RECAP | Indy 2, RailHawks 1
In a game full of attacking power from both sides, Indy Eleven would rack up the three points on second half goals from Wojciech Wojcik and Erick Norales by beating the third-place (combined standings) Carolina RailHawks on Saturday night in front of 9,629 fans at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.Indy has now gone five games unbeaten.
The Boys in Blue came with much needed intensity from the opening kickoff, with a dangerous attack to open up the pressure in the fourth minute. Following a Marco Franco cross that was punched out by Carolina goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald, Indy Eleven forward Charlie Rugg was left in front of an open net. Rugg’s resulting shot lacked threatening power, however, and was cleared out of the box by Daniel Scott.
After extended periods of exceptional square passing in the midfield by Indy Eleven, they went on the attack again in the eighth minute through Dragan Stojkov. The 27-year-old Macedonian swung in a ball to Wojciech Wojcik in front of net, but his shot was blocked by Connor Tobin for an Indy Eleven corner.
Indy Eleven’s most promising first-half attack would come nearly two minutes later when Rugg fired a dipping shot from 20 yards out to Fitzgerald’s right. The Railhawks ‘keeper would make a phenomenal diving attempt on the ball and parry it wide to keep the game at level pegging.
Carolina would take their first attempt of the game in the 26th minute – and would very nearly give the game its first goal. Forward Bradlee Baladez corralled an errant Indy Eleven ball and worked his way back into Indy’s penalty area past Kristian Nicht, but his shot was fired into the outside of the net for a goal kick.
The teams would split possession across the next few minutes, but Indy Eleven’s bounty of attacks and lack of goals would come back to haunt them in the 42nd minute when Carolina converted off of a dead ball. Cory Miller was whistled for a jersey tug infraction just outside of the penalty area and Nazmi Albadawi would set up for the RailHawks free kick from 25 yards out. The ball from Albadawi curled over the Indy Eleven defense and found the head of a diving Austin da Luz, who came on for Tiyi Shipalane in the 23rdminute after a nasty challenge with Brad Ring, and he put the ball past Nicht and inside the left post to give Carolina the 1-0 lead at the break.
Indy Eleven was on a mission to get the game back on their side out of the break, and it was evident through the first few minutes of the second half. The home side would level the score in the 52nd minute when a Kyle Hyland cross lofted across the box was headed in by Wojcik at the far right post for his second goal in as many games.
The Boys in Blue did not wait long to go back on the attack, scoring again through five-time NASL Team of the Week honoree Erick Norales. Victor Pineda’s free kick into the box would slip past multiple Carolina defenders to the feet of Norales, who stood wide open in front of the goal for the tap in from five yards out for his team-high third tally of 2015.
The score was nearly stretched to 3-1 in favor of Indy Eleven in the 70th minute when Wojcik was one-on-one with Fitzgerald. Wojcik played a cross through the legs of Fitzgerald into the path of midfielder Dylan Mares, but he overran the ball and Carolina would clear the danger.
Indy Eleven had the opportunity once again to strengthen their hold of the game in the 75th minute, but Victor Pineda slid his shot past an open right side of goal and the post the far post.
Carolina would almost draw even in the 80th minute through da Luz when he fired a laser of a shot from 25 yards out, only to see it smack the crossbar and bounce out of the area.
Carolina continuously pressure the Indy defense late in the game, but the back line for the Boys in Blue held strong to help the team to its first win of the NASL Fall Season over the RailHawks.
