Indy Eleven’s Big Win At Forefront Of Exciting Action In Week 13

Photo credit: Indy Eleven/Trevor Ruszkowski

Indy Eleven showcased its home supremacy once more, remaining unbeaten in 2016 at Carroll Stadium, with a key victory over the New York Cosmos on a thrilling Saturday night of NASL action in Week 13 of the Fall Season. The win vaulted the Boys in Blue to second place in the Fall Season and Combined Standings.

While Indy secured an important three points, FC Edmonton was unable to gain ground in a loss to the Carolina RailHawks, who have found their swagger at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Tampa Bay Rowdies were able to find three points away from home with a heavy defeat of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to move within a point of fourth place in the Combined Standings and a potential berth into The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.

Minnesota United was on the losing end of a matchup with Ottawa Fury FC for a second straight week as the club’s hold on fourth place in the Combined Standings is loosening. Also on Saturday, Rayo OKC scored late to equalize in Jacksonville against the Armada FC.

On Friday night, Miami FC faltered at home to Puerto Rico FC, which earned a first road win, to slightly dampen Miami’s bid for the postseason.  

Indy Eleven 3, New York Cosmos 0

Indy Eleven lost to the New York Cosmos, 3-0, at the end of August at Shuart Stadium and avenged that loss with a victory at Carroll Stadium on Saturday night. The Eleven’s victory increased its home unbeaten streak to 16 games.

Indy (8W-3D-5L, 27 points Fall; 12-9-5, 45 Combined) forward Justin Braun opened the scoring in the 32^nd minute when he headed in Eamon Zayed’s cross. Three minutes into the second half, the home side was on the scoresheet again when Zayed was on the receiving end of a low cross from Dylan Mares. Zayed now has 13 goals on the year, two back of league leader and Minnesota United forward Christian Ramirez. Three minutes later, Mares turned goalscorer after scoring from 20 yards out following a pass from Braun.

The Cosmos (9-4-3, 31 Fall; 15-4-7, 49 Combined) still have a lead in the Fall Season and Combined Standings, holding a four-point advantage in both tables over the Boys in Blue. New York’s nine-game unbeaten streak, though, came to an end.

Carolina RailHawks 1, FC Edmonton 0

The Carolina RailHawks held on for a win at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night, stretching their home unbeaten run to nine games with the defeat of FC Edmonton. The Eddies had defeated Carolina by the same scoreline in the two previous contests in 2016.

After great build up play, Carolina (5-4-6, 19 Fall; 9-6-10, 33 Combined) opened the scoring when Omar Bravo chested the ball into Austin da Luz’s path and the RailHawks midfielder made no mistake in firing past FC Edmonton (7-5-3, 26 Fall; 12-7-6, 43 Combined) goalkeeper Matt VanOekel in the 34^th minute. It was de Luz’s fourth goal of the year as it stood up as the game-winning goal. Carolina would finish the game with 10 men when Steven Miller was sent off with a second yellow card after tripping up Adam Eckersley in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

With the loss, the Eddies dropped to third place in both the Fall Season and Combined Standings.

Ottawa Fury FC 3, Minnesota United 1

Ottawa Fury FC faced Minnesota United for a second straight weekend and Ottawa picked up back-to-back wins. The club also scored three goals in each contest, this time at TD Place in a win on Saturday night. Ottawa is now unbeaten in seven games.

Behind in the second half, much like last week’s game, Ottawa (5-5-6, 20 Fall; 7-8-11, 29 Combined) overturned a deficit. Giuseppe Gentile equalized for Ottawa in the 57^th minute after a pass from Maxim Tissot. He scored for the second straight time against Minnesota United. Fury FC grabbed the lead when Carl Haworth bombed down the right flank and his cross took a deflection off a Loons defender before Ryan Williams scored, also his second goal against Minnesota in back-to-back games, in the 82^nd minute. Haworth added a second assist four minutes later as Lance Rozeboom scored the side’s third goal of the contest.

Jamie Watson gave Minnesota (5-5-6, 20 Fall; 10-6-10, 36 Combined) the lead in the 20^th minute. Ben Speas chipped the ball forward before Christian Ramirez squared the ball towards Watson, who put in his own rebound for the tally.

With the victory, Ottawa jumped in front of the Loons in the Fall Season and moved into fifth place – on goal differential (plus-two to plus-one). In the Combined Standings, Minnesota’s grip on fourth place – and a postseason berth – is slipping. The side is only one point better than the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Tampa Bay Rowdies 4, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1

The Tampa Bay Rowdies stormed past the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Central Broward Stadium on Saturday night. Georgi Hristov, making his 100^th regular-season appearance – all for the Rowdies – scored the club’s first hat trick in the NASL Modern Era. The win moved Tampa Bay to within one point of fourth place in the Combined Standings.

Hristov competed his hat trick in the 83^rd minute. He first scored the equalizer for Tampa Bay (5-4-6, 19 Fall; 9-8-8, 35 Combined) when he tapped home a cross from Joe Cole in the 15^th minute. It was the English star’s sixth assist of the year. In the 43^rd minute, Hristov turned in a rebound after Darnell King’s effort on goal. Tom Heinemann had the Rowdies’ other goal as he latched onto a through ball from Justin Chavez in the 37^th minute.

Fort Lauderdale (4-5-6, 17 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) started out of the blocks quickly, opening the scoring on Ramón Núñez’s fourth minute goal off a Kléberson assist. The loss for the Strikers ended a seven-game unbeaten run and was also their first loss at Central Broward Stadium.

Jacksonville Armada FC 1, Rayo OKC 1

Jacksonville Armada FC and Rayo OKC split the points in a draw at Community First Park on Saturday night. Rayo OKC is unbeaten against Jacksonville in three games.

Michel scored the equalizer in the third minute of second-half stoppage time for Rayo OKC (4-7-5, 19 Fall; 7-10-9, 31 Combined) from the penalty spot after it was ruled that Futty Danso was fouled in the box. Michel now has 10 goals on the year after converting for the sixth time on a penalty kick.

Jacksonville (2-6-7, 12 Fall; 3-10-12, 19 Combined) forward Charles Eloundou scored for the third straight game when he found the back of the net with a low drive from distance in the 20^th minute. The club has a four-game unbeaten streak at home.

Puerto Rico FC 1, Miami FC 0

Puerto Rico FC claimed all three points against Miami FC to mark the first road victory in club history at Ocean Bank Field, in front of 10,012 spectators, on Friday night after a nearly two-hour weather delay.

Jackie Marrero's free kick in the 79th minute took a slight deflection off of Miami (7-4-4, 25 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) forward Pablo Campos, who was back defending, and beat goalkeeper Daniel Vega to the far post.

Puerto Rico (2-8-6, 14 Fall; 2-8-6, 14 Combined) goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg made a number of key stops to keep the home side off the scoresheet, including his diving effort to deny Gabriel Farfán an opening goal in the 22nd minute. The shot-stopper finished with six saves on the night.

Miami has now dropped two straight games, slowing down its push for the postseason, while Puerto Rico is now unbeaten in its last four contests and has kept clean sheets in three of them.