Indianapolis F.C. 5 - 4 Casper T.C. (Baker 35, 39, 67, 69, Tatto 58)
After last week's 4-0 victory over new boys Mille Miglia, we were prepared for a more sterner test against Casper T.C, a second season club with an upcoming manager, at the C. T.W. Arena. Casper, along with veterans SSA Lazio F.C. seem to be our main rivals for the #2 — 4 cup spots and could even be a dark-horse title contender, but that seems unlikely given the strength of The Gallovidians' side.
Defender and hat-trick hero Paris Mansfield was unavailable for selection due to injury (2 weeks) along with forward David Burton, who was sent off in the 34th minute against Miglia for a professional foul. However, winger Lúcio Teixeira managed to recover in time from the minor scrape he sustained.
Knowing this would be a tough away fixture without two key first-team members, a 'Match of the Season' mentality was instilled among the boys and used a 3-5-2 formation of Cluzel - Sherman (d), Sabãu, Noble - Teixeira (a), Rodríguez, Menken, Loayza, Tatto (a) - García Amado, Baker. Opting for a central partnership Sabãu and Noble in the center, I hoped the experienced duo would be successful in protecting young, in-form keeper Cluzel from Casper's attacks. Regretfully, this decision made the left flank vulnerable, and Casper took advantage of the weakness, leaving us in a 2-0 hole with goals in the 3rd and 25th minutes. Following some slick midfield passing, Cleveland Baker hit back with a quick brace in the 35th and 39th minutes and we went into half time with the score dead-locked at 2-2.
Almost immediately after the break, Casper once again took the lead with a third goal coming from the vulnerable left side in the 46th minute. But Tatto scored a spectacular equalizer in the 58th and 'the Beast' gave us our first lead of the game, completing his hat-trick with a well struck free-kick after 67 minutes. Two minutes later, the third equalizer of the game was scored - this time coming from Casper's forward Rodrigo Monsalve. We didn't want to settle for a point and continued pushing forward, being rewarded with the Baker's winner in the 71st minute, his fourth goal of the game. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in the process of scoring the goal and was taken off only a minute later, being replaced by winger Dani Grant. The game ended like that, with us dominating possession - 57% in the first half and a whopping 73% in the second, a clear sign of Casper's lack of stamina.
Goalkeeper Bruno Cluzel surprisingly was given the highest rating among all of Indianapolis' players, but it was Baker who was the obvious Man-of-the-Match and awarded the game ball for his outstanding hat-trick. Baker and the five-man midfield played well today but expensive $368,000 signing García Amado was a real disappointment, essentially being a non-factor. Collectively, the defense was ok. Only right back Sherman was at fault for the fourth goal against us. The first three just happened to be a poor tactical mistake on my part — I think we got lucky today playing away from home. Lesson learned: defensive wingbacks on both sides of the field are helpful when countering attacking wingers. The victory moved us up one place to third, leap frogging Casper as we're both now equal on points, but our goal difference is better by one.
VI.304 Table
| Home | Away | Total | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | The Gallovidians | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 9 | |
| 2 | SSA Lazio F.C. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| 3 | Indianapolis F.C. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 |  |
| 4 | Casper T.W. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |  |
| 5 | Mille Miglia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 3 | |
| 6 | ArupEleven | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -12 | 3 | |
| 7 | Tie-wearin' Interns | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | -7 | 1 | |
| 8 | Billet's Bashers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -8 | 1 | |
Oh and Baker's four goal salvo has propelled him to the #1 spot in the top goalscorer charts. Don't expect him to stay up there though. He'll undoubtedly be surpassed during the two weeks he's injured.
VI.304 Top Scorers
| Player | Team | Goals | |
| 1. | Cleveland Baker | Indianapolis F.C. | 5 |
| 2. | Gerdvilas Griniūnas | The Gallovidians | 4 |
| 3. | Ricky Bull | Casper T.W. | 3 |
| 4. | Rodrigo Monsalve | Casper T.W. | 3 |
| 5. | Ludwik Policiński | SSA Lazio F.C. | 3 |
| 6. | Paris Mansfield | Indianapolis F.C. | 3 |
We've got a friendly in France in three days against old friends FC LABROQUE. It'll be a good time to field-test the club's three latest additions — two high profile, inner midfield signings and an academy graduate. It's been around almost a full season since we begun heavy investments in our formerly defunct youth program and we've just managed to obtain a passable level of training for our young footballers. 19 year old Shannon Rodgers has been promoted from youth team in order to provide some cover for our injury plagued defense. The transactions for 21 year old Italian Giuseppe Radere ($366,000) and 24 year old Finn Pekka Nyrönen ($199,000) are a big blow to the club's budget ($613,837 -> $55,284 including weekly expenses) so don't expect us to be spending big again anytime soon. Our foreign signings are lacking in form and it might take a couple weeks before you start seeing Radere and Nyrönen playing in the league — they'll provide a welcome boost in skill and depth in the squad. I can assure you these two midfielders have an important role in the club's future plans.
Well, there's still paperwork and a presentation for the club board for me to do. See you Wednesday from France.
