Following a loss to Charlotte Independence on Tuesday, Bethlehem Steel FC has to regroup quickly and prepare to host Indy Eleven this Saturday. Kick off from Talen Energy Stadium is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 20, as part of a double-header with Philadelphia Union hosting Montreal Impact at 1:00 p.m. ET. Tickets for both matches are available here, with the Steel match set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
Who is Indy Eleven?
Indy Eleven joined USL in 2018 after having played in NASL since 2014. The Indiana club has posted an all-time record of 49-56-50 record in league-play since its founding and a 13-11-10 record in USL last season. The Steel and the Indy have played each other three times before with the two sides splitting the matches for a record of 1-1-1.
The Eleven on the field
It’s been a solid start to the year for Indy, posting a 3-1-0 record through four matches in 2019. The club has earned results against Charlotte Independence, Hartford Athletic and Swope Park Rangers in its last three matches and has only lost to Eastern Conference leaders Saint Louis FC. Indy has plenty of experience on the attack, including Thomas Enevoldsen and Dane Kelly who have over 500 appearances and 141 goals between them.
The Eleven are sitting in 7th place after having played four matches, but are serious contenders this year. The club has scored goals this year, but hasn’t given up that many.
Players to watch
Thomas Enevoldsen – Enevoldsen brings experience to the Indiana side. Having made 314 appearances in his 14-year-professional career and scoring 62 total goals across six different clubs, he brings the knowledge and years of competitive play to lead from the front and cause problems for the Steel defense.
Dane Kelly – If you focus too much on Enevoldsen, you’ll likely lose track of Dane Kelly and he’ll make you pay for it. The pair have two goals each and lead the club in goals this season. Even being a few years younger than Enevoldsen, Kelly brings plenty of experience and goals to the Indy front line himself. He has played at five different USL clubs (Charleston Battery, Indy Eleven, Reno 1868, Richmond Kickers and Swope Park Rangers) and at MLS-side D.C. United. He has 79 goals in nine years and is the USL’s all-time goal-scoring leader with 69 in the league. Needless to say, he is clinical in front of goal.
Neveal Hackshaw – A leading force in the Eleven’s midfield, Hackshaw will bring a choppy game that throws opposing teams off balance. He’ll be one to watch, especially with the forwards in front of him taking the lion’s share of the attention.
Injuries/Suspensions
None
Head Coach
Martin Rennie – Rennie began his soccer-coaching career in 2007 and has spent the last 10 years coaching in the US, Canada and South Korea. He is the only coach to have worked his way through the North American soccer pyramid, having been a head coach in the PDL, USL, NASL and MLS, taking only 5 years to transition through the professional ranks. Rennie holds the UEFA Pro License, which is the highest coaching qualification available anywhere in the world.
