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Indy Cruises to Victory over Atlanta

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/09/18, 9:04PM EDT

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Goals in either half snap four-game winless streak before crowd of 10,034


Photo courtesy Matt Schlotzhauer / Indy Eleven

INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven got goals either side of halftime as it took a 2-0 victory against ATL UTD 2 on Saturday night before a crowd of 10,034 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Both sides took time to settle, but Indy went close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute when Soony Saad sent a shot just wide of the left post. The hosts continued to look dangerous after that effort, and on the half-hour mark they took the lead as Matt Watson stole an errant pass in midfield and drove into the penalty area, rounding the goalkeeper before finishing into an open net. Atlanta’s first good look at goal came in first-half stoppage time as U.S. U20 international Chris Goslin curled a free kick from 25 yards just wide of the left post, but 10 minutes into the second half the Eleven added a second as a back-post corner from the right by Ayoze was headed home by Trinidad & Tobago international Carlyle Mitchell. Indy had other chances arrive from set pieces as Ayoze forced Atlanta goalkeeper Paul Christensen to keep out another corner kick from the right, and Saad had a long-range free kick saved, but the hosts didn’t need to add to their lead as they snapped a four-game winless streak in comfortable fashion.

Scoring:
30’ – IND – Matt Watson
55’ – IND – Carlyle Mitchell (Ayoze)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Indy put together just the performance it needed to get back on track as while it ceded possession to its visitors it capitalized far better on the opportunities it created in holding a sizeable advantage in chances and shots. From the moment Matt Watson’s goal opened the scoring it felt the hosts were in complete control as they brought an end to their four-game winless streak and pushed back toward the playoff positions.

  • 2. Atlanta desire to build out of the back produced some nice passages of play for the visitors, but there wasn’t enough incisiveness in the final third for the side to threaten a stout Indy defense with enough consistency. Add in the more than 20 interceptions and possession recoveries the hosts recorded in the attacking half, which notably led to the opening goal of the game, and Atlanta is left with plenty to learn from as it heads home for a midweek clash with another solid side in the Charlotte Independence.

  • 3. With another four chances created, and the assist on Carlyle Mitchell’s second-half goal, Ayoze continued to pull the strings from set pieces for the Eleven as the hosts continued to look a reliable threat to score whenever a dead-ball situation arose in the attacking third. Ayoze’s delivery, either in trying to pick out a teammate or in picking out the goal as was evidenced in the club’s last outing against the Charleston Battery, is beautiful to watch, and going to be key in keeping Indy in the hunt for the postseason.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Matt Watson, Indy Eleven – Watson was opportunistic with his opening finish, but put in a battling display in midfield as he won 11 of 16 duels and recorded four interceptions and four tackles for the hosts.

Upcoming Games:

Indy Eleven at Toronto FC II – June 16, 7 p.m. ET, Marina Auto Stadium

ATL UTD 2 vs. Charlotte Independence – June 13, 7 p.m. ET, Coolray Field

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