April 8, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS – While beautiful conditions for the first time at home this season provided packed bleachers at IUPUI Carroll Stadium, the Indy Eleven had its first blemish of its 2023 campaign after falling to Oakland Roots SC, 3-0. The result pushed Indy’s record to an even 1W-1L-2D, ending the squad’s undefeated streak early in the USL Championship regular season.
Oakland started the match hungry, sending many close attacking attempts into the six and putting Eleven goalkeeper Yannik Oettl to work early, starting in the 6th minute when he collected Anaur Palaez’s headed from close range on a bounce. Another close attempt for the Roots came in the 9th minute, after a Dariusz Formella and Lindo Mfeka 1-2 sprang the latter into the top of the box, where Oettl scrambled to pick off the through ball.
Possession started to turn in the Eleven’s favor around 20 minutes into the match, with some strong attempts following suit. In the 25th minute a corner by Cam Lindley was headed to the near post by Robby Dambrot – making his first start of the season following a preseason foot injury – but Roots SC ‘keeper Paul Blanchette was able to grab before it found Sebastian Guenzatti’s run.
Roots SC took the lead in the 43rd minute, when Oettl’s aggressive patrolling at the top of his penalty area and outside the box was used against him as Mfeka beat him to Formalla’s ball over the backline out of midfield. This left an empty goal for Mfeka to finish into, allowing Oakland a 1-0 heading lead at half.
The Eleven aimed to retake control in the 49th minute, when a beautiful ball from Jack Blake sent Solomon Asante into the right side of the box, but his square ball for an onrushing Douglas Martinez near the penalty area was poked away by the last defender. Near the hour mark Martinez had a great opportunity in the six off a 70-yard diagonal ball by defender Adrian Diz Pe, but he couldn’t get away from a defender in time before Blanchette stepped in.
The pace of the game increased when the second goal for Oakland came in the 71st minute. Mfeka intercepted a pass deep in the Roots’ attacking third, cut centrally into the area and rocketed a shot into the sprawled Oettl on the turf. The rebound skied into the area before being picked out of the air by Formella on the full volley to double the visitors’ lead.
A minute later Indy tried to scrape one back when Lindley drove a free kick into the…