Kevin Johnston

IndyStar correspondent

The Indy Eleven opened their fall home slate Saturday night at Carroll Stadium against Minnesota United FC, with the teams tied for second place in the North American Soccer League combined spring and fall standings at 19 points.

After a game-winner from outside the box in the 78th minute by Indy midfielder Dylan Mares, the Eleven, with their 1-0 victory, were alone in second, two points back of the first-place New York Cosmos.

Prior to the match, the NASL spring title trophy was presented to the team in front of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.

Entering the game, Eleven coach Tim Hankinson stuck with the 4-4-2 formation that has been so successful, while Minnesota coach Carl Craig, his club fresh off a 5-1 thrashing of the Carolina RailHawks, went with his trusted 4-2-3-1.

A foul inside the 18-yard box in the 37th minute by Mares on forward J.C. Banks led to a United penalty kick. Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch dove to his left to make a stellar save on forward Christian Ramirez’s attempt.

“Most of the time I wait and react, but I’ve got to give all the credit to (assistant coach) Timmy Regan,” Busch said. “He scouts them. He sends me video every week of the PK takers. We knew that (Ramirez) preferred to go that way. So I was going to wait as long as I could to make sure he didn’t change up, and then go all out on that side.”

Ramirez, the second all-time leading scorer in modern NASL history, netted a hat trick last weekend but couldn’t get on the scoresheet this week.

Despite all the first-half drama, the teams headed to the break scoreless. On the night, the Eleven got the better of the possession; the Loons generated more shots.

Hankinson switched to a 4-3-3 formation late in order to pursue the three points. It worked, as a costly turnover by United substitute Lance Laing led to Mares’ goal.

Spring champion Indy Eleven have plenty still to achieve despite little to play for

The tally was Indy’s NASL-leading eighth goal of the season in the 75th minute or beyond.

“It’s just a drive inside the players that — because of some prior games that those moments went their way — they know that they can win games late,” Hankinson said.

A scrum in the 88th minute raised animosity between the clubs, culminating with a post-final whistle red card to Indy defender Lovel Palmer. The ejection will force him to miss the next game.

The Eleven only get three days to rest up before hosting the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Wednesday. But because of a Sunday match, the Strikers will play on just 48 hours of rest. Indy will then head to Blaine, Minn., on Saturday for a rematch with United.