Indy hosts Sacramento Republic in home opener – Kick slated for 7 p.m. ET
#INDvSAC Preview
Indy Eleven vs Sacramento Republic FC
Saturday, March 23, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
Home Opener – Join us for our Eleventh Anniversary Celebration
Follow Live
WISH-TV
Streaming Video: ESPN+
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvSAC MatchCenter at USL Championship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 1-1-0 (-), 3 pts; 7th in Eastern Conference
Sacramento Republic FC: 1-0-1 (+1), 4 pts; 2nd in Western Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report
OUT: A. Quinn (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: None
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday for their 2024 USL Championship home opener against Sacramento Republic FC.
Indy is coming off a 2-1 victory over Memphis 901 FC to improve to 1-1-0 on the season, while Sacramento defeated Miami FC, 1-0, to move to 1-0-1.
SERIES VS. SACRAMENTO
Saturday marks the second overall meeting between the sides in USL Championship action, with Sacramento holding the 1-0-0 all-time advantage.
Indy Trails 0-1-0 | GF 1, GA 3
Recent Meetings
May 13, 2023 | L , 3-1 | Away
THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.
HOME SWEET HOME
Since joining the USL Championship in 2018, Indy has won over 60% of its matches at home, including winning over 50% at Carroll Stadium.
Indy ranks tied for second on the USLC’s longest home undefeated streak list (regular season) with 28 straight games from 2018-20, and had 11 straight-wins at home in that span (T3). In 2019, the club won 13 games at home, which ties them for the most at home in a USLC season. The 43 points in that span lead the league.
USL regular season home record (2018-23): 45W-26L-22D (60.2 win %)
• at Carroll Stadium: 19W-18L-12D (51.0 win %)
• at Lucas Oil Stadium: 26W-8L-10D (70.5 win %)
All competitions record at Carroll: 50W-38L-29D (55.1%)
● NASL regular season (2014-17): 26W-18L-17D
● NASL postseason (2016): 1W-0L-0D
● U.S. Open Cup (2014-23): 3W-2L-0D
● USLC regular season (2021-23): 19W-18L-12D
● USLC postseason (2019): 2W-1L-0D
LAST TIME OUT
Indy Eleven left Memphis victorious, 2-1, against Western Conference opponent Memphis 901 FC in the second game of the season-opening road swing.
Preseason hero Jack Blake drew a well-earned penalty and converted that penalty into an early 1-0 lead in the 26th minute.
Later, a cross from Aedan Stanley would lead to chaos in front of the net where Douglas Martinez touched the ball over the keeper and headed it into the back of the net, doubling the lead for Indy in the 42nd minute.
In the 91st minute, Memphis cut the lead in half as defender Abdoulaye Cissoko scored off a bicycle kick.
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (7th, 70) and Augi Williams (T9th, 66) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals.
A FAMILIAR FOE
Indy Eleven will see a familiar face in Jared Timmer when Sacramento comes to town on Saturday. The center back played two seasons with the Boys in Blue (2021, 2022) and saw action in 61 matches, including 56 starts.
Team Of The Week X2
For the second straight week, Indy Eleven placed a pair of players on the USL Championship Team of the Week. Jack Blake and Aedan Stanley earned a spot in the league’s top eleven.
Blake has scored two goals in as many outings this season, including a 26th-minute penalty kick in the 2-1 win over Memphis. Blake’s two goals tie him for the second most in the USLC early in the season, while his six total shots share the league lead. The midfielder added four tackles, a clearance and an interception on Saturday, and won 10 duels, bringing his season total to a USL-best 21.
Stanley notched his first assist of 2024 on the match winner to Douglas Martinez at MEM. The cross gave him 16 on the season, tying him for sixth in the USL. He added five clearances, five duels won and five recoveries, while also creating a team-high three chances.
Indy Eleven was the only squad with two players on the list week 1 – Jack Blake & Younes Boudadi.
Originally posted on indyeleven.com