Last Sunday in Nashville, the Indiana Blast were lifeless in a 3-0 loss.
But when the two teams met again Friday at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, it was the visiting Metros who looked haggard.
The Blast caught Nashville weary from its second match in three days -- with a flight from California in between -- and emerged 2-0, as Indiana ended a two-game losing streak.
An early goal by leading scorer Rodrigo Costa, who netted both the Blast's scores, proved to be all his team needed. However, Indiana (4-6-0, 19 points) seized numerous other opportunities, barely missing on at least two shots, and played stellar defense throughout.
It was a sharp contrast from the Blast's last two games, where they were outscored 6-0 over a span of about 120 minutes and squandered a 2-0 lead late in their last home game, a 3-2 loss to Cincinnati.
"We're learning to play with the lead and protect the lead a little bit," Indiana coach Ian Martin said. "We talked to the players to not stop the way we're playing. The reason we're winning is because we're keeping possession, we're building and we're penetrating."
Indiana asserted itself very early, just missing on two chances before Costa converted in the 5th minute. An Andy McDermott free kick went wide right, but Costa was unchecked about three feet from the goal and tapped the rebound into the left corner of the net for his seventh goal of the year.
Among other near-goals by the Blast later in the first half were a head-on shot by Peter Baah that went high and a 25-yard blast by Jeff Dresser that hit the crossbar just seconds before the halftime whistle.
Nashville's best first-half chance occurred in the 33rd minute, when James Wall headed a crossing pass from Jaymi Bailey just wide.
The first 43 minutes of the second half lacked the drama the opening half provided, as the Blast concentrated their efforts on the defensive end. The Metros had an edge in time of possession, but were unable to create many chances.
Indiana got insurance in the 89th minute, when Costa scored off a 2-on-1 break. Substitute forward Steve Weiger dribbled on the right wing from midfield to the 12-yard line, then fed Costa, who after having beaten his man fired one by Nashville keeper Eric Sims.
"I think after losing the last game to Nashville we came together," Costa said. "We had a couple of meetings during the week, talked about the mistakes we had done in the past and we decided it was time to turn it around."
The win was particularly gratifying for the Blast, who played without starting defenders Jeremy Aldrich and Kevin Knott, who were both were nursing injuries and
"We're getting there," Martin said. "The guys worked really hard and we really worked on our pressure and staying compact. (The Metros) turned the ball over a few times with our pressure and it was big."
Nashville dropped to 5-5-2 and 25 points. The Metros on Wednesday lost 5-0 at the L.A. Galaxy of MLS in a U.S. Open Cup match.
Tuesday, the Blast visit the Charleston Battery, against whom Indiana scored a 3-2 road upset June 16. The Blast's next home game is next Friday against El Paso.
LINEUPS
Nashville - 0-Sims, 2-Morman (9-Houser, 68th), 4-Cain, 5-Wall, 7-Valencia, 10-Fenger, 16-Kraemer, 17-Schmitt, 18-Bailey, 19-DeVall, 20-Hinkey.
Indiana - 31-Winner, 4-Dresser (12-Weiger-83th), 5-Sweeney, 6-Ottesen, 7-Demmin, 8-Tenoff, 9-Donaldson, 10-Costa, 14-Allen (16-Keenan, 16th), 17-Baah, 23-McDermott (11-Prosser, 84th).
Scoring: I-Costa (McDermott), 5th, I-Costa (Weiger), 89th.
Cautions: N-Cain (19th), I-McDermott (26th), I-Keenan (39th), I-Tenoff (45th), N-Schmitt (58th), N-DeVall (83th), I-Prosser (87th).
Shots on goal: N 18, I 13.
Saves: N 5, I 7.
Fouls: N 18, I 20.
Offsides: N 3, I 5.
Corner kicks: N 10, I 5.
