NASL Minnesota United FC

Stars Clinch Playoff Berth with 2-1 Win at Carolina

Published on September 24, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


The Minnesota Stars sealed a berth in the North American Soccer League with a 2-1 win Saturday night in Cary, N.C., against the regular season champion Carolina RailHawks. A flurry of goals early in the second half supplied all of the game's goals, capped by Brian Cvilikas' 52nd minute game-winner.

Cvilikas' goal finished a run of three goals in four minutes after Stars captain Kyle Altman opened the scoring in the 48th minute with a penalty kick before Carolina's Pablo Campos scored his 12th goal of the year two minutes later to tie the score. The winning goal came after Lucas Rodriguez picked off an errant back pass and fed Cvilikas for his third goal in five games.

"Carolina went for it, so it's huge," Stars head coach Manny Lagos said. "Obviously we were disappointed to put ourselves in the position to have to leave it on the last day, but to play against the best team in the league on the road and walk away with a win is a testament to the type of guys we have and the type of hard-working team we're trying to build in Minnesota."

The game started brightly for the Stars, as the away team showed urgency on both sides of the ball knowing that the game was essentially a must-win. Jeff Cosgriff nearly got on the end of a Brian Kallman cross in the fifth minute, but his shot went wide. On defense, Minnesota was hustling to every loose ball and harassing Carolina when it held possession. Luke Mulholland had the first half's biggest chance in the 31st minute when he shot through a crowd, causing Carolina goalkeeper Brad Knighton to spill the shot and watch it roll just wide.

Joe Warren made the best save of the game right before halftime to keep the game scoreless. The ball settled nicely for Carolina's Nick Zimmerman, and his right-footed blast looked bound for the upper corner, but Warren sprawled out to tip the ball over the crossbar.

The Stars knew heading into the second half that a win was essential to make the playoffs. By halftime of the Stars' game, the Montreal Impact had piled on the pressure with three first-half goal against the Atlanta Silverbacks. With Montreal on its way to a 4-0 victory, a win over the league's best home team was the only way to get the Stars into the postseason.

The Stars found an even higher sense of urgency right away, and Cosgriff won a penalty kick in the 47th minute after Carolina captain Kupono Low tripped him at the top of the penalty area. Altman stepped up and sent Knighton the wrong way with a strongly struck penalty.

The celebration didn't last long, though. Knighton started a counterattack with a long throw from in front of his own goal, and Jonny Steele found Campos with a through ball. Campos beat Altman for pace and took his first touch around both Altman and Warren before calmly rolling it into the empty net.

Again, the celebrations were short. Rodriguez intercepted a back pass, beat a defender and laid the ball perfectly in front of Cvilikas, who blasted a right footed shot past the onrushing Knighton for the game winner.

The Stars had more chances to expand the lead, as Cvilikas and Neil Hlavaty missed good opportunities. At the other end, Warren tipped a shot over the bar and cut out several crosses to keep the league's top offense at bay.

After a rough month-and-a-half that saw them slip down the table, Lagos said the Stars have come up with clutch results to close out the season, regaining the hard-working, team-centered form that was the team's trademark.

"It was a great response to a situation where we were basically losing because we had to have a win, but the guys responded in such a great way. We knew we had to have a win."

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 24, 2011


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