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USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

NSC Minnesota Stars Top RailHawks 1-0 in Rain-Soaked Game

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


BLAINE, Minn. (Sept. 15, 2010) -- With his parents looking on in the sparse, rain-soaked crowd, Devin Del Do picked a perfect moment to score his first professional goal, leading the Stars to a 1-0 win Wednesday night against the nine-man Carolina RailHawks. Del Do deflected a Lucas Rodriguez shot in the 35th minute for the game's only score.

The game started nearly 90 minutes late after lightning in the area forced a delay. Despite the delay, the Stars came out looking fresh and fired up.

"We kinda knew it would be a strange night with the weather and the late start, but I thought the guys absorbed the adversity of the game, especially in the first half," Stars head coach Manny Lagos said.

The first 10 minutes were unsurprisingly sloppy, as standing water near midfield stopped the ball in its tracks, leading to several comical losses of possession for both sides. With the center channel cut off by the water, the Stars quickly began attacking the wings. Del Do deflected an Ely Allen shot just wide in the 13th minute, and the slick field yielded a penalty shout for the Stars less than a minute later, although the referee didn't punish Carolina's Daniel Woolard for handball.

The game turned heavily in the Stars' favor in the 18th minute. Simone Bracalello played an early cross for Del Do, and Carolina goalkeeper Nik Platter slipped as he came out to clear the ball. With Del Do closing in on the loose ball, Carolina defender Devon McKenney hauled down the Minnesota forward. The referee pointed to the spot and sent McKenney for an early shower with a red card.

Coming off a pair of goals Saturday at St. Louis, Bracalello placed the ball for the ensuing penalty kick. Recent form went out the window, however, as Bracalello sent his shot high over the bar and gave the RailHawks a momentary reprieve.

The Stars continued pressing, and Bracalello nearly redeemed himself in the 25th minute, taking a ball in stride before unleashing a right-footed volley from about 20 yards out that went just wide of Platter's near post. The Italian forward then forced a save out of Platter with a swerving shot in the 27th minute.

Carolina mustered its first significant attack of the game in the 31st minute and nearly scored. Matthew Watson collected the ball near the left edge of the Stars' penalty box and took a touch toward the endline before driving a low shot toward the back post. Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren reacted well to steer the ball out for a corner kick, making his first of three saves on the night.

Four minutes later, the Stars were in front from a corner kick of their own. Carolina could only partially clear Andrei Gotsmanov's out-swinging cross before Rodriguez drove the ball back into the crowded penalty area. Rodriguez was definitely shooting wide, but his shot-turned-cross was turned in at the back door by Del Do, who was unmarked along with several other Stars' players.

For Del Do, the goal was a case of being in the right place at the right time, an instinct he said a lot of people don't appreciate enough in forwards. "I've always depended on my hard work," he said, "and I try to get into good positions and hope to make things happen for me and obviously for my team."

Del Do had an opportunity to double the Stars' lead five minutes before halftime after more quality play from him and Bracalello. The Italian rewarded Del Do's diagonal run into the box with a through ball. Del Do took a touch away from Platter but couldn't overcome his momentum as he stretched to shoot the ball just wide of the near post.

Up a man and a goal, the Stars contented themselves with counterattacks and stifling Carolina's attack before it could cause any danger. The Stars possessed the ball well and closed down space in their defensive third, limiting the RailHawks to long-distance shots and hopeful crosses into the area. Overall, the half lacked the intensity of the first half, but a second Carolina red card in the 80th minute, when Amir Lowery hacked down Geison Moura from behind in front of the Stars' bench, provided the Stars with several favorable breaks in the final 10 minutes.

Platter had to be alert in the 83rd minute, coming well out of the penalty box to beat Melvin Tarley to a ball over the top. Platter made his last of five saves in stoppage time as Allen, Tarley and Brian Cvilikas combined during a three-on-one, but Cvilikas' low shot was too close to Platter to put the game away. The good performance was bittersweet for Platter, who was a fan favorite during five seasons with the Minnesota Thunder.

"I have a lot of great memories here from over the years," the RailHawks goalkeeper said after the match. "I had to keep reminding myself that I never played for [the Stars], but it's different being on the other side of things."

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


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