Indianapolis, Indiana (May 2, 2018) — USL’s newest rivalry has been fairly one-sided thus far.
FC Cincinnati notched its second consecutive road win against league debutant Indy Eleven on Wednesday, with Corben Bone’s 54th-minute goal proving the difference in the 3-2 win. The result gives the Orange and Blue its fourth win in five matches away from home in 2018 and vaulted them to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Early Second Half Goal Gives FC Cincinnati Second Straight Win in “Battle of I-74”
The visitors opened the scoring fairly early. In the seventh minute, Kenney Walker continued his red-hot form in converting a penalty to put Cincy up 1-0. Walker had a Sportscenter Top 10 moment in his team’s previous outing. The 29-year-old rocketed a shot from 50+ yards out in their 3-0 win over the Ottawa Fury last Saturday. The tally also gave him three goals in the previous three contests.
It didn’t take long for Indy to respond. 17 minutes later, forward Jack McInerney took advantage of a poor back pass and equalized for the Boys in Blue. After FC Cincy goalkeeper Spencer Richey saved his initial shot, he collected the rebound and put it past him to make it 1-1.
Another look at Indy's first goal.@JackMcInerney9 is good at scoring 👀🥅#INDvCIN pic.twitter.com/tJaz9aJR1n
— x – Indy Eleven (@IndyEleven) May 2, 2018
Indy were the beneficiaries of a penalty call of their own in the 30th minute. After referee Marcos de Oliveira pointed to the spot, Ayoze García stepped up to take the kick. The 32-year-old Spaniard then blasted it past Richey to give the home side the lead.
But Cincy then demonstrated their poise on the road. In the 41st minute, forward Jimmy McGlaughlin collected a wonderfully placed through ball from Bone and hit it on the half volley past goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams to make Indy’s lead short-lived.
Then Bone went from provider to goal-scorer and in so doing sealed three points for his team. The former Chicago Fire draftee received a short pass from Michael Lahoud who quickly won possession off a poorly cleared ball. Bone then teed off from the top of the arc and beat Williams to his right. The tally was his second of the year which already equals a single-season career-high for him in USL play.
REPLAY: @MikeLahoud gets the assist as he picks off an Indy clearance and finds @CorbenBone who places nicely from the top of the 18 to put us back on top!#JoinTheMarch | #INDvCIN pic.twitter.com/fjP04h9VZq
— S – FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) May 3, 2018
Both sides are back in action this coming Saturday. Indy will take on another new local rival with defending USL champions Louisville City SC coming to town (noon, ET). Meanwhile, the Orange and Blue return to the friendly confines of Nippert Stadium to face Atlanta United 2 (7 p.m. ET).
