Ayoze PK Makes the Difference in Fourth Straight Home Victory
Indy Eleven used a second half penalty kick conversion from its captain Ayoze and a dominant defensive performance to capture a hard-fought 1-0 win in front of 8,575 fans at IUPUI Carroll Stadium. The victory marked the Eleven’s fourth straight at Carroll Stadium across a successful last month in the Circle City.
The first half was a stingy affair, with only one of the teams’ eight combined shots forcing a save, that being Loudoun midfielder Abdellatif Aboukoura’s deflected half-chance that didn’t truly threaten Tim Trilk’s goal. While Indy forced some nervy moments on crosses into the Loudoun penalty area in the middle of the half, a pair of shots by Juan Tejada from around 10 yards out that were blocked off his foot marked the best looks in an opening stanza that ended as it began at 0-0.
The second half started much the same, but the Eleven’s first shot on goal in the 55th minute – a sidewinding effort from the penalty spot by Bryam Rebellon that forced United FC ‘keeper Dane Jacomen into a save – sparked the Indy attack, which saw A.J. Cochran head a corner kick service over the bar two minutes later.
In the 67th minute, Eleven midfielder Ayoze earned a point to the spot by drawing a foul just inside the corner of the area, and the captain took the ensuing PK chance himself, wrong-footing Jacomen to easily finish inside the left post to give Indy the 1-0 advantage. It was Ayoze’s third goal of the season and his second from the penalty spot, making the squad 3-for-3 in spot kicks in 2022 when combined with Stefano Pinho’s game-winning effort late against Louisville on August 31.
It was Indy that carried the better of the possession and chances down the stretch, with substitute Wilfredo Rivera forcing a spectacular tip save just prior to the end of regulation. Manuel Arteaga also came off the bench for his first appearance in nearly two months and nearly scratched across an insurance goal off Rivera’s ensuing corner kick, but his low shot beat tons of traffic inside the area only to get cleared off the line to keep Loudoun within arm’s reach of an equalizer. That nearly came for the visitors three minutes deep into stoppage time when Azaad Liadi got his head to a back post cross, but his effort was sent just wide and allowed the Eleven to capture the full three points.
Before their penultimate home match of the 2022 season next weekend, the Boys in Blue will head south for a midweek at Atlanta United 2 this Wednesday, Sept. 28. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff in suburban Kennesaw, Ga., can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Indiana’s Team then returns home next Saturday, Oct. 1, when it hosts FC Tulsa for a 7:00 p.m. kick at Carroll Stadium presented by Community Health Network. Details on the club’s Breast Cancer Awareness Night activities can be found at indyeleven.com/promotions, and tickets can be purchased at indyeleven.com/tickets, starting for $15. Fans who can’t make it to “The Mike” can follow the action on MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+, Exitos Radio 94.3 / exitos943.com, and the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed.
2022 USL Championship Regular Season – Matchday 30
Indy Eleven 1 : 0 Loudoun United FC
Sunday, September 25, 2022
IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
Indy Eleven: 10W-15L-5D, 35 pts., 9th in Eastern Conference
Loudoun United FC: 8W-20L-3D, 27 pts., 11th in Eastern Conference
Scoring Summary:
IND – Ayoze (penalty kick) 68’
Disciplinary Summary:
LDN – Houssou Landry (yellow card) 37’
IND – Bryam Rebellon (yellow card) 41’
LDN – Kamarni Smith (yellow card) 44’
IND – team bench (yellow card) 62’
IND – Manuel Arteaga (yellow card) 81’
IND – Raul Aguilera (yellow card) 87’
LDN – Jalen Robinson (yellow card) 96+’
LDN – Jacob Greene (yellow card) 97+’
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2): Tim Trilk; Robby Dambrot (Justin Ingram 58’), A.J. Cochran (Mechack Jerome 58’), Jesus Vazquez, Jared Timmer; Ayoze (captain) (Manuel Arteaga 71’), Sam Brown, Juan Tejada (Raul Aguilera 71’), Bryam Rebellon; Stefano Pinho, Solomon Asante (Wilfredo Rivera 80’)
IND substitutes: Hayden Vostal (GK), Ecris Revolorio
Loudoun United FC (4-2-3-1): Dane Jacoman; Nicky Downs, Carson Vom Steeg; Abdellatif Aboukoura (Zoumana Diarra 45’), Jacob Greene; Jalen Robinson,Ted Ku-Dipietro; Kimani Smith (Kristian Fletcher 66’), Gavin Turner (Azaad Liadi 66’), Houssou Landry (Zanne Abdoul 45’); Skage Lehland (Rio Hope-Gund 83’)
LDN Substitutes: Luis Zamudio (GK), Matia Akinmboni
