Indianapolis – Indy Eleven completed a successful week with its second victory in five days, earning a 2-1 win over USL Championship Eastern Conference rival Detroit City FC in the home opener in front of 9,357 fans at Carroll Stadium.
Boys in Blue midfielder Josh O’Brien set up the first goal of the game in the 43rd minute with a run up the right sideline, hesitating and then playing a cheeky ball behind the defensive line into the box near the endline that forward Bruno Rendon chased down and chipped to the near post, where forward Dylan Sing headed it home for his first Indy Eleven goal.
After Detroit tied it in the 56th minute, O’Brien set up another goal six minutes later in the 62nd, heading an errant clearance to Rendon, who chested it down and struck a left-footed laser for the game winner.
Goalkeeper Eric Dick made three saves to earn the victory.
The Boys in Blue travel to Hartford Athletic next Saturday for a 5 p.m. match on ESPN+.
Indy Eleven will have two home games at Carroll Stadium the following week–Tue. Mar. 31 for a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round match vs. Union Omaha at 7 p.m., and Sat. Apr. 4 against the defending USL champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at 7.
Ticket options available include pro-rated Season Tickets and Flex Mini-Plans. Season Ticket Benefits (starting at $13.50 per game) include Season Parking Pass, unlimited ticket exchanges, and a 20% discount on all Indy Eleven merchandise. Flex Mini Plans include vouchers to be redeemed for any 2026 regular season home match.
For questions, call (317) 685-1100 during business hours or email tickets@indyeleven.com.
- USL Championship
Indy Eleven 2:1 Detroit City FC - Sat., Mar. 21, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
- Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis
- Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees
- Attendance: 9,357
2026 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 1-1-0 (0), 3 pts, #6 in Eastern Conference
Detroit City FC: 1-1-0 (2), 3 pts, #5 in Eastern Conference
| Score | 1 | 2 | F |
| Indy Eleven | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Detroit City FC | 0 | 1 | 1 |
- Scoring Summary
- IND – Dylan Sing (Bruno Rendón) 43’
- DET – Darren Smith (Kobe Hernández-Foster) 56’
- IND – Bruno Rendón (Josh O’Brien) 62’
- Discipline Summary
- IND – Alejandro Mitrano (caution) 77’
Indy Eleven Line-Up: Eric Dick, Aodhan Quinn (captain), Paco Craig, Makel Rasheed, Hayden White, Josh O’Brien, Noble Okello (Loic Mesanvi 61’), Cam Lindley, Dylan Sing (Alejandro Mitrano 61’), Charlie Sharp (Edward Kizza 82’), Bruno Rendón (Kian Williams 86’).
Indy Eleven Subs Not Used: Anthony Herbert, Reice Charles-Cook, Mikah Thomas.
Detroit City FC Line-Up: Carlos Herrera, Tommy Silva, Callum Montgomery, Devon Amoo-Mensah (captain), Haruki Yamazaki, Ryan Williams (Chisom Egbuchulam 73’), Kobe Hernández-Foster, Ates Diouf (Alex Dalou 82’), Maxi Rodriguez, Jeciel Cedeño (Preston Tabort Etaka 73’), Darren Smith (Abdoulaye Diop 82’).
Detroit City FC Subs Not Used: Rhys Williams, Rio Hope-Gund, Carlos Saldana.
Quotes
Coach Sean McAuley
“We’re really pleased that our players got rewarded for their effort and the hard work that they put in. We created a lot of chances and gave up chances as well–that’s going to be us this season. We must defend well with our backs to the wall, make sure that we compete, and grind out things to give ourselves a chance to win. I’m pleased the way it ended because we need to grind our results this season.
On the play of forwards Dylan Sing, Charlie Sharp, & Bruno Rendon
Charlie centrally did a great job and then them Dylan & Bruno filled in behind him. I think that’s going to be a real indication of how we’re going to have to play this year, because we’re coming up against teams that are good with the ball, and we’re going to have to be really good without the ball.
On Bruno Rendon’s second year with the club
Confidence and belief are big things. He found himself now and he knows what he can do when he’s playing against an opponent. He had the better of his opponent in the first half, so I encouraged him at halftime to keep going. I didn’t expect him to go and fire one in his top one in his left foot, but it’s just having that confidence and belief makes a massive
difference. It provides a lot of energy for us–that was a big key. He can close more than one person down to really put the opponent under pressure. He has got the quality that’s needed.
On protecting a one-goal lead late
Our players were professional in their approach. In the five minutes of stoppage time, our defense kept a good shape. When they threw everybody forward, we defended well with it, getting a massive three points against one of the better teams in the East last season, and doing it at home.
What does the victory do for your team?
It builds belief for us. I want the players to respond whether we win or lose and always give maximum effort. Today, we got a reward for it. It was the way we played. We’re organized and structured on set plays. We caused a lot of problems with set plays, so we need to continue with that moving forward.
Dylan Sing
On the pressure that he, Charlie, and Bruno were putting on up top throughout the match.
We want to play with high intensity and on our front foot. We have athletic, big, skilled guys–that is advantageous for us. The pressure was part of the game plan, and we did well when we switched play to get a lot of chances. Josh (O’Brien) found Bruno on a slip ball, he took the end line, and he put a great ball in for me to finish. That was awesome, and it was great to take a lead into halftime.
On scoring in the home opener for his new club
It was amazing–I was hoping to have this moment, and it feels even better getting to experience it. Playing in front of the home fans for the first time and playing in the USL Championship is an incredible experience. I’m closer to home, I had family at the match, so I’m excited to see them afterwards, and see my friends, and get to be a part of the Indianapolis community.
On winning aerial duels
We want to play to our strengths because we have a taller roster. Winning more aerial duels enables us to go forward more often. We have guys that want to go and win those duels, be physical, and force the defense when we get to not get the cleanest second ball. Our roster is a little younger, so we keep talking about the energy and the intensity. We keep this team’s DNA going forward, and everyone feeds off it. When one person shows energy, it builds for everyone and for those that come on as well. I thought our substitutes were fantastic, keeping pressure on them, not letting them be comfortable as well. The whole roster has it, which is exciting to see.
