Soccer News: Sergio Pena’s Second Tally of Season Not Enough to Hold Off Visitors
Minnesota United FC used second half goals from Justin Davis and Juliano Vicentini to break a deadlock with Indy Eleven in the standings and on the scoreboard in a 3-1 win in front of another sellout crowd of 10,524 at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium. United FC went up in the first half through Kalif Alhassan, but the home side would level out of the halftime break on Sergio Pena’s second goal of the year.
Though Indy Eleven maintained possession of the ball for a majority of the first 15 minutes of the game, Minnesota garnered the first major attack in the 19th minute when an Aaron Pitchkolan shot from the right side of the box deflected off Indy goalkeeper Keith Cardona and caromed over the cross bar.
The Loons would not be kept off the score sheet for long, however, as a free kick from midfielder Alhassan in the 22nd minute flew past Cardona – making his second straight start between the posts for Indy Eleven – and into the upper right corner from 28 yards out to put Minnesota up 1-0.
United FC continued to push into Eleven territory, but Indy thwarted multiple threatening attacks in the following minutes. In the 35th minute, United FC striker Pablo Campos was handed the first caution of the game on an embellishment call in the penalty area as he drove – and dove – past Indy Eleven defender Cory Miller. Just moments later, the two met again as Campos escaped his second card in as many minutes on what appeared to be an elbow to the face of Miller at the midfield stripe.
Minnesota’s lead would not last much into the second half as Indy Eleven stormed out of the gates. In the 49th minute, a nifty pass from defender Marco Franco to Peña was kicked over the end line by Minnesota. On the ensuing dead ball, midfielder Dylan Mares sent a well-struck ball to the top of the six, where the Peña made no mistake, the Honduran midfielder crushing it into the back of the net with a header to even the score 1-1.
From there, possession would go back-and-forth over the next several minutes until Minnesota made the most out of an opportunity in the 63rd minute. Campos’ initial effort was saved by a diving Cardona into the left side of the box, where Minnesota defender Davis beat an Indy defender to the rebound and finished into an open net to give Minnesota the lead once again.
More and more, Indy would build up strength into the attacking third, but Minnesota would hold strong and eventually double its advantage. The dagger came in the 83rd minute when substitute forward Christian Ramirez played a through ball past Indy defenders to Vicentini, who slotted a low shot into the bottom right corner of goal to bring the score to its final 3-1 result.
“We’re all disappointed when we can’t compete and win. I thought the guys played really well for the first 20 or 25 minutes. They came out with good energy and created some good chances, we just didn’t do well enough to put those chances away,” said Indy Eleven Head Coach Juergen Sommer. “I give [Minnesota] credit. They came out well. At the end of the night, the better team won. They came in and played a very good game and were great competition for us.”
After going undefeated during its first five games of the 2015 season – and nine overall dating back to last October – Indy Eleven has now dropped two straight, a skid it will look to snap next Saturday, May 23, when it heads north of the border to face off against Ottawa Fury FC. Fans can watch the affair online via ESPN3.com streaming video and at seven Official Indy Eleven Watch Party locations across Indiana.
Indy Eleven will return to Carroll Stadium next on Wednesday, May 27, for its debut in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament, a third round affair against either Louisville City FC of the USL or NPSL side Lansing United.
Fans can purchase their tickets for both remaining May matches for as little as $10 online or by calling 317-685-1100 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).
