FENTON, Mo. – Tyler Blackwood’s second goal in as many games lifted Saint Louis FC to its second consecutive victory as it ended the perfect start to the season of Indy Eleven with a 1-0 win at West Community Stadium on Sunday evening.

Looking to build off their dramatic victory last time out, the Eleven got onto the front foot early. A free kick swung in beautifully by Cam Lindley from 40 yards in just the third minute fell invitingly in the penalty area, but Karl Ouimette was unable to get enough on his finish which allowed STLFC goalkeeper Kyle Morton to gather.

Ten minutes later it was Andrew Carleton that threatened for the visitors as Conner Antley picked out his late-arriving run into the penalty area with a cross from the left, but Morton was again well-positioned to keep the low shot from finding the net.

As Indy carried most of the play in the opening 20 minutes, however, it was Saint Louis that struck first midway through the half. In space 15 yards inside the Eleven’s half, Wal Fall produced a perfectly weighted pass with the outside of his right boot that picked out the run of Blackwood into the left channel. Blackwood shot first time and picked out the bottom-right corner of the net precisely, offering Indy goalkeeper Evan Newton little chance to save.

Indy pushed for an equalizer before the halftime break, and Carleton was again denied by Morton with a curling effort in first-half stoppage time. Making his first start for the Eleven, Jeremy Rafanello then threatened just past the hour-mark with a strong low finish that initially snuck through Morton, but the STLFC goalkeeper took enough pace off the shot to recover and keep the ball from crossing the line.

The Eleven’s Paddy Barrett set up another chance for Carleton with a weighted pass over the top a few minutes later, but a narrowing angle proved too tricky for Carleton as he fired a first-time finish over the crossbar. Brought on as a second-half substitute, Indy’s Tyler Pasher also had a chance snuffed out by Phanuel Kavita as he blocked Pasher’s effort from the left side of the penalty area behind for a corner kick.

Barrett had a long-range effort off his own after a free kick by Lindley had gone into the defensive wall with three minutes to go as the Irish center back’s curling shot from 30 yards only narrowly went wide of the right post. But despite holding a 20-2 edge in total shots, the Eleven were held scoreless for the first time this season and their four-game winning streak was brought to an end as STLFC held firm for victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Wal Fall, Saint Louis FC – Fall produced a brilliant assist to set up Blackwood’s tally, completed 49 of 56 passes overall and won 7 of 11 duels while recording two interceptions and five recoveries.