turned 30 on Sunday, into the starting role.

In the club's two league matches, both have been 1-0 wins on the road. The two away wins are half of the total Cincinnati achieved in 2017.

Cincinnati currently sits fifth in the USL Eastern Conference standings, tying its highest league position from a year ago. The team is one of only two to win each match it's played. The other is Louisville City FC, Cincinnati's rival and next opponent Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.

Throughout the preseason and the beginning of league play, Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch has continuously mentioned the best players and teammates will play in matches. But after his players have produced two fine performances in as many games, it's apparent that whomever cracks the current starting lineup from the bench might have an increasingly difficult task moving forward.

But looking past the Saturday night score line, FC Cincinnati's ability to not only win on the road, but against the team that finished second in 2017 (Charleston Battery) and should be one of the Eastern Conference's best teams in 2018 (Indy Eleven) shows the club's resilience and potency early in the USL calendar.

Had Cincinnati beaten Indy in mid-August in the midst of a battle of league positioning, the three points would appear as one of the club's best road wins. That fact that it has happened two matches into the season shouldn't change the impressive performance of FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.