NASL Minnesota United FC

Minnesota Stars Return to Action Saturday at Montreal

Published on August 5, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


Two weeks after defeating the Montreal 1-0 at NSC Stadium, the NSC Minnesota Stars and the Major League Soccer bound Impact will switch locations for a Saturday-night showdown at Saputo Stadium in Quebec. The 7 p.m. CDT match is the second of four between the two clubs in 2011 and marks the first time the Stars will play at Saputo, whose 13,000 fans will be bolstered by the home team's recent improvements.

After a narrow loss to the Stars in Minnesota, the Impact defeated the defending second division champion Puerto Rico Islanders 1-0 in Montreal. In addition to the win, which puts the Impact six points behind the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the NASL's sixth and final playoff spot, the Impact have made personnel moves to bolster a squad with one eye on a future in MLS. The Impact added forward Ryan Pore on loan from the Portland Timbers and signed former New York Red Bulls midfielder Sinisi Ubiparipovic earlier this week.

Pore, last season's leading scorer in the second division, will add firepower to a front line that has been the Impact's downfall so far in 2011. The Impact have struggled in front of net through 18 games, with only 15 goals to its credit, five of which came in one game. Opponents have held the Impact scoreless nine times this season.

To a lesser degree, the Stars have also struggled on offense at times this season, scoring multiple goals in one game only four times through 17 matches. Unlike the Impact, however, the Stars tend to manage to get on the scoreboard, having been shutout only three times this season. In a match with two strong defensive teams - the Stars have allowed only 16 goals this season, the Impact only 19 - a single goal could stand up, and Stars head coach Manny Lagos said the first goal could prove even more critical than normal.

"Montreal is just a tremendous atmosphere, and it's as hostile a crowd as you'll find in this league," Lagos said. "It's important for us not to let the crowd intimidate us or cause us to lose focus, so the last thing we want to do is be forced to play from behind."

Saturday's match kicks off at 7 p.m. CDT. The game will be streamed live over the internet, and fans can watch free on NSCMinnesota.com or by stopping by the watch party at the Sweetwater Grille and Bar, 161 St. Anthony Ave. in St. Paul.

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