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NASL Minnesota United FC

Free Kick Costs Minnesota Stars in 2-1 Loss to FC Tampa Bay

September 6, 2011 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (Sept. 6, 2011) - Mozzi Gyorio hooked a free kick around the wall, off the post and in to give FC Tampa Bay a 2-1 win against the NSC Minnesota Stars on Tuesday night. The three points gives FC Tampa Bay its first-ever playoff berth and dropped the Stars to a seventh consecutive game without a win.

Tampa Bay nearly scored in the fifth minute when it had the first of three goals called back for offside. Chris Clements had the closest chance of the first half for the Stars, nearly giving the home side a fortuitous lead in the 13th minute when his deep cross-turned-shot went over goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, only to bounce back off the crossbar.

The visitors continued their pressure, and it told in the 22nd minute as Keith Savage nodded home his third goal of the year at the back post after Aaron King slipped behind the Stars defense and crossed from near the goal line.

The Stars nearly responded immediately as new signing Luke Mulholland forced a diving save out of Attinella with a glancing header from a Scott Lorenz free kick. In need of a win to help solidify sixth place in the North American Soccer League, head coach Manny Lagos wasted no time in making changes, replacing Lucas Rodriguez in the 29th minute with new signing Anthony Hamilton and Lorenz in the 42nd minute with Amani Walker.

The changes and halftime talk seemed to sink in, and the Stars started the second half brightly for the home team with Sandy Gbandi testing Attinella from distance before center back Brian Kallman brought the teams level with his first goal of 2011. Mulholland marked his debut with an assist as Kallman redirected a corner kick in at the near post in the 51st minute.

Attinella came up big in the 66th minute to deny the first of two breakaways on the night. Walker sent Brian Cvilikas clear through the back line, but Attinella alertly dived at his feet as he shot to keep the motivated Stars at bay.

The save would prove key in the final 15 minutes. Tampa had a second goal ruled out in the 72nd minute for offside, but Gyorio won the game for Tampa Bay in the 77th minute with a right-footed free kick from about 25 yards out.

Kentaro Takada's reckless slide tackle gave Tampa the opportunity just right of center. With Savage standing over the ball, a left-footed shot looked on the cards, but Gyorio bent the ball around the wall the other way and in off the post, leaving Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren flat-footed.

Once again, the Stars were forced to chase an equalizer that nearly came in stoppage time as Justin Davis slipped behind the Tampa Bay defense, only to see Attinella take the ball off his feet just as he shot. Kerry Baptiste nearly gave Tampa insurance at the other end, only to see the linesman's flag up again for offside. Tampa nearly needed the insurance only second later as Del Do managed to wrap a leg around Shane Hill to drive a low cross off the crossbar from five yards out. Mulholland followed the effort with his fifth shot of the night, but Attinella held the effort from 20 yards out to secure the points for Tampa.

With the win, FC Tampa Bay moved four points clear of FC Edmonton for third place in the NASL. The Stars are still four points ahead of the Montreal Impact for the sixth and final playoff berth, but the Impact hold a game in hand on Minnesota and the tiebreaker based on head-to-head competition between the teams.

The Stars wrap up their home season Saturday night against the last-place Atlanta Silverbacks. The team will be celebrating more than 35 years of professional soccer history in Minnesota with a pregame exhibition match featuring former members of past Minnesota professional clubs. The first 1,000 people through the gates on Minnesota Soccer History Night will receive an autograph poster courtesy of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. For tickets, call (763) 792-7355 or visit NSCMinnesota.com.

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 6, 2011


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