FINAL: Indy Eleven 1, Riverhounds SC 0

Photo courtesy Indy Eleven

USL Championship — Week 13 

FINAL:  Indy Eleven 1, Riverhounds 0 

Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center

Instant Match Summary

Back on the road, the Riverhounds could not generate many chances in the final third, falling to Indy Eleven, 1-0, at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday evening.

Indy’s Jack Blake scored the match’s lone goal in first half stoppage time.

With this result, Indy (3W-3L-5D) jumps up in the standings in a tie with the Hounds (4W-6L-2D) as both teams stay just above the playoff line with 11 points.

The goal scoring sequence began with the Hounds playing a dynamic switch diagonal ball from Guillherme Vacter to Perrin Barnes, but the winger slipped on the right sideline area on the edge of the attacking third after taking a solid first touch.

Indy quickly got into transition — as Aodhan Quinn found Jack Blake breaking into space on right side.

With the Hounds defensive shape compromised, Quinn advanced to the center edge of the box, where he found Blake making a run on the right side.

In control, Blake took a touch with his right, then drove a shot with his left to evade a scrambling Vacter on this tail.

Hounds were not able to get back into shape and paid the price, taking a 1-0 deficit into the half.

Despite decent spells of possession, Pittsburgh couldn’t find any answers in the last third.  Generating only two shots the rest of the match and none on target, despite 21 cross attempts and 56 percent possession.

Look for a more detailed recap to follow.

Match Day Updates

Follow along here for the latest match updates and commentary from our team…

90′ +1 — Missed chance for Hounds.

Williams left footed shot from the center of the box is close but misses to the left.

80′ — SUBS — Hounds finally go to bench

• Junior Etou replaces Perrin Barnes.
• Jorge Garcia replaces Luke Biasi.
• Bertin Jacquesson replaces Jackson Wälti.

75′ — Attempt blocked. Jackson Wälti’s right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

HALF — INDY ELEVEN 1, PITTSBURGH 0

Indy has been the better side. Bit more involved in final third generating four shots on frame though three of those came in a very short sequence.  The last one came in stoppage time when Hounds let an inexplicable counter goal.

Hounds have work to do.  Haven’t found the same rhythm in the final third we saw more of in the last two wins.

Halftime stats favoring Indy, especially where it counts — on the attacking end.  (Shots Indy 7-2, on target 4-0)

45′ +1 — GOAL — INDY ELEVEN 1, PITTSBURGH 0

Hounds play the switch diagonal ball from Vacter to Barnes, but the winger slips after taking a solid first touch, but Indy quickly got into transition — as Aodhan Quinn finds Jack Blake breaking into space on right side.

Blake navigates calmly, taking touch with his right, then drives shot with his left to evade a scrambling Vacter on this tail. It was a deadly strike.

Hounds clearly not able to get back into shape and pay the price.

30′ — Miscommunication between Mertz and Williams leads to another pass attempt that goes to the wrong space.  Hounds are not in sync on final passes tonight.

27′ — SUB — Injury to Illal Osumanu forces him out of match — bringing on Beto Ydrach in his return to the lineup after missing a few matches due to international duty.

17′ — Indy corner results in a pair of chances — first Jack Blake’s shot is blocked, then Aodhan Quinn (Indy Eleven) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved by Hounds keeper Eric Dick.

17′ —  Elvis Amoh with chance — Eric Dick makes save!

17′ — Terrific step-for-step defending by Vacter, deflects cross chance at end line, which leads to Indy corner.

7:05 (1′) — they’ve kicked off!

Starting XI’s

What’s at Stake / Lineup Projections / Latest PSN Riverhounds’ Coverage

Coming off an excellent performance to dispatch Detroit, 2-0, on Saturday, the Hounds want to keep their momentum going. The Hounds (4W-5L-2D) currently sit sixth in the league table with 14 points, three points ahead of Indy, who are in ninth, with 11 points.

A win here — and Pittsburgh moves six points clear of Indy. Even a draw, keeps the Hounds at fairly safe spot above the playoff line.  However, if Indy can bag three points, they pull even in the standings with Pittsburgh.

These teams always have tight, intense battles.

In fact, in three of the last four matches at Indy, Pittsburgh players have been sent off, but, miraculously, the Hounds came out of each match bringing home points.

• In 2021, Jelani Peters was sent packing in the 62nd minute, but the Hounds hung on for a 1-0 win
• In 2022, Marc Ybarra picked up a second yellow card, but impressively, the Hounds hung on for a 2-0 win
•  Last year, Pittsburgh held a 1-0 lead late, but Indy rallied for a stoppage time goal to equalize.  The Hounds played most of that match down a man, as current Indy Eleven defender but one-time Hound, Pat Hogan was sent off for a harsh challenge in the 4th minute.

This match features an Indy squad without a win since March. Still, the Eleven are no easy-beats, having drawn 50 percent of their matches — 5 out of 10 — so a result on the road will be a positive.

Heading into this match, the Hounds don’t have any players listed on the injury or inactives report, so Lilley and his staff will have a full allotment of players to choose from for lineup selections.

Elvis Amoh leads Indy with four goals this season, but the hosts have their share of firepower with former Hounds forward Edward Kizza and always creative and dangerous Aodhan Quinn, who leads the team with four assists, in the midfield. The weak link for Indy has been their defense with 20 goals allowed, which ties them for the second-most goals allowed in the Championship and the most in the Eastern Conference.

Another former Hounds player who features for Indy, is defender Pat Hogan.

Of course, Hounds matches with Indy are usually nail-biting affairs, as 12 of the 15 all-time meetings between the teams have been settled by a goal or fewer. And Indy remains the only team the Hounds have played every season since 2018, the year the Eleven joined the Championship.

Projected Riverhounds Starting XI