Week 14 Preview: all you need to know

Last week’s road win was extremely satisfying, not just because 3 non-conference road points are always huge in this league, but because the LEgion proved it can score in league play. This week sees the Legion back home for just its 5th game in Birmingham this year before getting next week off. And they are probably going to need it…

The most important part

For good and bad reasons, Indy Eleven is getting a lot of press lately. The bad reason is the brouhaha over the construction of Eleven Park and the city’s pursuit of a potential MLS team. The Eleven’s proposal had seemed to be a slam dunk until the city mayor recently pulled support for the project and announced he was in discussions with MLS for a possible MLS franchise. MLS has no actual plans as such right now, so it does look to be a pipe dream. The MLS stadium would be built on the same site that Elven Park is currently planned for. Ground has already been broken, however, and work is well under way although it recently hit a setback when human remains were found on part of the excavated site, which was apparently at one a cemetery, long disused. Needless to say, Eleven fans, notably the Brickyard Battalion, are not amused by all of this.

On the good side, Indy does not appear in any hurry to lose. The team last lost a game on April 13th (2-4 to the Charleston Battery) and last dropped points the following week (1-1 in Colorado Springs). Since then it has gone on a 6-game tear in the league and has thrown in two Open Cup wins to boot. They are 3rd in the East and would be first in the West. Per the league website, there have been just 11 win streaks of 7 or more games, so this Sunday (6:00pm) the Elven are looking to join pretty elite company.

Not surprisingly, they are scoring at a fairly accelerated rate: 25 goals so far for 3rd overall (behind Louisville City and Charleston). They are just 7th in shots taken though (the Legion is 5th), and so have a pretty good conversion rate of 22% (2nd behind Louisville). Top scorer on 7 goals is Jack Blake, a midfielder who mostly plays at left wingback. The Englishman has been with the team two years now but has been around the league and MLS over an extended career. They also have striker Augustine Williams, who has 5 to date. Williams had a standout year in 2023 with the Battery and is always a very dangerous threat. Then there’s Sebastian Guenzatti, the long-time Rowdie who joined the Eleven last year. He has 3 goals, as does striker Douglas Martinez who came on board mid-2023 from Sacramento Republic.

That’s a lot of players to keep track of, even for the Legion’s recently reinforced back line.

On the other hand, they give up quite a few goals. They have just 1 clean sheet this season (1-0 v. Monterey Bay) and have allowed a total of 21 goals (5th worst; the Legion is 12th worst). In the current win streak, though, they have allowed just 5. This may have something to do with a goalkeeper change; they started the season with Yannik Oettl but for the last 5 games they have gone with Hunter Sulte between the sticks. Sulte is on loan from the Portland Timbers. He’s only 22, but has been impressive so far.

The defense in front of him is anchored by Adrian Diz Pe and also features former Legionary Ben Ofeimu. The defensive pivot in front of the back line – which is usually 3 men – is Cameron Lindley, who also has extensive Championship credentials.

It also doesn’t hurt that the team’s current head coach – who took over this season – is Sean McAuley. The English-born Scot (as is Blake, in fact) has a very solid managerial career, having been at Sheffield Wednesday, the Portland Timbers and Minnesota United. It appears to have taken a few games for his team to adjust to his style, but he clearly has them firing on all cylinders right now.

Prediction: There is no question that this is going to be a very tough game. Mistakes cannot be made and last week’s scoring boots better be back on the Legion feet. I don’t anticipate a win, but the Indy win streak will end. I’m calling for a draw.

The other most important part

Legion 2 were whipped badly by Southern Soccer Academy last week, falling 0-5 at home. Brock Marlow’s absence with the senior team may have had something to do with that, but probably not too much.

The team has a very busy week ahead, with a total of four games between tonight and next Wednesday. They start off at home this evening against Asheville City (6:00pm, Spain Park High School). Asheville is a perfect 4-0-0 on the season. Saturday they head for the return fixture with SSA (3:00pm).

Sunday they play at Protective Stadium, it seems, against Athens FC. The kick-off time is somewhat unclear: the league site says 8:30pm and the club site says 6:30pm, both of which are impossible. It will in all likelihood be at 3:00pm or thereabouts. Assuming it will be played at Protective, that is.

Finally, next Wednesday they are back on the road at East Atlanta (6:30pm).

Home games for Legion 2 and LEgion WFC have not had streams available on SportsEngine Play so far; away games are generally available.

The other other most important part

WFC had a mixed week, drawing 2-2 with SSA and losing 1-4 to Chattanooga Red Wolves.

They aren’t as busy as Legion 2 this week, with 2 games on the schedule. Saturday they join Legion 2 at SSA (7:00pm) and Monday they play at Tennessee SC (7:30pm). Tennessee is the division leader right now and will be a big test.

Best of the rest

With the Legion game sitting by itself on Sunday evening, you have a full menu of choices for other viewing this weekend. There are ten games on Saturday’s schedule, and there is already one game in the bag this week, with last week’s victim El Paso Locomotive getting a big road win at San Antonio, 1-0. Here are our choices for your viewing pleasure:

Charleston Battery v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (6:30pm, ESPN+)

Pittsburgh got pummeled by Indy last week and are scoring at a slow rate. Check that, they are barely scoring at all. The Battery are stumbling with just 1 point in the last two games. This should be a clash of titans, but I expect it will be more of a defensive battle. Still potentially entertaining though.

Louisville City v. North Carolina (7:00pm, CBS Sports Golazo)

From one team that can’t score to one that can’t stop. Lou City is putting up gaudy numbers in that department. North Carolina can do that too, and are fairly stingy in defense. This is a matchup of old-time USL royalty and should be a very good game.

Memphis 901 v. Colorado Springs Switchbacks (7:30pm, ESPN+)

The Switchbacks are on a 5-game win streak. Earlier this season that would have been almost unthinkable. Area Code FC, or in reality Legion Northwest, have been rather more erratic than that, but this is still 7 v. 8 in the West. They are tied on 16 points, so this is a game of some importance to both teams. 

Monterey Bay v. Sacramento Republic (9:00pm, ESPN+)

The Republic were the last unbeaten team in the league, finally going down 0-1 to Tampa Bay last week. However, they have not won in the last four games. They are still second in the West, but Monterey Bay is just 2 points behind. This one has big implications.

Back in the Old Country

The manager decision has been made at Birmingham City. The Blues today announced the appointment of Chris Davies. HIs name was among the favorites to get the job, but he appears well-qualified. He comes to Birmingham from a senior assistant position at Tottenham Hotspur. He has extensive experience in the Premier League, and has worked with one of the UK’s best coaches, Brendan Rodgers, across a number of positions. Heading down to League One would seem to be something of a backward step for him, but this is of course his first head coaching job, so it will ultimately be a springboard for him if it all works out.