United Soccer League: Playing for Pride, Indy Eleven rally late to draw Penn FC

Kevin Johnston | Special to IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS -- The phrase "playing for pride" is often used in sports to indicate a positive outcome is no longer within reach, and all that's left to compete for is pride.

The phrase took on a different and much more significant meaning Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium as Indy Eleven rallied late to draw Penn FC, 1-1, on the team's official Pride Night in support of the LGBTQ community.

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The night also coincided with another special moment for the LGBTQ soccer community this weekend, as Minnesota United FC's Collin Martin came out Friday as an openly gay MLS player for his club's Pride Night.

"It's important," said Eleven captain Matt Watson. "There are certain people who don't want to include everyone, but I think we showed tonight that this club, this organization is very accepting of everyone and I think that's the way it should be.

"To me, it's petty. We're all human beings, let's get on with it."

Penn FC dictated matters early on, out-shooting the hosts while stringing more passes together. But a lack of a quality final product from either side saw the teams head to halftime scoreless.

The visitors stayed on their front foot to begin the second half, eventually rewarded with a 51st-minute penalty conversion by Lucky Mkosana. Indy center back Karl Ouimette brought down an opponent in the box to concede the attempt and was issued a yellow card.

Later, the task appeared even taller for the hosts when Ouimette was sent off for a second yellow in the 76th minute. Down a goal and player, the situation seemed dire for Indy; a positive result seemed unlikely.

But forward Jack McInerney brought the Eleven level on a well-placed free kick that went up and over the wall before finding the bottom corner. The 1-1 score held and both teams departed Lucas Oil Stadium with a point.

A pair of former Eleven players, both with the squad as recently as 2017, drew starts for the visitors. Marco Franco manned the right back spot for Penn FC, and Paulo Jr. started in front of him on the right wing in head coach Raoul Voss' 4-2-3-1 setup.

"In the beginning it felt a little weird, just seeing old faces and stuff like that," Franco said. "But It was fun, it was exciting. (Indy's supporters' group) the BYB is always rocking and they always get good crowds out here."

Standouts for Indy included left back Ayoze, whose composure and technical ability on the ball sparked some of his team's longer bouts of possession, and Watson, whose high work rate made his presence felt in various areas of the pitch.

The Eleven will look to acquire more points during their three-game home stand, which will conclude with a July 4 holiday matchup against Ottawa Fury FC followed by a Saturday date with the Charlotte Independence.

Both upcoming opponents also feature former Eleven players. Center back Colin Falvey now plays for Ottawa, while Indy's all-time leading scorer Eamon Zayed is with Charlotte.