Miami FC Earns First Win of the Season against NSC Minnesota
May 22, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami - Miami FC earned their first victory of the season and remains unbeaten through six games with a 1-0 victory over the visiting NSC Minnesota Stars after Paulo Araujo Jr. continued his impressive play with the game-winning goal in the second half. Miami FC returns to action as they face the first-place Austin Aztex on May 26 at Lockhart Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
"It was a well deserved win, we were very aggressive and took control of the game," Miami FC head coach Victor Pastora said. "Every day we emphasize performance and we are still going to get better. After tonight, we feel like we can play with less weight on our backs."
The Blues applied pressure early on in the match as Bryan Arguez and JP Rodrigues both fired shots on goal in the 8th minute of play, forcing NSC Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren to make two diving stops to keep Miami FC off the scoreboard.
The Miami FC defense was able to keep NSC Minnesota from having too many scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes of play as the Stars were limited to three shots on goal, all of which were stopped by goalkeeper Caleb Patterson who picked up his second shutout of the season.
A header by Cristiano Dias from a corner kick by Paulhino LePetit almost made its way into the net but was knocked away by a Stars defender in the 26th minute. Three minutes later, another header on a corner kick by LePetit, this time by JP Rodrigues, went just above the crossbar.
After a scoreless first half, the Blues came out aggressive and attacked the Stars backline, creating a number of scoring opportunities, the best one coming in the 63rd minute when Euzebio Neto beat a defender and crossed a ball to Abe Thompson deep in Stars territory. Thompson then spun around and sailed a shot high from inside the goal box to keep the score tied.
But the Blues broke through when Christian Gomez found the ball near midfield and sprinted across the field before passing the ball to Paulo Jr., who outran the NSC backline in the goal box and fired a shot past Warren to give the Blues a 1-0 lead in the 70th minute.
In stoppage time, however, NSC Minnesota made a last ditch effort to get the equalizer in the closing minutes. A header off a Stars corner kick landed safely in the arms of Patterson in the opening minute of stoppage time proved to be the best opportunity for NSC Minnesota.
The Miami FC backline stood firm for the time remaining, keeping the NSC Minnesota attack
at bay and preserving the lead until time expired.
Miami FC's reserve team will face off against Lynch's FC at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium on May 23. Game time is set for 4 p.m. and is closed to the public.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 22, 2010
- Whitecaps FC defeat Rhinos - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Portland extends winning streak to four games to start the season - Portland Timbers
- Baltimore Fells Timbers for Second Time in Ten Days - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- NSC Minnesota Stars drop road match 1-0 to Miami FC - Minnesota United FC
- Miami FC Earns First Win of the Season against NSC Minnesota - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Portland's Ryan Pore scores seventh goal of the season in loss - Portland Timbers
- NSC Minnesota Stars drop road match 1-0 to Miami FC - Minnesota United FC
- The Impact Faces Italian Club Fiorentina Sunday - Montreal Impact
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