Indy Eleven has followed a very successful recipe during the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Get an early first half goal(s) and then defend well as a team when the inevitable surge happens when their opponents try to get back into the game.
In Indy’s games against the Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro), San Antonio FC (USL Championship), and Detroit City FC (USL Championship), they scored their first goal in the 6th, 2nd, and 14th minutes, respectively. Indy then added to their totals in each of those games by keeping their foot on the gas in the first half, having now scored seven of their eight goals in the tournament in the first half of play. In nearly all the games, they were officially outshot by their opponents, but have used team defense to stifle any comeback attempts.
In their 2-1 quarterfinal win on the road against MLS side Atlanta United, that successful recipe remained the same. A common factor for Indy’s goals versus Atlanta, as well as their early goal-scoring starts in the previous rounds has been Augustine Williams. Williams was involved in both of Indy’s goals against Atlanta United to secure their advancement to play Kansas City in the semifinals. It was Williams’ finish in the 31st minute that put Indy ahead, and it was his cross late in the game on a counterattack that a retreating Dax McCarty inadvertently redirected into his own goal that solidified the win for the Boys in Blue. Williams’ goal and unofficial assist to the own goal was enough for him to be awarded the honor of TheCup.us’ Player of the Round.
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The striker from Sierre Leon is no stranger to scoring goals in the USL Championship or in the US Open Cup, ranking ninth all-time in the USL in goals scored with 71 goals, while also being tied for fifth all-time in the league with 11 career braces. Williams helped the Charleston Battery get to the league’s championship game last season by leading the team in goals with a career-high 16, and is currently battling this year with Jack Blake to be Indy Eleven’s top scorer.
While Williams’ five goals in league play have him tied for 24th in scoring in the USL Championship, it’s been his ability to find the goal in the US Open Cup that has proven to be instrumental during Indy Eleven’s US Open Cup run. Williams has accounted for a goal in three of Indy’s four games and has been the first goal scorer in two of those games. Williams has never been afraid of the moment when it comes to the US Open Cup. In June 2017, Williams scored the Portland Timbers’ only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders, in his debut for the Timbers.
“I have always liked the Open Cup and the chance to compete against MLS teams. All levels of teams can be part of the Cup. Whether it’s Atlanta or Portland or Kansas City for us in the next game, I like the chance to compete against those teams to give us a chance to win against them to advance.”
It took a little bit longer for Indy Eleven to find the opening goal against Atlanta United than it had in the previous rounds, but Indy were able to ride Augi’s first half goal and the late McCarty own goal to overcome the team’s first conceded goal of the tournament. Indy’s 2-1 win against Atlanta was the club’s first victory against an MLS team, while also becoming the first Indiana team since 1992 to reach the tournament’s semifinals when the Indianapolis Inferno achieved the same feat. Williams has been a major factor in the team’s US Open Cup success, and will likely need to remain that way if the club wants to extend its run to the Final.