INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven handed Louisville City FC its first loss of the 2018 season as a second-half penalty kick by Ayoze saw the hosts to a 1-0 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium before a crowd of 9,008 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Neither side created many clear chances in the first half with Indy’s Soony Saad going closest on a header that went well over the crossbar off Zach Steinberger’s cross in the 34th minute. Louisville’s first good chance produced the first shot on goal as a quick move upfield released Brian Ownby, and his angled shot forced a save from Indy goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams in the 57th minute. Indy almost found a way through when Nathan Lewis charged down a clearance, only for Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh to quickly get off his line to smother before the Trinidad & Tobago international could take advantage, but with 12 minutes to go Indy was awarded a penalty kick when Louisville was called for a handball on a cross by Lewis and Ayoze converted high to the left side from the spot. Louisville almost hit back with two minutes to go as Ownby headed a free kick back into the six-yard area, only for Indy defender Carlyle Mitchell to clear to safety. Louisville then twice had chances in stoppage time to equalize as the first fell to Ownby himself, but he pulled a shot wide from the left side of the penalty area following a corner kick. Then with the last action of the game, Luke Spencer put a free header wide from eight yards, and the final whistle blew.

Scoring:
78’ – IND – Ayoze (penalty)

• #INDvLOU: Highlights and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Louisville’s first loss of the season arrived as the defending champions were unable to execute in the final third for the first time this season, with Luke Spencer likely to relive the late header he sent wide on the final play of the game a few times in the coming days. Louisville outshot its hosts 13-6 for the game, including 10 chances that arrived inside the penalty area, but wasn’t clinical enough to earn a point as its six-game undefeated streak came to an end.

• 2. Neither side was overly sharp in its passing going forward which meant while both teams were able to turn possession over in some good areas neither was able to capitalize. Credit also goes to effective recovery defending by both teams which closed space quickly in the attacking third for both sides, but while there were some good reads and interceptions made defensively there were other occasions where a cleaner pass could have resulted in more for either side in terms of scoring chances.

• 3. With both FC Cincinnati and Louisville City FC visiting Lucas Oil Stadium this week, there was a chance to gauge how far Indy Eleven had come in the short span the club’s squad has been together. With a win on Saturday afternoon after Wednesday night’s loss to FC Cincinnati the hosts rebounded well to hand the defending USL Cup champion its first loss of the regular season. Sitting in the top three with only the teams it faced this week above it after Saturday afternoon’s game, things appear to be coming together well enough for Head Coach Martin Rennie’s side.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Karl Ouimette, Indy Eleven – Ouimette put in a strong shift defensively for the Eleven, winning 13 of 16 duels while recording 10 clearances, four interceptions and three tackles in the shutout.

Upcoming Games:

Indy Eleven at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – May 11, 7 p.m. ET, Highmark Stadium

Louisville City FC at Nashville SC – May 13, 6 p.m. ET, First Tennessee Park