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USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

NSC Minnesota Stars Take Point In Vancouver

July 26, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release


Returning to the scene of their first-ever game, a 2-0 loss in April, the NSC Minnesota Stars picked up a valuable point on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps, earning a 1-1 tie in front of a packed house at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, British Columbia. Simone Bracalello's first goal of the year gave the Stars a first-half lead, but a pressure-filled second half from Vancouver led to Martin Nash's 67th minute equalizer.

Vancouver looked dangerous right out of the gate as Wes Knight ran rampant down the right side of midfield in the first 10 minutes. Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, no one could get on the end of any of the three dangerous balls he delivered early on, and the Stars soon calmed down and began to possess the ball in midfield. Still, it took nearly 15 minutes for the Stars to manage two off-target shots, and the visitors didn't look threatening until the 24th minute when Warren Ukah had a shot blocked from close range after outmuscling several Vancouver defenders on Scott Lorenz's long throw in.

At the other end of the field, Vancouver approached the game with a shoot-on-sight mentality, but Stars goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel was in perfect position to stop a shot from Nizar Khalfan and two from Blake Wagner. With the run of play going toward the Stars' goal, it was somewhat of a surprise when Bracalello put Minnesota on top in the 28th minute.

Johnny Menyongar's quick through ball found the Italian forward about 25 yards from goal, and with Jay Nolly already preparing to come off his line to cut out a breakaway, Bracalello shot surprisingly with his first touch. The ball bounced on its way to goal and eluded Nolly, who should have done more to steer it away from goal. The goal took the wind out of Vancouver's sails, and the Stars patiently controlled the tempo on offense and defended as a team to wind out the first half.

The second half largely belonged to the Whitecaps as the Stars chose their counterattacks carefully and attempted to soak up Vancouver's pressure. Bracalello forced Nolly into a diving save in the 59th minute, but that was the Stars' only clear-cut chance of the half. With Minnesota defending in numbers, Vancouver struggled to breakdown the backline, but Nash's 67th minute equalizer rewarded the Whitecaps' second-half aggression.

Marlon James returned to action for the first time since May 29 for the Whitecaps, and his introduction around the hour-mark added extra speed to Vancouver's attack. He started the move that led to the goal, winning the ball on the left wing before finding Cornelius Stewart near the penalty spot. As the Stars' defense closed on Stewart, Nash made an overlapping run. After a heavy first touch, the midfielder pulled the ball back onto his left foot before curling home his second goal of the season, beating Van Oekel from the right of the goal area.

Vancouver pushed in the final 20 minutes of the match for an equalizer but struggled to test Van Oekel. Takashi Hirano curled a free kick just over the bar in the 85th minute, and the Whitecaps had two penalty appeals turned down on 50-50 tackles in the box. Stars head coach Manny Lagos made a few attack-minded changes, bringing on leading scorers Brian Cvilikas and Neil Hlavaty, but the focus was always on defending as the Stars stretched their unbeaten run away from home to four games and began a three-game roadtrip with a third straight draw.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 26, 2010


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