INDIANAPOLIS – Louisville City FC got goals in either half to earn its third consecutive victory against Indy Eleven on Wednesday night, moving four points clear at the top of Group E after a 2-0 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium with three games remaining for each side in the regular season.

Indy opened the game with more possession and looking the more dangerous of the sides, but both defenses performed well to limit many scoring chances in the opening half-hour. In fact, it wasn’t until six minutes before halftime that the first shot on target arrived for either side, but when it did it allowed LouCity to go into the lead.

After a corner kick from the left by Oscar Jimenez was cleared to the top of the penalty area, LouCity’s Antoine Hoppenot looked to fire a shot back from 20 yards. Hoppenot dragged his effort left, but it fell invitingly for Cameron Lancaster, who redirected the ball into the top-right corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.

LouCity almost doubled their lead soon after as good ball by Lancaster played Corben Bone into the right side of the penalty area only for the veteran midfielder’s shot to slide wide of the left post.

Indy could, and maybe should, have equalized just before halftime break off a corner kick as Ayoze’s delivered went over the crowd of bodies at the near post and found Nick Moon alone near the far stick. Moon got underneath his header, though, and sent his effort narrowly over the crossbar.

The hosts began to apply more pressure in the second half as Tyler Pasher was introduced to the game shortly before the hour-mark. Moments later a cross from the left by Ayoze toward Indy’s scoring leader was redirected up in the air, but Carl Haworth was unable to control his finish as it came back down sending it just over the crossbar. Karl Ouimette then went close in the 64th minute as his header off a corner from the left went just wide of the right post.

With 15 minutes remaining, though, LouCity doubled its lead. After switching play to the right flank, Napo Matsoso played a quick 1-2 with Cameron Lancaster before looking to play inside. His pass was deflected by a defender, but it fell perfectly to Brian Ownby, who slipped Bone in as he broke forward from midfield and the birthday boy made no mistake with a finish to the left corner of the net.

Indy threatened again five minutes later off a free kick as Haworth’s delivery from the left was knocked down nicely by Ouimette to Conner Antley, but his first-time finish was turned wide of the left post by LouCity goalkeeper Ben Lundt. There would be no late comeback for the hosts, however, as LouCity extended its undefeated streak in the LIPAFC to 10 consecutive games.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Corben Bone, Louisville City FC – Bone scored the insurance goal for the visitor, completed two key passes and 30 of 41 passes overall while making seven recoveries defensively.