OKC-Indy rescheduled for Sept. 29 after Taft Stadium loses ‘Energy’
While weather delays and ensuing power outages happen from time to time in the beautiful game, when the host side is named “Energy FC,” it obviously adds a dose of irony and humor to the storyline.
The OKC Energy and Indy Eleven have rescheduled their July 10 fixture for Sept. 29 after a storm system forced the halting of last Saturday’s match shortly after halftime with the scoreboard knotted up 1-1. The poor weather knocked the power out at Taft Stadium, and it was unable to be restored in a reasonable amount of time for the contest to resume.
Per USL Championship rules, the result and all stats accumulated Saturday were completely wiped clean.
Indy attacker Cammy Smith scored what would’ve been his second goal of the season in the 15th minute on a laser that found the top corner at the near post. Jordan Hamilton’s layoff assist went for naught, as well.
Likewise, OKC forward Frank Lopez’s header five minutes later that leveled matters also won’t count. The deft assist on the ball in by defender Zachary Ellis-Hayden won’t count, either.
The game’s new date, Sept. 29, coincides with another of Indy’s visits to Taft Stadium the same week. OKC will host Indy on Sept. 26, so the makeup date forms a Sunday-Wednesday doubleheader.
The Eleven have shown modest signs of life since Max Rogers assumed primary coaching duties following Martin Rennie’s abrupt midseason departure. They’ve won once, lost once and drawn twice so far under Rogers, and now sit in fourth place — above the playoff line — in the Central Division.
Rogers hasn’t officially been named the interim manager, but he’s ostensibly functioning as such.
The Energy, meanwhile, are only a point back from Indy and obviously still very much in the playoff mix with less than half the season in the books. They’ve won three of their last five, evidence that perhaps interim head coach Leigh Veidman has his side’s arrow pointing upward.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.
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