Fjeldberg’s Account Opener Not Enough during Comeback Bid in Bluff City
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Indy Eleven looked to equal its biggest comeback in club history at the same site it accomplished the feat two seasons prior, but this time a two-goal deficit was too much to overcome in a 1-2 defeat to Memphis 901 FC at AutoZone Park. Forward Jonas Fjeldberg’s Indy Eleven account opener midway through the second half started a spirited comeback attempt by Indiana’s Team, but eventually the night finished with the squad’s four-game win streak and six-game undefeated run both coming to an end.
Indy Eleven (4W-3L-2D, 14 pts.) saw two quality looks in the first quarter hour from the same spot at the top left corner of the area, and both attempts by defender Neveal Hackshaw in the 2nd minute and midfielder Nicky Law in the 15th fell just wide of the near post. On the other end Eleven goalkeeper Elliot Panicco came up with two sure-handed saves on blasts by Graham Smith and Laurent Kissiedou within the first 25 minutes, and he was pressed into action more on numerous crosses and a handful of corner kicks
Memphis 901 FC (6W-2L-1D, 19 pts.) moved the scoreboard indirectly off one of those corners in the 34th minute, as Indy’s attempts to clear never made it out of the penalty area. That allowed former Eleven defender Patrick Seagrist to nod the ball over traffic and into space for Zach Carroll, who finished 1-v-1 from 12 yards out. The deficit seemed to energize the Eleven attack as midfielder Justin Ingram immediately tested former Indiana University goalkeeper Trey Muse from distance a minute later, while Manuel Arteaga’s first true look in the 38th minute from just outside the area was pushed just wide of the right post, marking the final firm chance of the opening stanza.
An even start to the second half found Indy with a golden chance to equalize, but Arteaga just couldn’t rise high enough to meet Ingram’s back post cross in the 54th minute. Four minutes later Memphis doubled its lead off a counterattack that saw Jeremy Kelly play a ball over the drawn-up Indy backline for Kissiedou, who had ample time and space to slot past a stranded Panicco from 25 yards out.
Indy stayed in the fight, with Fjeldberg clawing one back in the 66th minute. A spell of possession on the left flank eventually saw Arteaga play to the Norwegian striker, who cut inside the area and put a near post blast from 10 yards right through the mitts of Muse, who could only watch as the ball trickled across his goalline to cut the 901 FC lead in half. Jared Timmer’s redirect off a long Eleven throw-in inside the six nearly saw Indy pull even in the 74th minute, but after Carroll’s touch to block only brought the ball closer to goal with Muse on his back, he atoned by clearing the ball off the goalline.
Despite a wave of five substitutions by Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry across the final 20 minutes, Memphis was able to sustain its lead down the stretch, not allowing Indy to record a shot in the final 15 minutes despite repeated forays into the attacking third. It was Kissiedou who had the best look of the stretch drive, but his chance for a brace from distance in the 82nd minute whistled past a diving Panicco and his left post.
The Boys in Blue return to the Circle City for back-to-back home weekend affairs starting next Saturday, May 21, when New York Red Bulls II invades IUPUI Carroll Stadium. Tickets for that 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff – and all Indy Eleven regular season contests – are available starting at just $15 and can be purchased online at indyeleven.com/tickets. Fans who cannot make it to The Mike can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, Exitos Radio 94.3 FM/exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.
Details on next Saturday’s Gone to the Dogs Night and other future promotions at Carroll Stadium – including the return of the club’s Racing Indy match over Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 28 (4:00 p.m. ET) – can be found at indyeleven.com/promotions.
2022 USL Championship Regular Season – Matchday 9
Memphis 901 FC 2 : 1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, May 14, 2022
AutoZone Park – Memphis, Tenn.
Scoring Summary:
MEM – Zach Carroll (Patrick Seagrist) 34’
MEM – Laurent Kissiedou (Jeremy Kelly) 58’
IND – Jonas Fjeldberg (Manuel Arteaga) 66’
Disciplinary Summary:
IND – Neveal Hackshaw (yellow card) 42’
MEM – Leston Paul (yellow card) 45’
MEM – Patrick Seagrist (yellow card) 68’
IND – Justin Ingram (yellow card) 74’
IND – Nicky Law (yellow card) 80’
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2): Elliot Panicco; Neveal Hackshaw (captain), A.J. Cochran (Mechack Jerome 76’), Jared Timmer, Alex McQueen; Nicky Law, Justin Ingram (Aris Briggs 76’), Raul Aguilera (Sam Brown 70’), Noah Powder (Ayoze 69’); Manuel Arteaga, Jonas Fjeldberg (Stefano Pinho 86’)
IND substitutes: Tim Trilk (GK), Rodney Michael
Memphis 901 FC (4-2-3-1): Trey Muse; Patrick Seagrist, Zach Carroll, Graham Smith, Rece Buckmaster; Leston Paul, Aaron Molloy; Jeremy Kelly (Devin Boyce 86’), Laurent Kissiedou (Lucas Turci 94+’), Luiz Fernando (Chris Allan 67’); Phillip Goodrum (Edwards Kizza 86’)
MEM Substitutes: Drew Romig (GK), Mitchell Myers, David Egbo