INDY ELEVEN GAMEDAY & MATCH PREVIEW
Indy Eleven vs. Minnesota United FC
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – 7:30 p.m. ET
IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

GAMEDAY FAN GUIDE & WEATHER GUIDELINES coming soon at IndyEleven.com

WATCH LIVE:
TV: WISH-TV 8 (Pre-game Show at 7:00 pm; Honda Post-game Show to follow)
In the United States: ESPN3.com streaming video (housed at IndyEleven.com) 
Internationally: Streaming video via various ESPN online platforms

LISTEN LIVE:
Spanish-language coverage on Exitos Radio 1590AM

FOLLOW ONLINE:  
In-game updates: Follow the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Live stats: Visit the NASL.com MatchCenter
Game Notes: Click to read the match notes vs. Carolina

The last time Minnesota United FC came to the Circle City, the crowd invaded the pitch after Indy’s first NASL home win.  Indy Eleven will be looking for a bit more measured (but no less energetic) response from its faithful when the Loons visit this Saturday, May 16.  Kickoff for Military Appreciation Night at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET for a match that can be seen locally on WISH-TV and nationwide via streaming video online at espn3.com. 

GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE: With Kristian Nicht returning midweek after a two-week hiatus in Quebec with the Montreal Impact, it would make sense for head coach Juergen Sommer to plug the German veteran back into the XI ... you know, seeing as how he had started the first 33 competitive matches in Indy Eleven history up until last Saturday.  But 22-year-old Keith Cardona equated himself well against Armada FC in his pro debut last weekend, and Nicht's journey to Canada was not necessarily a holiday.  Not saying there's a budding goalkeeper controversy, but don't see surprised if it's Cardona between the posts for a second straight week.

“ONE IS THE ONLY-EST NUMBER THAT YOU’LL EVER CEDE”: Apologies to Three Dog Night for the play on words … the point is that, whether it has been Nicht or Cardona in goal, Indy Eleven has been consistent on the score sheet, allowing one goal in each of its five Spring Season contests to date. Meanwhile, last week marked the first time the team had been shut out in 2015, and broke a streak of eight games dating back to last October in which it had scored at least once (last shutout was in a 0-0 draw Oct. 4 vs. NYC).

MIRROR MIRROR, ON THE TABLE: To this point in the season, both Indy and Minnesota have maintained fairly similar stats in more than one facet of the game. After capturing their first win of the spring season last Saturday via a 1-0 versus Atlanta, United FC climbed to 1W-3D-1L on the season, even with Indy in the standings on six points. Additionally, both the Eleven and the “Loons” have given up and allowed five goals each this season (second tiebreaker is goal differential, and third tiebreaker is goals scored). Thus, 7th place Indy technically leads 8th place Minnesota in the standings on the strength of the NASL’s fourth standings tiebreaker, away goals (3 to 2). 

But don't let "7th and 8th place" fool you - both teams are within a win of 2nd place Jacksonville and 3rd place Tampa Bay, who sit on nine points in the crowded standings entering the weekend. While New York appears to be running away with a 5-point gap up top, remember that Indy Eleven does hold a game in hand on the current front-runners.  Check out the NASL.com Standings page for all the details.

HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA UNITED FC:

MIN 3 : 2 IND (5/03/14) – After allowing goals to Christian Ramirez and Daniel Mendes two minutes apart midway through the first half, it appeared Indy Eleven would have some momentum heading into the break after Simone Bracalello’s own goal in the 43^rd minute.  However, Aaron Pitchkolan’s blast from outside the box in first half stoppage time expanded MNU’s lead back to two goals at the halftime whistle.  The deficit proved too much to over come, as Kleberson’s PK three minutes deep into second half stoppage time was too little, too late at NSC Stadium.

MIN 5 : 1 IND (8/16/14) – Indy Eleven’s 2^nd trip to Minnesota was one it would like to have soon forgotten, as the Loons overran Indiana’s Team early and often.  Aaron Pitchkolan’s 25^th minute goal turned the tide, while Christian Ramirez’s NASL Goal of the Year bicycle kick 12 minutes later deflated the visitors.  Ensuing goals by Daniel Mendes (45+2’), Jaime Watson (53’) and Ramirez again (58’) would bury the visitors, who got a consolation tally from Kleberson in the 71^st minute to avoid the shutout.

IND 2 : 0 MNU (10/11/14) – It was the win Indy Eleven fans had waited for all season, as the “Boys in Blue” got their first home victory in NASL play on their second-to-last try after a six-month wait.  Victor Pineda got his first professional goal and gave Indy a 1-0 advantage in the 12^th minute when he beat Matt VanOekel at the right post, and Jhulliam followed with a thunderous volley that snuck under the crossbar just after the halftime whistle.  A genuine pitch invasion at the final whistle from by the Brickyard Battalion provided a cathartic end to the upset.

"AND NOW, YOUR 'MOMENT OF ZEN' ..."