INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FC Cincinnati made the two-hour trek on Interstate 74 westbound for the second time this season to face Indy Eleven and the Orange and Blue again scored one more goal than Indy for a 3-2 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium. FCC (4-1-2) bested the Eleven, 1-0, in the two clubs’ first meeting at Indy on March 31.
The Orange and Blue carried its offensive momentum from Saturday at Ottawa Fury FC into this match with Indy. Three goals by FCC matched their season-high that was set against Ottawa four days prior.
“We know we’ve got a great group obviously,” a relieved FCC Head Coach Alan Koch said following the match, speaking to sideline reporter Lindsay Patterson.
Midfielder Kenney Walker followed his stellar performance on Saturday with a goal in the seventh minute to get the scoring started. Corben Bone tried to set up Emery Welshman on a cross for a try at the goal when Indy defender Carlyle Mitchell committed a foul inside the box on Welshman, leading to a penalty opportunity for FCC. Walker right-footed the ball into the back left part of the net for his third goal in as many matches.
Indy came back for two unanswered goals, however, to take a 2-1 lead on its home turf. Walker misplayed the ball in the 24th minute and Eleven forward Jack McInerney tried a shot from inside the 18-yard box that was blocked by FCC keeper Spencer Richey, getting his second straight start.
Off the deflection by Richey, McInerney controlled possession and pushed the equalizer through with his right foot for a 1-1 score.
Moments later, a foul on Orange and Blue defender Paddy Barrett inside the box led to a penalty kick opportunity for Indy. In the 30th minute, Ayoze put the Eleven ahead by a goal with his left-footed penalty shot that found the bottom left corner of the net.
FCC did not go down without a fight as intermission approached, coming back to knot things up yet again. Bone led an attack in the 41st minute when he sprinted to his left from outside the box and passed ahead to Jimmy McLaughlin, who was running to Bone’s right.
McLaughlin showed off great body control when he received Bone’s pass off of one bounce, turned and right-footed an equalizer from about 20 yards out into the left side of the net.
Bone made Wednesday’s match at the Eleven his turn to step up with a strong individual performance, tallying the aforementioned assist and putting FCC ahead out of the break with what would be the game-winning score in the 54th minute.
Michael Lahoud played setup this time, finding Bone outside the box and Bone right-footed a goal past diving Indy goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams and into the left part of the net. It was the second goal in 2018 for Bone. An assist and his game-winning goal came in addition to his set up of Welshman in the early going that resulted in the Orange and Blue’s early 1-0 advantage via Walker’s penalty kick.
The Eleven found some open lanes in the Orange and Blue defense in the waning moments. Indy earned a corner in the 90th minute that was deflected by Richey in close range, but the FCC defense ultimately held off Indy’s attack for the balance of the second period and were rewarded with a big three points.
FCC returns to the pitch at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, May 5, when it welcomes Atlanta United FC II for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
GOAL SUMMARY
FCC: 7th – Kenney Walker (penalty kick)
IND: 24th – Jack McInerney (unassisted)
IND: 30th – Ayoze (penalty kick)
FCC: 41st – Jimmy McLaughlin (Corben Bone)
FCC: 54th – Corben Bone (Michael Lahoud)
STARTING LINEUPS
FCC: Spencer Richey, Matt Bahner, Paddy Barrett, Corben Bone, Daniel Haber, Michael Lahoud, Forrest Lasso, Jimmy McLaughlin, Blake Smith, Kenney Walker, Emery Welshman
IND: Owain Fon Williams, Brad Ring, Ayoze, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette, Tyler Pasher, Ben Speas, Juan Guerra, Zach Steinberger, Soony Saad, Jack McInerney
