NASL Minnesota United FC

NSC MN Stars Go Second in NASL with 2-0 Win in Atlanta

Published on June 4, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


Devin Del Do scored a goal in both halves Saturday night as the Stars defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-0 and reclaimed second place in the North American Soccer League. Despite allowing Atlanta to control long spells of possession, Del Do's timely goals gave the Stars their second win of the year in Atlanta and propelled them past FC Edmonton, who lost 2-0 to the Montreal Impact to slide into third in the league table.

Del Do put the Stars on the board before some fans had even gotten seated at Silverbacks Park. In a time often reserved for teams to feel each other out, the Stars seized the game immediately when Andrei Gotsmanov played an early cross, which Del Do beat Atlanta goalkeeper Felipe Quintero to and chipped into the empty net.

Despite the dream start, the Stars failed to find a rhythm in the remainder of the first half and rarely threatened to scare again, often allowing Atlanta long spells of quality build up, but as has been the case all year for the Silverbacks, the scoring touch just wasn't there. The home side hit the crossbar with a headed shot in the 33rd minute, but overall the first half was confined largely to the midfield.

Neither team could take control of the second half, either. The Stars saw a Neil Hlavaty shot sail high and wide early in the half, and Simone Bracalello couldn't get his foot around a shot from about 10 yards out after Justin Davis knocked down a Del Do cross into the area.

Shortly after Bracalello's effort, Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren showed off his agility at the other end, diving to his left to parry a long-range shot away from the upper corner. Warren made an easy save from close range midway through the half, scooping the ball up from a weak effort after a free kick bounced around at the top of the goal area for Atlanta.

It started to feel like an equalizer was coming, but instead it was Del Do scoring the game's second goal and putting the game beyond the Silverbacks' reach. One of the Stars' few menacing attacks of the second half saw right back Brian Kallman pick up the ball on the wing, and his outswinging cross found Del Do at the top of the six-yard box, and the in-form forward headed home from close range for his fourth goal of the season.

The teams managed a half-chance each in the last 20 minutes of the game. Warren made another comfortable save, catching a Ciaran O'Brien free kick, and Minnesota substitute Amani Walker, who replaced Del Do, couldn't open up in time to get a shot past the onrushing Quintero after fellow sub Tino Nunez played him through on the left side of the penalty box.

The referee brought a workmanlike Stars victory to a close as Minnesota improved its record to 4-2-5 with 17 points. With the loss, Atlanta fell to 0-7-2 and is without a goal since an April 30 draw at FC Tampa Bay. The Stars take to the field again next Saturday at Lockhart Stadium against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The Stars' next home game is June 18 against FC Edmonton.

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North American Soccer League Stories from June 4, 2011


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