David Woods

IndyStar

The Indy Eleven are 3-for-3 in home sellouts for 0-for-5 in victories.

Two first-half defensive lapses resulted in two goals by Edmonton FC, which held on for a 2-1 victory before an announced crowd of 10,285 at IUPUI's Carroll Stadium.

The outcome dropped the Eleven to 0-3-2, or two points, putting them last in the 10-team North American Soccer League. Edmonton (1-3-1) gets three points for the victory.

Coach Juergen Sommer changed the Eleven alignment to a 4-4-2, starting Pedro Mendes and Ambersley as forwards and leaving 6-5 striker Ben Spencer on the bench. Spencer replaced Mendes in the 58th minute.

The Eleven's best chance for a third successive home tie came in second-half stoppage time on a shot by Erick Norales directly in front of the goal. Edmonton goalkeeper John Smits caught the ball at eye level, effectively saving the Eddies' victory.

Dreadful defensive play by the Eleven resulted in two goals allowed less than two minutes apart.

Jaime Frias' pass back toward Kristian Nicht was easily intercepted by Daryl Fordyce, who pushed the ball past the goalkeeper to give Edmonton its first lead of the NASL season. The 24th-minute goal was only the Eddies' third all season.

Soon thereafter, a missed clearance by Indy off a corner kick resulted in Kareem Moses hitting the ball into the net right in front of the goal.

Down 2-0, the Eleven cut the lead in half in the 30th minute when Ambersley's free kick went off Edmonton defender Mallan Roberts and inside the left post for an own goal.

In the 43rd minute, Ambersley's header was wide left after a cross by A.J. Corrado. Neither team scored during three minutes of stoppage time, leaving Edmonton ahead 2-1 at halftime.

Norales was hurt in a collision in the 61st minute, and the Eleven briefly played with 10 men while he received medical attention. Norales came back, returning the Eleven to 11.

In the 66th minute, Massimo Mirabelli appeared to have an angle against Nicht, who closed out and deflected the shot for a nifty save.

The Eleven appeared to have a chance at a tying goal in the 73rd minute. Brad Ring sent a low cross toward Ben Spencer, who was beaten to the ball by an Edmonton defender.

The Eleven came up empty on an even better chance moments later when Norales' header couldn't connect from right in front of the goal. A delay called against Smits resulted in an indirect free kick for the Eleven, but Kleberson's looping shot was caught easily.

Ambersley's attack in the 86th minute was snuffed when Smits came off his line to snatch the ball away.

Indy defender Walter Ramirez stayed on the turf after an early collision but got up and resumed play. A yellow card was issued to Edmonton's Mike Banner.

Etc.

Paul Telfer, 42, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, has joined the Eleven staff as an assistant coach. He and Sommer were teammates at Luton Town in England. . . . The Eleven are the only team in NASL to have scored and be scored upon in each game this season.

Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.