Stars Rally Again to Rescue Draw
The NSC Minnesota Stars remained unbeaten at home in 2011 thanks to another battling display. Down a goal to FC Edmonton, the Stars struck deep in the second half as forward Devin Del Do tallied his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Alex Surprenant scored for Edmonton midway through the second half on a deflected shot.
The tie was the Stars’ seventh of the year. As the season reaches its halfway point, head coach Manny Lagos said the team is still searching for something beyond playing entertaining soccer.
“Credit to Edmonton. It’s the second time at our place that they didn’t give up a goal when I thought we should have scored, and I thought at points they did really well with possession,” Lagos said. “I thought their goal was kind of a fluke and a little against the run of play, but our guys came back, found the energy and said, ‘We want to get a result out of this.’”
The first half was even and largely unspectacular. Both teams enjoyed a few long spells of possession, but the final passes on offense were frequently off the mark. Shaun Saiko tested Joe Warren in the third minute, but Minnesota’s veteran goalkeeper moved easily to his right to make the save. Stars forward Simone Bracalello could have scored for the Stars in the 21st minute after controlling an early cross from defender Jack Stewart, but the Italian forward dragged his shot wide from 10 yards out. Four minutes later, Daneil Antoniuk should have given Edmonton the lead after beating the offside trap after the Stars partially cleared a corner. Unfortunately for the visitors, Antoniuk’s header was right at Warren. Del Do headed a Bracalello cross over the bar at the far post with seven minutes remaining in the half for another close miss.
Things picked up in the second half for the Stars as the forwards began connecting better with the midfielders, opening space for wingers Ely Allen and Justin Davis. Allen put a shot on goal that Baart saved in the 49th minute, and Del Do headed a Bracalello cross over the bar again in the 54th.
Despite the pressure, it was Edmonton who opened the scoring. After Warren punched a corner kick clear, Surprenant took a touch to control the ball before shooting. As Warren moved to his right to make what would have been a routine save, the shot deflected off the crowd still in the penalty area, leaving the Stars’ goalkeeper stranded and settling in the back of the net.
“It just took a late deflection and I was already on my way to make the save, and suddenly it was on the opposite side of the net. What are you going to do?” Warren said of the goal. Despite being on the wrong end of the lucky bounce, Warren was satisfied overall with the way he and his teammates played. “I felt pretty sharp today. It’s tough sometimes after a long layoff, but it was good to get the rest, and I thought we played well and created a lot of good chances.”
Edmonton picked up confidence with the goal and could have had a second only a minute later as Saiko picked Kentaro Takada’s pocket near the Stars’ penalty area and fed Kyle Yamada, but the midfielder hit his shot straight at Warren for one of his seven saves on the night.
The Stars were unlucky not to draw even in the 73rd minute as Rein Baart did just enough to save a Cristiano header on a corner kick. The Brazilian defender rose highest for Jeff Cosgriff’s cross and nodded it toward the upper corner, but Edmonton’s keeper pushed it onto the crossbar to protect the lead. The near-miss energized the Stars, though, as they put four more shots on goal down the stretch, finally claiming their reward in the 84th minute. Tino Nunez turned well to set himself up for a powerful, low shot, which Baart did well to save, but the rebound fell to Del Do, who slammed it into the back of the net, prompting the Stars to do a canoe paddling celebration down the right touchline.
The point was hardly secure for Minnesota, though, and it was Edmonton that came closest to finding a late winner. Porter’s shot on goal in the 88th minute couldn’t beat a diving Warren at his near post. The Stars keeper saved his best save for last, though. As Edmonton broke down the left wing, substitute Alex Semenets made a strong run to the center of the goal and got his right foot on a low cross. On target and toward the corner, the shot could have been a winner most nights, but Warren dove instinctively to his right to block and hold the shot.
The tie leaves Edmonton in second place in the North American Soccer League with a 7-4-3 record and 24 points. With 19 points and a 4-3-7 record, the Stars hold onto fourth place ahead of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and FC Tampa Bay. The Stars next match is Saturday against the high-flying Carolina RailHawks, winners of 10 straight, a streak which began after Carolina’s last match in Minnesota. It’s a test Lagos is looking forward to, and one that could help define the Stars’ season.
“I think the fans have really come to admire the determination and heart these guys have shown this season,” Lagos said. “Unfortunately as a team, we need to figure out a way to win these games right now. We have to raise our level, roll up our sleeves and get ready to play the best team in the league next week.”
Game Summary
Minnesota starting lineup (3-5-2 formation): Joe Warren, Jack Stewart, Kyle Altman, Cristiano, Ely Allen, Kentaro Takada, Jeff Cosgriff (Amani Walker 77), Andrei Gotsmanov (Ryan Woods 77), Justin Davis, Devin Del Do, Simone Bracalello (Tino Nunez 62)
Edmonton starting lineup (4-4-2): Rein Baart, Antonio Rago, Paul Hamilton, John Jonke, Domonique Oppong, Kyle Porter, Shaun Saiko, Kyle Yamada (Alex Semenets 88), Alex Surprenant, Chris Lemire, Daniel Antoniuk (Conrad Smith 84)
Scoring summary
EDM – Alex Surprenant, 63rd minute
MIN – Devin Del Do, 85th
Misconduct summary
MIN – Jack Stewart, caution (unsporting behavior), 47th minute
EDM – Antonio Rago, caution (unsporting behavior), 57th
EDM – Chris Lemire, caution (dissent), 85th
Statistics
Minnesota: 16 shots, 5 shots on goal, 7 saves, 8 fouls, 5 corner kicks
Edmonton: 13 shots, 8 shots on goal, 4 saves, 7 fouls, 5 corner kicks
Attendance: 1,787
