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USSF D-2 Minnesota United FC

Stars' season ends with 4-0 loss in North Carolina

October 9, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Minnesota United FC News Release


In the five previous games for the NSC Minnesota Stars, the central defense could do no wrong. Saturday night, everything that could go wrong did for the Stars, and their season ended in Cary, N.C., with a 4-0 loss to the NASL Conference champion Carolina RailHawks.

Center back and captain Andres Arango was shown a red card in the first half for his part in a melee, and the RailHawks scored four goals in the game's final 30 minutes as they took the second leg of the teams' United States Soccer Federation Division 2 Pro League quarterfinal match up. The teams tied 0-0 in Blaine, Minn., on Wednesday night in the first leg, but even before the red card, Saturday looked to be Carolina's night.

The Stars could muster little in the game's first 30 minutes. Simone Bracalello gave Carolina goalkeeper Eric Reed an easy warm up in the ninth minute and forced him into a diving save at his near post with a tight-angle shot with about 10 minutes left in the half.

The RailHawks, meanwhile, were on the front foot for much of the first half. Daniel Wasson threw himself in front of a Carolina shot early to knock it out for a corner, and goalkeeper Joe Warren made two critical plays in quick succession to break up a low Etienne Barbara cross before tipping Josh Gardner's shot around the post on the follow up.

The game turned in the 39th minute. Arango stopped a Carolina attack by pulling Floyd Franks' jersey in the midfield. As the referee blew his whistle for the foul, Arango cleared the ball, and Tom Heinemann slid late into the Stars defender's feet. Arango took exception and as he confronted Heinemann, Franks shoved him in the back. As a crowd built up, Arango appeared to try to headbutt Franks. After discussion among the referee and his assistant, Heinemann was shown a yellow card for his late slide tackle, and Arango was sent to the locker room for an early shower, reducing the Stars to 10 men for remaining 50 minutes.

Carolina nearly capitalized immediately. Warren could only punch Gardner's fluttering free kick down, and with the net gaping open, Heinemann could only put the ball over the goal under pressure from the Stars defense.

The Stars started the second half brightly. Kentaro Takada played an early cross on the ground toward Devin Del Do, but Kupono Low slid in at the last minute to knock the ball away. From the ensuing corner kick, Ely Allen's header looped over Reed, but Gardner bailed his goalkeeper out by heading the ball off the line.

At the other end, Gardner nearly gave the RailHawks the lead. The midfielder slipped into the penalty box on a good through ball and drove a shot from a tight angle, but Warren dove to his right to tip the ball onto the post before the Stars cleared.

Things went from bad to worse for the Stars on defense around the hourmark. Kyle Altman, who had also been critical to the Stars as a center back all season, went down with a hurt hamstring, and Brian Kallman entered in his place.

Despite the odds against them, the Stars nearly found themselves in the lead in the 62nd minute. Allen made space for himself on the right edge of the penalty area , dribbling past Low before firing a low shot with his left foot. The shot left Reed sprawling helplessly, but the far post came to the rescue, keeping the Stars from a dream lead on the road.

Two minutes later, substitute Daniel Paladini brought the Stars crashing back to reality. Barbara's cross deflected on the way through the penalty area, but Paladini was standing at the top of the box to volley home the opening goal as the post once again helped the home team.

Down 1-0, the Stars had it all to do to get back in the game, and head coach Manny Lagos began warming up subs for an all-out push for an equalizer. Before he could make his changes, though, it was 2-0 Carolina. Paladini turned provider this time, crossing low from the right wing. Heinemann could have controlled the ball with his back to goal, but instead dummied, lifting his foot and allowing the ball to run through to Gardner, who took a touch before burying a right-footed shot in the bottom corner.

With nothing to lose, the Stars brought attack-minded changes from the bench, abandoning the controlling midfield that had gotten them to this point. Andrei Gotsmanov came in on the left wing, Brian Cvilikas came in for Wasson, and Neil Hlavaty replaced Devin Del Do as the Stars played with two forwards and several attacking midfielders.

The move didn't pay off. With a man advantage, Carolina took advantage of counterattacking opportunities to add two late goals. Paladini was provider once again in the 84th minute, as Amir Lowery deflected his long-range shot past Warren to make it 3-0 and close the coffin lid on the Stars' season. In the 88th minute, Kallman deflected a cross past his own goalkeeper, finishing up a rough night for the Stars defense.

The Stars finished their inaugural season with an overall record of 11-13-8. The RailHawks progress to the league semifinals to face the Montreal Impact, who toppled the league's most potent offense with a 5-2 aggregate victory over the Austin Aztex.

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