Jack Blake Tally Makes the Difference in Eleven’s Preseason Finale at Grand Park
Indy Eleven closed the 2023 preseason training slate with its first clean sheet of the five-game slate, allowing midfielder Jack Blake’s 10th minute blast to make the difference in a 1-0 victory over USL League One side Forward Madison FC this afternoon at the Grand Park Events Center.
The result gave the Boys in Blue a 3W-2L-0D record in spring exhibition play, all of which served as preparation for their 2023 USL Championship season opener next Saturday, March 11, at the Tampa Bay Rowdies (7:30 p.m. kickoff, live on ESPN+).
“Today the effort was fantastic, especially in the first half. The first 45 minutes is how it needs to look; the only critique I have was that it could have been 2-0 or 3-0 because we had the chances,” explained Indy Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry. “We had some great crosses and put ourselves in great situations attacking wise because we were really in control. All in all, a really good way to end the preseason with a clean sheet and a victory.”
Through long diagonal balls, Indy Eleven found early joy in the wide areas of their final third, with a few attacks resulting in corner kicks. The squad’s third corner of the opening 10 minutes helped Indiana’s Team find paydirt, as a clearance attempt went only as far as Blake, who gathered with a touch from 30 yards out and fired a sidewinding blast that found the upper right corner to put Indy in front.
Madison’s best looks of the half were bunched together around the quarter-hour mark, but Jayden Onen’s shot from just inside the area was blocked out for a corner, while Derek Gebhard pushed a 20-yard effort just wide right of frame. Madison appealed for a point to the penalty spot in the 26th minute when newly acquired Indy center back Adrian Diz Pe shouldered Onen off his run inside the area, but the challenge by the Cuban defender was deemed fair.
Indy forward Jonas Fjeldberg was at the heart of a trio of quality chances in the last third of the half, starting with a finish of a Blake cross to the doorstep that was nullified when the offside flag was raised. The Norwegian saw his shot from 15 yards saved in the 39th minute, and he played provider three minutes later with a dangerous back post cross that just eluded forward Sebastian Guenzatti’s sliding attempt to redirect.
The second half sprang to life in the 50th minute when Eleven defender Jesus Vazquez tried to get his head to an in-swinging free kick by Aodhan Quinn, only to see a Forward defender step in front to get to the back post ball first. Just before the hour was crossed Gebhard nearly equalized after his run created a corner kick, the Madison attacker sending a low shot off the ensuing set piece off the base of the left post to keep the Flamingos off the board. Two minutes later it was Diz Pe nearly making his presence felt on the offensive side of the ball, but his header of a set piece service to the six was pushed high by mere inches.
Indy was content to control possession and kill off the game over the final half hour, which presented few looks of real quality for either side, a low effort from distance by the visitors in the 68th minute that sliced wide right marking the most dangerous chance. Indy’s stout defensive effort resulted in their first shutout of the preseason, a good sign of things to come as the Eleven get ready to see the results count for real beginning next weekend in the Sunshine State.
Following road matches at Tampa Bay and Detroit City FC (Saturday, March 25, at 4:00 p.m.; live on ESPN+), Indy Eleven will kick off the home portion of its USL Championship campaign on Saturday, April 1, when the Boys in Blue welcome Las Vegas Lights FC for a 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff in the Circle City.
Single-game tickets for all home games at IUPUI Carroll Stadium along with 17-game Season Ticket Memberships, specially-priced group tickets, and an increased portfolio of hospitality options are available for purchase now via indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
2023 Spring Preseason Exhibition
Indy Eleven 1 : 0 Forward Madison FC (USL League One)
Friday, March 3, 2023
Grand Park Events Center – Westfield, Ind.
Scoring Summary:
IND – Jack Blake (unassisted) 10’
Indy Eleven line-up: Yannik Oettl; Gustavo Rissi (Bryam Rebellon 77’), Jesus Vazquez, Adrian Diz Pe (Mechack Jerome 70’), Younes Boudadi; Aodhan Quinn (^Guest Amboy 77’), Cam Lindley (Alann Torres 77’), Jack Blake (Diego Sanchez 77’); Jonas Fjeldberg (Juan Tejada 83’), Sebastian Guenzatti (Harrison Robledo 77’), Solomon Asante
^ guest player (aliases)
Forward Madison line-up (1’-60’): Nazeem Bartman, Christian Chaney, Mauro Cichero, Eric Conerty, Jacob Crull, Derek Gebhard, Timmy Mehl, Aiden Mesias, Jayden Oden, Mitch Osmond, Stephen Payne
Indy Eleven 2023 Preseason Exhibition Schedule
Friday, Feb. 10 Indy Eleven 1 : 3 Butler University
Tuesday, Feb. 14 Indy Eleven 5 : 1 Indiana Wesleyan University
Sunday, Feb. 19 Indy Eleven 5 : 1 Chicago Fire 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Saturday, Feb. 25 Chicago Fire (MLS) 3 : 0 Indy Eleven
Friday, March 3 Indy Eleven 1 : 0 Forward Madison FC (USL League One)
