Three takeaways from Indy Eleven’s win over Charlotte

In their second match of the year, Indy Eleven were able to suppress the Independence, winning 3-2.

After the disappointing loss to Saint Louis during opening weekend, Indy Eleven needed to come into the Queen City and make a statement. As the Boys in Blue continue to deal with high expectations, many Indy fans were concerned about the slow start shown against STLFC. But despite the struggles shown last weekend, the Eleven flashed their true potential against Charlotte and withstood the best the Independence had to offer. Tired legs and a furious comeback attempt were not enough to keep Indy from the 3-2 win, teaching us three things about the season ahead.

The Puzzle Can Be Put Together

The offseason saw many additions to the Indy roster with significant achievements. The offensive side has a two-time USL Cup champion, a 20 goal scorer from last season, European veteran, and the all-time leading scorer in the USL Championship. It is a stacked lineup but one that had the chemistry of an all-star lineup last weekend. That led to many Eleven fans asking if the pieces would be able to fit into the system, and against Charlotte, they demonstrated that they can.

The addition of Eugene Starikov to the starting lineup brought a tenacity to the attack that had not been present previously. His role in two goals came from being in excellent position up front and kept the Independence backline on edge throughout most of the match. Were it not for some excellent blocks by the Charlotte defense, Starikov could have had multiple goals on the night. But the main facilitator didn’t allow frustration to set in, and Indy reaped the benefits of his efforts.

Thomas Enevoldsen opened his Indy account with the winning goal in the second half, as one of the league’s star players from last season has started to appear comfortable in his new midfield role. The Dane was a force to be reckoned with in the box, drawing multiple defenders with each run towards goal. On a corner kick to the far post, he demonstrated incredible one-time touch and finesse, driving the ball through lines of opposing players and softly into the back of the net. He looks comfortable and his efforts in areas other than goalscoring have been incredibly valuable so far. Eleven fans should hope this form continues and the goals keep being scored by, and because of, his excellent play.

Dane Kelly has yet to find the back of the net but still demonstrated his danger in front of the net. His effort late in the second half rocked the crossbar, and the Jamaican had a couple of efforts kept out by some brilliant defensive work. He was visibly frustrated towards the end of his time on the field but showed a true connection to the midfield that was lacking in Eleven attackers last season. Indy fans should keep in mind that he spent nearly all of last season on the DC United bench, only appearing in a handful of matches. Despite having the goalscoring record, many of those were in a league much different than the one the Eleven currently play in as well, which means Kelly will need some time to work the rust off. As these past two matches have shown, though, he’s not that far off and is well on his way to wreaking havoc once again.

Fitness Still Needs Work

While the offense ran a dominant, pressing system for the first 70 minutes of play, the final 20 saw the Eleven desperately clinging to their lead. The controversial three-defender system made another appearance in this match, and Indy appeared to be far more comfortable in their roles. The midfield did a good job of shielding the backline, and Charlotte was limited in their chances for the majority of the game. As it came to a close, however, the lack of full match fitness started to show, and the Eleven were sluggish against the Independence.

The outside backs available to Indy were exceptional in this match and Evan Newton has good communication with his central defending team. It appears, though, that the Eleven are still lacking the balance they need to switch from pressing upfield and saving their energy for lead protection later on. While it worked against Charlotte, the top teams in the Eastern Conference will be better equipped to punish those lapses in performance. Head coach Martin Rennie has found a good system to integrate his offensive players into a dangerous side that could score on command. But that press, on top of the additional coverage required of his central defense in a three-defender setup, will take a few more weeks to truly hit full stride. Until then, the Eleven need to continue scoring goals in bunches to keep their footing in matches and prevent wins from turning into draws that can sink their championship ambitions.

The King Has Arrived

While veteran stars grabbed all the headlines in Indianapolis, it has been the youth players that have defined the early weeks of the Eleven’s campaign. Joshua Penn wowed Indy fans with his footwork and technique on the ball last week, as the academy product burst out of obscurity. This week, it was Macauley King who grabbed the spotlight with his play on both sides of the pitch, as the defender showcased his midfield capabilities.

In the 12th minute, King connected on a ball traveling across the outside of the box and curled a shot into the top right corner that should have been up for USL Championship Goal of the Week. His cross a few minutes later started a cascading series of events that led to the second goal. He continued to demonstrate his passing and crossing skills during the match as Charlotte failed to have a strong defensive effort to contain him. He was bright, lively, and the type of midfielder that will make the Indy system work to perfection.

His heroism wasn’t just limited to the offensive side of the ball, however, as his defensive talents were also on display. An inch-perfect slide tackle in the box prevented what would have surely been an early Charlotte goal, and his constant pressure of Independence ball-handlers kept them from building a sustained attack. Normally a full-back, he continually forced Charlotte to play an early cross or dribble towards a center-pitch area filled with Indy defenders.

It was a performance above his years, showing a level of balance that the team, as a whole, severely lacked. If the Eleven are to go far this year, it would be reasonable to suspect that Macauley King played a large role in that success.

Next Match: vs. Hartford Athletic – 3/30/2019

Indy will have their first home match of the year against Championship newcomers Hartford Athletic under the lights at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Connecticut outfit has struggled out of the gate and has lost both of their matches so far this year. The Eleven struggled against weaker teams last year, falling into the classic “trap game” curse multiple times in 2018. Expect Indy to come out on top, but don’t be surprised if Hartford puts up a quality fight in the process.

 

Top photo courtesy of Robbie Mehling/Soc Takes

Richard Rainwater

Richard is a passionate soccer fan, who can be found in the heart of Brickyard Battalion on match days. You can follow him @da_safety_guy on Twitter, and see his work on BGN Written throughout the season.