INDY ELEVEN___________1

LOUISVILLE CITY FC___1

6-29-19

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OWNBY

RASMUSSEN

DAVIS IV MATSOSO MCCABE

DELPICCOLO

JIMENEZ CRAIG PEAY SOAHY

HUBBARD

SUBS: SPENCER HOPPENOT TOTSCH

UNUSED: BALLARD JANE MCMAHON DOBROWOLSKI

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In the wake of a shock midweek trade that sent equal second top goalscorer Lucky Mkosana to Tampa Bay Rowdies in exchange for creative Frenchman Antoine Hoppenot, John Hackworth’s Louisville City FC side turned around a minor first half deficit – and a major efficacy deficiency – to come away from Lucas Oil Stadium with a very valuable away point Saturday night.

Taking anything at all from league leaders Indy Eleven looked quite unlikely at halftime after the visitors had barely dented the home penalty area, let alone bothered goalkeeper Jordan Farr, however a remarkable turnaround in the second half had the team and their loyal band of traveling fans feeling they might even have won had they been a little more fortunate – or maybe Lucky.

Brian Ownby was awarded the thankless lone striker role and Taylor Peay switched spots with Alexis Soahy to anchor central defense alongside Paco Craig in the chief changes from Lou City lineups of late. This latter adjustment would prove to have mixed results as all three men preoccupied themselves with getting accustomed to the new alignment.

In fact from the opening minutes they were under heavy pressure as City’s central midfield dissolved and Alioune Diakhate ran at a retreating Taylor. Paco allowed the striker’s pass in behind him and all of a sudden the USL’s tied second goalscorer in 2018 Thomas Enevoldsen (formerly of Orange Co. FC) was in on Chris Hubbard. Louisville’s brand new custodian stepped out sharply however and his crucial leg save turned a great goal chance into just a corner kick.

Talented wide man Ayoze Garcia delivered his corner to Mitchell Osmond on the near side of the 6 yard area and the center back’s flick-on found Diakhate on his own at the back post, his effort shaving the outside of the frame, fortunately for the visitors.

City needed to clear their lines and regroup but Chris didn’t give his teammates that chance, hitting a shortish goal kick that was turned back by Tyler Gibson. His center midfield partner and fellow FC Cincinnati immigré Kenney Walker nodded on and Diakhate’s flick put Canadian Tyler Pasher in-between the unprepared Alexis and Taylor and in the clear 20 yards out from goal. The canny Canadian let fly, forcing Chris to stretch to redress his original error, as he was able to slap the ball wide of the post.

Martin Rennie’s men continued to press with Ayoze and Pasher beginning to carve up City down their right wing side and in the 9th minute, with the visitors still not out of first gear, The Eleven inevitably went in front.

Ayoze threw in to Pasher who played on to Enevoldsen and then left a lagging George Davis IV in his wake as he raced into the area for the return, controlled and banged a left-footer to Chris’ right and inside the upright for the 1-0 lead.

Los Morados in their grey 3rd jerseys had been disjointed and and had not gotten into the game at all as Ayoze sent Pasher up the left and now in the penalty area he cut back inside George IV only to run straight into Napo Matsoso, trailing deep and failing to yield. As the ball rolled away Pasher went down in a heap and a decision seemed imminent but the referee relievingly waved play to continue and City could easily have been a couple behind inside the first quarter hour.

There was no letup from The Boys In Blue as Alexis’ throw to Napo was unforgivably coughed up and now Pasher drew Taylor and played inside to Diakhate. Paco was forced to shift across to help and Diakhate let in the traditionally devastating Enevoldsen but City’s No. 5 pivoted sharply to eat up some space and the Dane, still with a chance to pick out a corner, could not compose himself and struck wide from 13 yards.

In the 18th, another letoff for the less than intrepid travelers when Paco was overcome in the air by Enevoldsen and as Alexis shuttled over to cover, Diakhate collected, cut back in and fired a 14 yard effort that blazed bare inches above Chris’ crossbar.

The run of play had not been favoring The Boys In Purple, the midfield mostly out of sorts, with Magnus Rasmussen the sole functioning member of the unit, and a decent chance fell his way on a 21st minute Oscar free kick from the right but his header dribbled safely wide.

At least after this the Morados appeared to attain some stability as they finally achieved midfield equilibrium, though with nothing of consequence reaching Jordan Farr in the Indy net.

