Draw!!
The #9-ranked Clemson Tigers faced off against the #11-ranked Indiana Hoosiers in a tough season-opening matchup. Nathan Richmond and Ransford Gyan opened up the scoring to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead, but a clumsy red card from Freshman Kwaku Agyabeng put Clemson down a man for the rest of the match. Indiana would take advantage of 10-man Clemson by netting two goals in 14 minutes to force a 2-2 stalemate in Bloomington. Clemson and Indiana will start the season off as 0-0-1.
Indiana Starts Strong
Within the first few minutes of play, Indiana had already created two huge scoring opportunities. An early save by Joseph Andema, in his first game since November 1 against Virginia Tech, kept the game scoreless within the first minute of play. But, more chances came for the Hoosiers as Forward Palmer Ault struck the post a few moments after Andema’s key stop. Indiana continued to squander their early chances, which was a bold plan against the #9-ranked team in the country.
Clemson Takes Their First Lead of the Season
The Tigers’ first goal of the new season, scored by Nathan Richmond, was an absolute beauty. The sequence started with two poor clearances from the Hoosiers, which led to Richmond having the ball at the edge of the penalty area. The Senior, who only appeared in three games last season, let one rip off his left foot. Richmond’s inch-perfect shot went right past Indiana’s keeper and straight into the netting to put the Tigers up 1-0 heading into halftime.
Gyan Gives Clemson a Two-Goal Lead
A shifty move around the center back had Ransford Gyan one-on-one with the goalkeeper before he was tripped up in the penalty area, giving Clemson a penalty kick. Gyan stepped up to take the kick and sent the keeper in the opposite direction, slotting one into the bottom right corner to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the 58′.
Agyabeng’s Red Gives Indiana Life
A bad challenge from Clemson’s freshman midfielder Kwaku Agyabeng had him see his second yellow card of the night, which led to him being sent off in the 64′. Just a few minutes after Agyabeng’s red card, a hard challenge from right back Remi Okunlola would give the Hoosiers a penalty. Palmer Ault, who struck the post within the first few minutes of the game, would finally get Indiana on the board with his strike into the bottom left corner to cut the Tigers’ lead down to one.
Indiana Finds Late Equalizer
Looking for an answer with less than ten minutes left in regulation, Indiana dominated the possession of the ball and continued to send crosses in. After a couple of blocks and strong clearances from Clemson, Indiana finally had their opening. A beautiful cross from Nolan Kinsella found Jacopo Fedrizzi open in the middle of the penalty box. The Italian sent his one-touch volley into the back of the net to knot the score up at two goals apiece by the end of 90 minutes.
Takeaways
- Ransford Gyan is still very, very good at soccer.
- Kwaku Agyabeng made a bad mistake and probably cost Clemson a win, but he will be a key part of this year’s team. Young players like himself need time to grow and correct their mistakes.
- Red cards continue to be a problem with this team. Last season, Clemson was a man down in far too many games, which made their ability to win much more difficult. If they want to compete for a national championship this season, they must cut down on being sent off.
- It was encouraging to see players like Joseph Andema and Nathan Richmond back after missing a chunk of last season’s games.
Up Next
- The Clemson Tigers return home to Historic Riggs Field for the first time this season on Tuesday, August 26. The Tigers will take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Palmetto Series at 7:00 PM on the ACC Network.
Stay tuned and updated with Tiger View Media, as we bring you news, recaps, and stories for Clemson Men’s Soccer this season.
