Stars, RailHawks Tie Playoff First Leg 0-0
October 6, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release
BLAINE, Minn. (October 6, 2010) -- For the first time in five games, the NSC Minnesota Stars were held scoreless, but a solid defensive outing earned them a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their quarterfinal series with the Carolina RailHawks. The two teams travel to Cary, N.C., on Saturday for a winner-take-all showdown in the USSF Division 2 Pro League playoffs.
The Stars enjoyed the better chances on the night, but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Carolina's Eric Reed stymied the attack. Despite the lack of scoring, the Stars are optimistic ahead of the second leg of the total-goals series.
"It's halftime" was a theme repeated by several Stars players and head coach Manny Lagos after the game. With two wins against the RailHawks already this season and a five-match unbeaten streak, the Stars go into the away leg of the series confident in their ability to play for a win.
"We have 11 guys right now committed to playing a certain way," Lagos said. "We're defending as a team, working hard to win the ball back, and we're breaking out quickly and creating chances."
Wednesday night, those chances just weren't going in. Scott Lorenz could have opened the scoring in the 12th minute after Devin Del Do's precise through ball set him clear on goal, but he could only shoot over as Reed charged and Carolina's last defender pressured him from behind. The Stars continued to press, with Del Do unable to pounce on a rebound from a Daniel Wasson shot in the 28th minute. In the 35th minute, Ely Allen won the ball on the right edge of the penalty box and slid a ball in front of goal for Simone Bracalello, but the Italian forward couldn't quite connect with the pass.
Carolina wasn't without its chances in the first half. Matt Watson had the first shot on goal of the game in the 13th minute, but his shot from the top of the penalty box was right at Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren. Josh Gardner had time in the 21st to tee one up from similar range, but his shot was also straight into Warren's body. Gregory Richardson had the RailHawks' best chance of the game in the 39th minute, beating the Stars' offside trap to spark a breakaway against Warren. Richardson slipped the ball past Warren, but he took himself wide and was forced to square it for Gardner, who couldn't connect as the defense recovered.
The Stars had Carolina on its back foot for the first 30 minutes of the second half but continued to struggle to find the back of the net. Wasson had a look at goal from about 15 yards out in the 60th minute, but Carolina's defense closed his window and deflected his shot out for a corner kick. Three minutes later, Bracalello created a left-footed shot for himself, but he couldn't wrap the ball around the diving Reed into the bottom corner. Bracalello nearly turned provider in the 70th minute with a cross that found Chris Clements unmarked about 15 yards from goal, but the defender drove his left-footed volley wide. Del Do continued the barrage in the 72nd minute with a volley of his own from the top of the penalty box that just didn't dip in time to sneak under the crossbar.
The RailHawks created two quick chances with about 15 minutes remaining. Watson drove a low shot that forced a rebound out of Warren in the 74th minute, and Warren had his defense to thank for beating Tom Heinemann to loose ball near the goal line. A minute later, Watson had another chance after springing free into the Stars' penalty area, but he drove his left-footed shot just over the bar.
Carolina nearly stole the game in stoppage time as center back Brad Rusin out-jumped Warren for a free kick in the box, but he could only deflect the ball wide of the goal with the last touch of the match, guaranteeing that the teams will head back to North Carolina scoreless for Saturday's second leg. That game will be streamed live on NSCMinnesota.org beginning at 6 p.m.
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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from October 6, 2010
- Stars, RailHawks Tie Playoff First Leg 0-0 - Minnesota United FC
- Impact Begins Playoffs with 2-0 Win - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks Tie Stars 0-0 in Opening Playoff Game - North Carolina FC
- Impact Repeat 2-0 Performance in Quarterfinal First Leg - Austin Aztex
- Timbers' Danso Recalled for National Team Duty - Portland Timbers
- FSN to Televise Thursday Timbers Playoff Game - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps FC and Timbers in Playoff Showdown - Vancouver Whitecaps
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