Indy Eleven Top Ottawa Fury FC to Remain Undefeated at Home
Indy Eleven continue its undefeated streak at home following a 1-0 win over Ottawa Fury FC at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium. Don Smart put the home side on the board two minutes into stoppage time in the second half to provide a moment of magic to keep Indy tied in points with FC Edmonton at the top of the NASL table.
NASL Soccer News: Indy Eleven stayed undefeated at home with more late drama, as a 92nd minute goal by midfielder Don Smart lifted Indiana’s Team to a 1-0 win over Ottawa Fury FC in front of 7,760 spectators at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.
With the win, Indy Eleven stayed atop the NASL’s Fall (18 points) and Combined (34 pts.) Season standings and pushed its undefeated streak at “The Mike” to 12 games dating back to last October.
“We had to be patient tonight, and thankfully Don came up with the winner,” said Indy Eleven captain Colin Falvey. “Happy days, three points in the bag, and hopefully we keep going on.”
The first look of any real note came 13 minutes in when a long ball out of the Ottawa backfield split a pair of Indy Eleven defenders and found Eddie Edward alone inside the 18 yard box. Indy Eleven ‘keeper Jon Busch was quick off his line to cut down the angle, forcing the Fury FC winger to drag his chance left of the open frame.
It took a while for the home side to get a chance of quality, but when it did it was no surprise that it ultimately went through Eamon Zayed. The team’s hat trick hero from Wednesday night likely should have scored again in the 23rd minute when Nicki Paterson’s endline cross found the streaking Irishman just inside the six, but Zayed short-hopped the shot, bouncing it over the crossbar and leaving him lamenting the wide open chance.
An otherwise unadventurous first half gained a little steam in the 35th minute when Ottawa midfielder James Bailey’s hard sliding challenge on Brad Ring in midfield – and Falvey’s retaliatory shove that caused both teams to circle up – earned both players yellow cards a minute later. Ottawa’s Carl Haworth created a chance for himself in the 44th minute when he poked a ball over Ring to gain space before shooting from 20 yards out, dragging the chance just wide left of frame.
The second half began with more urgency for both sides, with Indy Eleven nearly getting on the board in the 50th minute. Zayed reversed his usual role with Smart and crossed into the six for the streaking midfielder, but the Jamaican couldn’t lunge far enough to redirect in traffic. Just before the hour mark Souleymane Youla got slipped behind the Ottawa backline with a crafty ball by Marco Franco, but the Guinean striker was surprised to turn around and see hard-charging Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser, who knocked the chipped attempt away.
Neither team would be able to get a chance on goal across the next half hour, but Indy Eleven would knock on the door in the final ten minutes of regulation, starting when Omar Gordon achieved the endline and sent a tantalizing cutback pass through the area that no one could latch onto. Another substitute, Lovel Palmer, would ask a question in the 89th minute with a shot from distance that almost snuck inside the left post – and also almost found a redirect by Zayed at the top of the six.
The late-game magic would come two minutes deep into stoppage time on a restart that found Dylan Mares with ample space down the left flank. His far post cross would pass everyone except a waiting Smart, who redirected with little space available between Peiser and the woodwork to send “The Mike” into a frenzy and snap Ottawa’s shutout streak before it reached four full games.
“If you look at the Spring Season, we were lacking quality on our crosses. We believed in starting [Smart], and he had a series of games where he was a starter – it wasn’t in question – because he would provide service to reward the strikers,” said Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson. “Then he had an injury and was out for quite a while, so it’s taken him some time to get back to 90-minute fitness. Even once you get your fitness back, it just takes time. Don has finally gotten back to his plateau, and that’s a good sign.”
The Eleven will end its jam-packed, three-game homestand a week from tonight on Saturday, August 13, when it plays host for the first time to expansion side Rayo OKC. Kickoff on “Faith Night” at Carroll Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.
Source/Photo Credit: Indy Eleven
