The Charleston Battery take on Indy Eleven at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night at 7:00 PM.
Last Time Out
Indy Eleven played host to USL League One side Lansing Ignite on Wednesday in a 1-0 win. Lansing had a golden chance to open the scoring thirty seconds in but their attempt was blocked and cleared off the line by Indy defender Paddy Barrett. Indy would be reduced to ten men in the 21st minute when goalkeeper Evan Newton was sent off following a hard foul outside the box against Lansing forward Elma Nfor.
Thomas Enevoldsen put Indy up 1-0 in the 57th minute. Tyler Gibson’s lofted pass found its way to Barrett who sent a headed pass across the box towards Enevoldsen who rose above a Lansing defender to open the scoring. Lansing continued to pressure ten-man Indy for the remainder of the match but were unable to find the equalizer.
The Battery struggled early in their second-round Open Cup match against Greenville Triumph SC Wednesday night at Legacy Early College.
It was a promising start from the League One side as they controlled much of the first half play and created a number of chances including their opening goal in the 30th minute. Midfielder Omar Mohamed created a few yards of space in a one on one with Battery defender Kyle Nelson and forced Nelson into conceding a corner. Max Hemmings connected with the Aaron Walker cross and headed home the opening goal of the match.
Ian Svantesson was the hero for the Battery in the second half after coming on for Nicque Daley in the 70th minute. Svantesson leveled things in the 79th minute before scoring the game-winner in stoppage time. With the win, Charleston advances to the third round of the Open Cup where they will take on Nashville SC on May 29th.
What to Watch For…
Hello, Old Friend(s) – Former Battery defender Neveal Hackshaw will face his former club for the first time since joining Indy prior to the start of the 2019 USL Championship season. Hackshaw made 82 appearances in three seasons with the Battery serving as a key starter for one of the leagues best defenses. Hackshaw has started all eight regular-season matches for Indy playing every minute of the season and scoring two goals, tied for second-most on the team.
Dane Kelly, who played for the Battery from 2011-2015, will look to jumpstart the Indy offense. Kelly made 107 appearances for the Battery and sits 4th all-time in goals scored for the club. Kelly has scored four goals in eight matches for the Eleven leading the team in that category. Kelly played twenty-seven minutes in a substitute appearance with the Richmond Kickers against the Battery in 2018.
Wild Finish – In 2018, the two sides played to one of the most exciting finishes of the season, splitting points in a 3-3 draw. Goals from Indy forward Soony Saad and Battery defender O’Brian Woodbine kept the game level with thirty minutes to play.
A total of four goals were scored in the final ten minutes of the match with each team netting a stoppage-time goal. Ataulla Guerra would put the Battery up 2-1 in the 80th minute before Ayoze Garcia netted a ten-minute brace going into the final minute of stoppage time.
Tah Brian Anunga scored in the 94th minute to tie things at 3-3, slipping a shot into the corner past goalkeeper Fon Williams. Indy had a chance to win it in the 97th minute from a throw-in but the headed shot was over the bar.
Coaches Corner, Mike Anhaeuser
On Indy Eleven; “It’s the players we know. Dane Kelly has pace up top. They have a lot of experience on the front line, they have experience all over the field. We know that we have to go up there and be physically ready. We had a great result on Wednesday in the Open Cup and so did they. We might have to adjust a few things here or there, but we are playing well, it should be a great match.”
On the recent U.S. Open Cup Result; “Being on the round in the second round, it’s really about just getting it done. We started a little rough, we were on turf, and our passes were getting away from us. After about 20 or 30 minutes we finally started to settle down and did a great job. Kierron really stepped up to the plate and showed how physically strong he is. He was able to dominate the middle of the field.”
Indy Eleven: USL Championship Record, 4-2-2 (Home: 1-0-2)
Team Leaders
Goals: Kelly (4)
Assists: Walker (3)
Chances Created: Ayoze (18)
Saves: Newton (17)
Clean Sheets: Newton (4)
Charleston Battery: USL Championship Record, 4-1-4 (Away: 1-1-1)
Team Leaders
Goals: Lewis, Svantesson (3)
Assists: Lewis, Woodbine (2)
Chances Created: Lewis (19)
Saves: Kuzminsky (19)
Clean Sheets: Kuzminsky (3)
