#INDvPHX Preview
Indy Eleven vs Phoenix Rising FC
Saturday, May 25, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
Racing Indy Night
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WNDY
CBS SPORTS GOLAZO NETWORK
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvDET MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 5-4-2 (+2), 17 pts; 4th in Eastern Conference
Phoenix Rising FC: 4-4-3 (+1), 15 pts; 5th in Western Conference
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue play their third game in eight days when they host reigning USL Champions Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night at The Mike.
Indy is coming off a 3-0 win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, and last won in USLC action 4-1 over Hartford Athletic. The Eleven are 5-4-2 on the season and fourth in the USLC Eastern Conference. Phoenix is 4-4-3 (5th West) in league play and lost in their Open Cup match Wednesday evening 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders.
| IND | PHX | |
| 11 | Games | 11 |
| 21 | Goals | 13 |
| 19 | Goals Conceded | 12 |
| 13 | Assists | 9 |
| 54 | SOT | 54 |
| 47 | Shots Faced | 43 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
SERIES VS. PHOENIX
Saturday marks only the second meeting between the two sides, with the first match-up finishing as a 1-1 draw at Phoenix.
Series Tied 0-0-1 | GF 1, GA 1
Recent Meetings
Sept. 20, 2023 | D, 1-1 | Away
#GOALS
The Boys in Blue have scored in 11 straight USLC matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 21 goals (4th USL). The streak is the longest to open a USLC campaign (6 in 2019) and longer than any streak during the 2023 season (5 – 2x). It is the longest run overall within the same USLC season for the club since a 12-game streak in 2022.
In total, Indy has scored in 14 straight regular USLC season matches dating back to Sept. 30, 2023, the longest streak since joining the league for the 2018 season. The Boys in Blue have 12 first-half goals this season, the second highest total in league play (Charleston, 16).
TOTW REGULARS
Jack Blake has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week four times in 2024, while Aedan Stanley has three nods and a Player of the Week accolade to his name. Additionally, three players have had at least one selection in Younes Boudadi, Adrian Diz Pe and Augi Williams.
In total, five players have earned team of the week nods, while seven total have received either team or bench honors.
THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.
McAuley got his first career win in the USL Championship on March 16, 2024, a 2-1 defeat of Memphis 901 FC.
USLC : 5-4-2 | USOC: 2-0-0 | OVERALL: 7-4-2
STREAKING
The Boys in Blue are currently riding an eight-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, which includes a five-game streak in USL Championship action. Indy has outscored its opponents 17-4 in those matches, while posting four clean sheets.
4.17 Chicago Fire FC II* W, 1-0
4.20 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC D, 1-1
4.27 North Carolina FC W, 2-1
5.4 at Monterey Bay F.C. W, 1-0
5.8 San Antonio FC* W, 2-0
5.12 at Miami FC W, 3-1
5.18 Hartford Athletic W, 4-1
5.22 Detroit City FC* W, 3-0
*denotes U.S. Open Cup match
The Boys in Blue’s longest USL unbeaten streak in 2023 ended at six matches (8.9-9.2) with victories over Birmingham, Miami (2x), El Paso and Loudoun and a tie at Memphis.
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (T6th, 72) and Augi Williams (9th, 71) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals. Williams also has a pair in U.S. Open Cup action this season to lead Indy.
ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU
Aedan Stanley has a league-best six assists with three coming in Indy’s last two USL Championship matches (2 at MIA, 1 vs HFD). He also has a team-high two in Open Cup games.
LAST TIME OUT (USL CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION)
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 18, 2024) – Indy Eleven scored early and scored often on its way to a 4-1 victory over Hartford Athletic.
The opening goal came in the third minute by way of a Jack Blake penalty kick to give him a team-leading five tallies this season. He has now converted on seven career penalties in USLC regular season action. Benjamin Ofeimu went on to double the lead with what proved to be the match winner for the home side, scoring off one of Indy’s season-high 12 corners in the match for his first goal in the Circle City.
Scoring continued in the second half with who other than league assist leader Aedan Stanley connecting with Douglas Martinez for an insurance goal in the 54th minute. The helper was the sixth for Stanley and the goal was the third for Martinez. The final goal came from Augi Williams off a Younes Boudadi assist to put him atop the Boys in Blue’s scoring column alongside Blake.
Hartford was able to get one back as Michee Ngalina scored in the 80th minute.
Williams and Blake led the Boys in Blue with four shots apiece, while Hunter Sulte registered three saves in goal.
Scoring Summary
IND – Jack Blake (penalty) 3’
IND – Ben Ofeimu 45+3’
IND – Douglas Martinez (Aedan Stanley) 54’
IND – Augi Williams (Younes Boudadi) 58’
HFD – Michee Ngalina 78’
Discipline Summary
IND – Augi Williams (caution) 11’
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (caution) 15’
HFD – Bench (caution) 23′
HFD – Thomas Vancaeyezeele (caution) 82’
HFD – Bench (ejection) 90′
LAST TIME OUT (U.S. OPEN CUP EDITION)
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 22, 2024) – Indy Eleven is on to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in club history after a 3-0 defeat of USL Championship rival Detroit City FC.
Indy Eleven opened the scoring by way of a Detroit City own goal off a Benjamin Ofeimu cross from the right side. The Boys in Blue have scored their first goal in the 14th minute or earlier in each of their three U.S. Open Cup matches this season (CHI 4’, SA 2’).
The home team would tack on two more in the first half with Douglas Martinez finding Augi Williams (33’) for the tally and Aedan Stanley connecting on a corner to Ofeimu (36’).
Williams now has a pair of Open Cup goals for Indy this season, while Stanley has a team-best two assists.
The Boys in Blue also become the second Indiana club in the history of the tournament to reach the Quarterfinals (Indianapolis Inferno 1992).
Scoring Summary
IND – Own Goal 14’
IND – Augi Williams (Douglas Martinez) 33’
IND – Ben Ofeimu (Aedan Stanley) 36’
Discipline Summary
IND – Ben Ofeimu (caution) 7’
DET – Devon Amoo-Mensah (caution) 61’
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 65’
IND – Max Schneider (caution) 90+1’
