Saturday, February 8, 2014

Indy Eleven Preseason Update, Sporting KC

Indy Eleven faced off against a full MLS Cup winning strength side in Sporting KC in preseason play yesterday.

The scrimmage was scheduled for 105 (60+45') so both teams could run out a good number of players. KC fielded their first team which right now see's Eric Kronberg over former Crew GK Andy Gruenebaum (60th min sub).

Indy is still trying to fill up their roster and fielded a number of trialists who where not named. The asterisk* indicates an unnamed trialist.

1ST HALF (60') LINEUP:
Kristian Nicht
RB*, CB*, CB* Kyle Hyland
Pedro Mendes, Brad Ring, CM*, Walter Ramirez
Mike Ambersley (Don Smart 46’), FW*

2ND HALF (45') LINEUP:
GK*
Chris Wey, CB*, CB*, Baba Omosegbon
Don Smart, CM*, CM*, LM
FW*, FW*

The game was not streamed so lineups and goals will have to tell the story here. With that, after Indy scored 20 seconds after kickoff (unnamed trialist), KC's 1st team responded mercilessly by putting three goals past Nicht in the first 45 minutes.

It appears the team is still focused on finding key players for a starting roster and were not capable in taking on KC with a full side. Area of real need seems to be at center back.

It is notable that Indy did not concede in the last 45 against a KC team that featured Mechack Jerome, Lawrence Olum, Dom Dwyer, Jacob Peterson, Soony Sadd and Sal Zizzo. Those are some good players.

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Indy played another MLS side just a couple days prior against Vancouver, where Pedro Mendes and Don Smart put a couple past a very unfinished 'Caps side in a 2:3 loss.

Full recaps and quotes can be found at Indy's site.

Next up, Indy takes the field Wednesday, Feb 12th vs. Portland Timbers (MLS) – Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, AZ – 8:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm MT. The game is not listed for streaming at the moment but stay tuned here if anything changes.

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