Paco continued on his record-setting pace when in the 29th minute Diakhate got a toe in ahead of his clearance and the defender swung a loose arm to hold up his opponent, felling the striker and earning his 8th yellow card of the season all told.

The Indy striker recovered soon enough and Walker measured an inch perfect free kick from his own half, leaving Alexis and Chris caught out as it dropped perfectly for Diakhate and his 15 yarder cleared the keeper but also the right upright, the high through ball tactic proving disturbingly detrimental against the City center back trio.

Meanwhile, with a dearth of creativity at the other end, City had been relying on a similar course of action and their first attempt on goal came as late as the 41st minute when George IV lobbed a free kick for the head of Paco which the defender redirected from 13 yards but straight at Jordan Farr.

Lucas Farias picked up a caution for cutting down Brian breaking out of the backfield and the half ended better than it began for Los Morados but clearly with serious changes needing to be implemented at the break.

And Hack and his staff wasted no time as Luke Spencer appeared out of the tunnel for the 2nd half, the unconvincing George Davis IV the man giving way as Brian now shifted wide left, with an unusually quiet Niall McCabe switching across to the right, and within seconds of the restart No.11 had shunted forward and forced a corner kick.

Paco got his head to Oscar’s precision inswinger ahead of the punch of Farr but the ball dropped over and onto the roof of the net. However City had jumped out of the gate like the Kentucky thoroughbreds fans far and wide are accustomed to seeing.

The personnel and tactical adjustments and the bright opening to the half suggested a barnstorming halftime pep talk had been delivered – and responded to as Hack’s heroes set out to reverse their fortunes and although the reconfigured defensive unit still appeared to be creaking at times they were managing just about enough to keep the intimidating Indy incursion forces at bay.

Paolo decided some intimidation of his own was in order, coming through an unsuspecting Karl Ouimette after the play and collecting a caution he did not seem too much to mind.

The spirit shown perhaps further boosted his team and himself as a minute later Magnus turned Pasher and his Indy counterpart interceded and conceded a free kick 27 yards out from goal.

Oscar and Niall have looked menacing on free kicks closer in this season, but from this distance The Captain himself took the mantle and the measurements and his wondrous world-class left-footer arced over the wall and high into the corner of the goal net of the mesmerized Farr who may never have witnessed such a strike in his life.

A rousing equalizing goal was exactly what the doctor (or the head coach) had ordered and at the hour mark The Eleven were still sitting back and The Purples were continuing to make all the play.

Pasher had to be withdrawn following a hamstring strain and, recognizing some sturdiness needed to be restored, Rennie replaced him with regular captain

Matt Watson.

Luke had also taken a knock but a head bandage was all he required to return to the fray.

Despite being under the cosh since the break the Lucas Oil denizens could still remind their guests why they were atop the USL East as Trini Defender Neveal Hackshaw played a smart one-two with Ayoze up the left wing and fed inside to Enevoldsen who clipped the ball over Paco’s head to Diakhate, but the man from Senegal demonstrated his footwork is better than his aerial acumen, his subpar connection flying high and wide and the chance was lost.

Alexis received yellow after intercepting Ayoze’s cross with an arm – with Enevoldsen the intended recipient, possibly the optimal outcome – and Osmond reciprocated minutes later, employing a hand as Luke attempted to cut inside him after being put through one-on-one from a Paolo free kick.

Flushed with success still, Il Capitano followed up on this new opportunity, finding a seam again but sending it into the grateful gloves of Farr.

The 2nd period had been a near mirror reversal of the 1st and now it was The Eleven being pressed back and struggling for any look at their opponents’ goal. However their best chance arrived when another excellent Kenney Walker through ball saw Enevoldsen brush off Taylor and put himself on goal with only Chris to beat, but once again No. 13 (the brand new Lucky One?) rose to the occasion, advancing smartly and quashing the attempt.

A pair of Niall setups for Luke first saw the striker receive a nice through ball but get outmanned as Farr came out of his area to supplement his defense, and shortly afterward the Irishman’s throw into the area caught Osmond napping and Luke on the turn fired narrowly over Farr’s net.

With just short of 15 minutes remaining in regulation Louisville’s fresh new signing had been unveiled as Hoppenot had come in on the left side for the luckless Brian Ownby, and before long he had demonstrated his potential value to a new club that has been somewhat in need of an injection of a player who possesses equal parts pace and talent.

