USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

NSC Minnesota Stars tie Miami FC 1-1

May 16, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - Johnny Menyongar scored his first goal of the season in the 55th minute Saturday night, but the NSC Minnesota Stars couldn't hold the lead and settled for a 1-1 draw with Miami FC. Paulo Araujo Jr. scored Miami's only goal in the 73rd minute.

Goalkeeping was the theme of the night for both teams. Joe Warren saved his third penalty kick in three games, and the Stars peppered Miami's goal with 11 shots, eight of which were on goal. Unfortunately for the home team, Miami goalkeeper Caleb Patterson made seven saves, including three from close range, to keep the Stars from earning all three points.

The Stars began the game brightly, with plenty of possession in Miami's defensive end. Two-Boys Gumede, starting at defense instead of his usual outside midfield position, dazzled the crowd early with some fancy footwork. Despite the quality possession, it took 20 minutes for the Stars to get a shot on goal.

When the chance came, though, the Stars nearly found themselves up 1-0. Brian Cvilikas intercepted a poorly hit back pass to Patterson, but his touch around the Miami goalkeeper took him away from the goal. By the time he could turn his body to shoot, Miami's defense had recovered to clear the ball off the goal line.

Cvilikas was involved in the Stars next good scoring chance. The 6-foot-3 forward got onto the end of a Chris Clements cross at the back post, nodding the ball back across goal. The ball landed at Daniel Wasson's feet, but Patterson blocked both his point-blank shot and his follow-up attempt.

Miami regrouped at halftime and started the second half with more threatening possession than in the first. Abe Thompson tried his luck in the 51st minute from the top of the penalty area, but Brian Kallman slid in front of his shot at the last minute to prevent it from getting to Warren.

"The defense I love is the defense we played tonight, where they don't even let the shots reach me," Warren said after the game.

Despite Miami's newfound sense of urgency, the Stars took the lead 11 minutes into the half as Menyongar scored his first goal of the season. Cvilikas did more good work in the air, using his head to loop a pass toward the penalty spot. Menyongar beat Miami's defense to the ball and left Patterson helpless to stop a left-footed volley.

NSC Minnesota continued to look for chances. Cvilikas shot just wide from about 20 yards out in the 62nd minute, Wasson surprised Patterson with a free kick that floated just wide a minute later, and Menyongar stung Patterson's hands from about 10 yards out in the 72nd minute.

The Stars would regret the missed opportunities, as Araujo took advantage of a rare channel in Minnesota's defense to head home Christian Gomez's sliding cross for the equalizer in the 73rd minute.

Three minutes later, it looked like the Stars would fall behind. Melvin Tarley was called for a trip in the penalty area, leaving Warren staring down his third penalty kick in as many games. Familiar play, familiar result, as Warren dove to his left to deny Thompson's well-struck penalty.

Warren admitted after the game he's never faced penalty kicks in three consecutive matches, let alone saved three in a row. Kallman had never seen a series of saves like it, either.

"It's amazing," Kallman said. "Papa Joe took two years off and he's come back and looks like he's in his prime."

The save energized the Stars, who pressed hard for a winner. Cvilikas intercepted another back pass in the 88th minute after Patterson let the ball roll across his body. As Cvilikas raced onto the loose ball in front of the net, Patterson dove desperately in front of the shot to preserve the tie. Two minutes later, Simone Bracalello controlled the ball with his chest before half-volleying a shot that looked to have Patterson beaten but couldn't sneak inside the near post.

With the tie, the Stars are 2-5-1 on the season and are tied with the Montreal Impact for sixth place in the USSF D-2 Pro League's overall table. Head coach Manny Lagos expressed disappointment at the team's last three results, which have seen the Stars play well but come away with only a draw to show for their efforts.

"This was a great game for the fans, with great attacking soccer from both teams," Lagos said. "This early in the season, we've got to keep emphasizing the positives and keep holding our heads up. We know the results will come."

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 16, 2010


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