Indy takes its six-match USL Championship unbeaten streak on the road
#BHMvIND Preview
Birmingham Legion FC vs Indy Eleven
Sunday, June 9, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CT
Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
Follow Live
Stream: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Listen: SIRIUSXM FC Channel 157
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #BHMvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Birmingham Legion FC: 5-4-3 (-3), 18 pts; 5th in Eastern Conference
Indy Eleven: 7-4-2 (4), 23 pts; 3rd in Eastern Conference
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue close out a two-match road trip Sunday night against Birmingham Legion FC. This is the first of two meetings for the sides this season, with the match up in Indy taking place Oct. 19.
Indy is coming off a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and sits at 7-4-2 in third place in the Eastern Conference. Birmingham defeated El Paso Locomotive FC, 3-1, last time out, and is 5-4-3 in the Eastern Conference.
| BHM | IND | |
| 12 | Games | 13 |
| 12 | Goals | 25 |
| 15 | Goals Conceded | 21 |
| 10 | Assists | 15 |
| 45 | SOT | 59 |
| 54 | Shots Faced | 60 |
| 4 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
SERIES VS. BIRMINGHAM
Sunday marks the 11th meeting between the two teams, with Indy trailing 4-6-0. The Boys in Blue won the last meeting, a 4-0 decision at home on Aug. 9, 2023, but are 1-4 in USL Championship action at Birmingham.
Birmingham Leads 6-4-0 | GF 16, GA 15
Recent Meetings
Aug. 9, 2023 | W, 4-0 | Home
June 17, 2023 | L , 2-1 | Away
Oct. 12, 2022 | L, 3-1 | Away
Sept. 10, 2022 | W, 4-3 | Home
Oct. 10, 2021 | L, 3-1 | Away
GOALS
The Boys in Blue have scored in 13 straight USLC matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 25 goals (3 USL). The streak is the longest to open a USLC campaign and is the longest run overall within the same USLC season for the club, surpassing a 12-game streak in 2022.
In total, Indy has scored in 16 straight USLC regular season matches dating back to Sept. 30, 2023, the longest streak since joining the league in 2018. The Boys in Blue have 14 first-half goals this season, the second highest total in league play (Charleston, 16).
THIS IS MAY
Indy Eleven finished off the month of May going 4-0-0 in USL Championship action and 6-0-0 across all competitions. The four wins for the Boys in Blue is the most so far this season for a side in the USL Championship to take maximum points in a month.
STREAKING
The Boys in Blue are currently riding a ten-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, which includes a seven-game (6 wins) streak in USL Championship action, giving the club its longest USLC regular season win streak in history. Indy has outscored its opponents 21-6 in those matches, while posting four clean sheets and never conceding more than one goal.
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
5.25 | Phoenix Rising FC | W, 2-1
6.1 | at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | W, 2-1
*denotes U.S. Open Cup match
TOTW REGULARS
Jack Blake has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week five times in 2024, the most for any player in the league, while Aedan Stanley has three nods and a Player of the Week accolade to his name. Additionally, four players have had at least one selection in Younes Boudadi, Adrian Diz Pe, Benjamin Ofeimu and Augi Williams.
In total, six 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 : 7-4-2 | USOC: 3-0-0 | OVERALL: 10-4-2
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (6th, 73) 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 currently sits at five goals in 2024, while Williams has three. 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 seven assists with three coming in the month of May (2 at MIA, 1 vs HFD). He also has a team-high two in Open Cup games. Stanley has 15 career USL Championship assists, posting no more that three in a season before 2024.
2024: 7 | 2023: 3 | 2022: 3 | 2020: 2
LAST TIME OUT
PITTSBURGH (Saturday, June 1, 2024) – Indy Eleven went on the road to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Saturday and came away with a 2-1 victory.
With the win, the Boys in Blue are now unbeaten in ten straight matches across all competitions, including a club-best six wins in USL Championship matches. The last loss for Indy came on April 13 against Charleston Battery, who sits just five points ahead of third-place Indy in the Eastern Conference standings.
Josh O’Brien opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, getting his first tally as a Boy in Blue. The assist was from USL Championship assist leader Aedan Stanley, giving him his seventh of the season and ninth across all competitions. Stanley’s total not only leads the league, but also moves him up to a tie for fourth on Indy’s all-time USLC regular season list. He joins teammates Cam Lindley (3rd, 8) and Younes Boudadi (4th, 7) on the list.
The lead was doubled by Sebastian Guenzatti in the 46th minute when he scored his third goal of the season off an assist from Augi Williams. The goal is the 73rd career USL Championship regular season goal for Guenzatti, placing him in sole possession of sixth on the all-time list. It is also his 14th in an Indy Eleven jersey, giving him the number three spot for Indy.
Pittsburgh got one back in the match from Danny Griffin in the 57th minute.
Hunter Sulte registered a season-high five saves in the match.
Scoring Summary
IND – Josh O’Brien (Aedan Stanley) 23’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (Augi Williams) 46’
PIT – Danny Griffin (Langston Blackstock) 57’
Discipline Summary
IND – Josh O’Brien (caution) 39’
IND – Aedan Stanley (caution) 51’
IND – Ben Mines (caution) 59’
PIT – Bench (caution) 83’
IND – Elliot Collier (caution) 90+2’
PIT – Babacar Diene (caution) 90+3′