A one-two combo between PDP and Magnus set up No. 7 to send an incisive ball into the area to meet Hoppenot’s sweetly timed run behind the defense and the debutant could have had an assist but his back-heel to Luke was side-footed from 13 yards right at Farr.

City were right back on the attack and Niall was tackled late by Ayoze who took a yellow card for his trouble. Oscar’s deft free kick just back from the goal line picked out Taylor Peay at point blank range but with the game-winner on No.2’s head he could not direct it down and the ball kissed the top of the net as The Eleven stayed in the game.

In the 83rd Taylor stepped up to dispossess sub Dane Kelly and slip the ball to Magnus and his slide-rule pass put Antoine in behind Ouimette but he had to hurry his shot and it floated safely over the bar.

The adventurous Antoine very nearly got into scoring position one final time as Niall delivered in to him from outside the corner of the box but Farr and Ouimette squeezed out the new No. 29 and Hackshaw edged out Luke in his effort to convert the rebound.

And that was the last hurrah as the kings of the USL and the pretenders to their crown would finally settle for the draw.

For Martin Rennie’s men this was the 10th unbeaten match (6-4-0) on the trot and afterward both he and Matt Watson paid compliment to the Louisville effort, with the Club Captain expressing admiration for Brian Ownby’s “pace” and how “clean on the ball” is his midfield adversary Paolo DelPiccolo.

Saturday evening at 7 pm in what ought to be an absolute not-to-be-missed cracker of an encounter The Boys In Purple return to hallowed Louisville Slugger Field to face close geographic and standings rival Nashville Soccer Club, new home of erstwhile City scoring hero Cameron Lancaster.

POST SCRIPT: Under pretty stiff competition, PDP’s corker of a free kick was the deserved runaway winner for USL Championship Goal of the Week in Week 17, taking over 50% of the popular vote.

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@LouCityKiwi’s PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF 10:

Chris Hubbard:_8

A pair of misjudgments that might have cost his side were more than made up for as the rookie pulled off several superb stops that ultimately kept them in the game. Its great credit to him that City fans have not missed the excellent Ben Lundt as yet.

Oscar Jimenez: 6

Provided a clutch of dangerous deliveries but, in spite of lining up as if he’d been given free rein up the left wing side, needed to get into threatening offensive positions earlier and more often.

Paco Craig:_7 1/2

Had his awkward moments but otherwise the staunchest Morados defender, holding up the roof after at one point the whole tent seemed to be about to collapse.

Taylor Peay:_5

Back in his more familiar CB slot but looked unsure often and occasionally fragile in the challenge suggesting he needs to play in a more compact rearguard rather than a lineup with a primarily offensive shape.

Alexis Souahy:_5 1/2

Pushed out to an unfamiliar role wide on the right to accommodate Taylor Peay and predictably struggled with the pace of Pasher and the wizadry of Ayoze. Almost certainly will not be used in such a way again this season.

Paolo Delpiccolo:_7 1/2

Receives extra credit for his stunning free kick goal and a terrific comeback display in the 2nd half after a decidedly fraught opening 45 minutes.

George Davis IV: 4

Certainly Cuatro’s least impressive performance of the season and appropriately the one to be withdrawn as Luke Spencer was introduced at halftime.

Niall McCabe: _6

Not able to find his way into the game quite as much as usual.

Napo Matsoso:_6 1/2

Markedly below his best in the first half, remarkable improvement in the 2nd as his midfield made the most of the time and space offered whilst the opponents dug in.

Brian Ownby:_4

Failed to impress in the 1st half as lone striker and even less in his more natural habitat, wide left when deferring to Luke Spencer’s halftime introduction. Taken off after 76 minutes.

Luke Spencer:_7 1/2

Brought presence up front and virtually alone in causing concern in the Indy area after coming on at the half.

Antoine Hoppenot:_7 1/2

Promising 15 odd minute debut from the enigmatic Frenchman who, if he maintains such intensity, may yet prove to be a surprise bonus addition.

Sean Totsch: N/A

Subbed in at the death.

“LOS MORADOS NO. 1 ⭐️ OF THE GAME”

⭐️⭐️⭐️Magnus Rasmussen⭐️⭐️⭐️: 8 1/2

Frustrated early on when everything around him failed to fire but displayed his superlative class as the match progressed and by the end was much the better Dane on the park, even up against (apropos) 11 X capped Red-White compatriot, Enevoldsen.

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