NASL Minnesota United FC

Minnesota Stars Snap Winless Streak with 2-0 Victory Over Atlanta

Published on September 10, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - In a game they simply had to have, the Minnesota Stars put in a hard-working, spirited performance in front of 2,435 en route to a 2-0 win against the Atlanta Silverbacks. The win stopped a seven-game winless streak for the Stars and helped them in their effort to secure one of the North American Soccer League's six playoff berths.

"Considering our rut we were in, the stress of the last home game and the importance of the points, I thought the guys did an amazing job with a workmanlike effort," Stars head coach Manny Lagos said after the game. "We didn't necessarily play well for all 90 minutes, but we really had an attitude of staying focused and sharp."

With only three goals to their credit in their previous seven games, the Stars saw some pressure lift almost immediately as Jeff Cosgriff put them ahead in the 12th minute. The winger, who just returned from a foot injury, raced behind Atlanta defender Moussa Toure and rounded goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer at the top of the penalty area before cutting back at the top of the six-yard box and slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his right foot.

Defender Cristiano thought he had grabbed his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute with a header from a Luke Mulholland corner kick, but the referee called the Brazilian for pushing off a defender's back to reach the ball. The Stars maintained the pressure, but couldn't produce another shot on goal. Meanwhile, the Minnesota defense held Atlanta without a shot on goal in the first half as Tyler Ruthven's non-threatening header from a corner kick near halftime marked Atlanta's best scoring opportunity.

Left only to play spoiler in the NASL playoff chase, Atlanta came out with more urgency in the second half but again struggled to create chances. The Silverbacks defense was more disruptive, though, and the Stars found possession harder to maintain than in the first half as they chased an insurance goal.

Brian Cvilikas rounded Maurer on the hour mark, but his touch carried him wide and his low cross from the endline eluded Mulholland and Anthony Hamilton near the penalty spot. Cvilikas tested Maurer himself with a long-range shot in the 76th minute, but the second goal continued to elude the home team.

"He didn't score, but the effort and work rate Brian put in was first-class in terms of battling for every ball, and I think it put a lot of stress on their defense and created some good chances when we needed them," Lagos said.

The insurance finally came late on. Hamilton's corner from the right wing bounced awkwardly at the near post and bounced off a Silverbacks defender's arm. The referee pointed to the penalty spot, and with normal penalty taker Neil Hlavaty not in the line up, Kyle Altman stepped up to take the kick. The Stars captain sent Maurer the wrong way, burying a powerful low shot just inside the post for his second goal of the season.

Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren made two late saves, one from a long-range shot and one from a deflected cross to preserve his seventh shutout of the season. The Stars held onto sixth place in the NASL with the win, and moved six points clear of the Montreal Impact, who make up their game in hand Sunday afternoon against the Carolina RailHawks, who last week wrapped up the league's regular season crown. The Stars face two tough games on the road to wrap up their season, against FC Tampa Bay next Saturday and at Carolina Sept. 24.

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 10, 2011


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