Bracalello Scores Twice as Stars top Impact 3-1

The NSC Minnesota Stars spoiled what was supposed to be a festive night in Montreal with a decisive 3-1 victory over the Major League Soccer bound Impact. With the home side unveiling its new logo at halftime, there was plenty of buzz among the 12,397 in attendance, but after Montreal failed to break a 1-1 tie after a positive spell to start the second half, two goals by Simone Bracalello in the game’s final 15 minutes gave the Stars a deserved victory.

Neil Hlavaty capped off a menacing start for the Stars when he converted a penalty kick in the 17th minute to give the Stars the lead after David Testo hauled down Devin Del Do. Just as he’d done two weeks prior when these teams met, Hlavaty sent Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush the wrong way with a low shot to the corner for his fourth goal of the season.

The lead didn’t last long, though, as Montreal stormed back with a well-worked equalizer. Ali Gerba did well with his back to goal to bring a long ball down for Anthony Le Gall, who sent a first-time pass into the path of midfielder Ian Westlake as he streaked up the middle. Westlake took his first touch clear of the Minnesota defense and beat goalkeeper Joe Warren with a low shot in the 22nd minute to tie the game at one goal apiece.

The Stars had a couple decent chances to regain the lead and were unlucky not to go into halftime with a lead after controlling the remainder of the first half. Lucas Rodriguez couldn’t get enough power behind a shot after a cross from Scott Lorenz, who made his first appearance for the Stars after arriving on loan from MLS’s Sporting Kansas City. Bracalello also had a great opportunity from a free kick at the top of the penalty area, forcing a sprawling, near-post save out of Bush on a dipping ball that looked bound for the back of the net. Despite Minnesota’s dominance, Montreal could also have grabbed a go-ahead goal right before halftime after Chris Clements played a dangerous ball across the face of goal that just eluded a Montreal forward and Warren before being cleared at the back post.

The early stages of the second half saw Montreal control the ball as they did well to disrupt the Stars’ distribution in midfield, but the home team couldn’t muster a single shot on goal in the 20 minutes it dominated time of possession as the Stars held their shape behind the ball and contested nearly every shot and cross. The closest the Impact came was in the 58th minute when Gerba beat Warren with a far post shot, but the linesman flagged for offside before Gerba even had control of the ball. The Impact also had a penalty shout of its own near the hourmark, but the referee waved play on and eventually booked captain Nevio Pizzolitto for dissent on the play.

Shortly after, the Stars refound their stride and outplayed the Impact for the final 20 minutes, getting the game winner in the 76th on a solo effort from Bracalello.

The Italian forward received a diagonal, cross-field pass near the corner of the penalty area, turned to face Cameron Knowles and beat the defender with a cut to the left and a fortuitous bounce. With Del Do making a run toward the back post, Bracalello opted instead to hit a shot with the outside of his right foot that settled just inside the far post netting.

The Stars nearly extended their lead in the 84th minute from a corner kick. Falling away from goal, Del Do still put a strong header on target that Bush saved but did not hold. The rebound fell on the doorstep, but Le Gall lunged in and got just enough of the ball to keep substitute Jeff Cosgriff from an easy tap in.

The Impact crafted one final opportunity in the 88th minute, when Le Gall made a 30-yard run up the right wing before picking out substitute Mignane Diouf with an early cross. Diouf was unmarked, but his diving header went well wide. Montreal finished the game with only one shot on goal.

Bracalello capped the scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time, again getting the better of Knowles when the defender misjudged a header after a Stars’ defensive clearance. In alone on goal, Bracalello slammed his shot past Bush for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Minnesota improved its record with the win to 7-4-7 and has 28 points in the North American Soccer League standings. Montreal’s difficult final season at the second-division level continues, as the home side fell to 3-10-6.

Match Recap

Minnesota Lineup: Joe Warren, Justin Davis, Kyle Altman, Jack Stewart, Chris Clements (Brian Kallman 76), Scott Lorenz (Jeff Cosgriff 83), Kentaro Takada, Neil Hlavaty, Lucas Rodriguez, Simone Bracalello, Devin Del Do (Amani Walker 90)

Montreal Lineup: Evan Bush, Philippe Billy, Simon Gatti, Nevio Pizzolitto, Cameron Knowles, David Testo, Ian Westlake, Luke Kreamalmeyer (Eduardo Sebrango 46), Ryan Pore (Sinisa Ubiparipovic 61), Anthony Le Gall, Ali Gerba (Mignane Diouf 73)

Scoring Summary
MIN – Neil Hlavaty 4 (penalty kick), 17th minute
MTL – Ian Westlake 1 (Anthony Le Gall), 22nd
MIN – Simone Bracalello 5, 75th
MIN – Simone Bracalello 6, 90th+4

Misconduct Summary
MIN – Chris Clements, caution (unsporting behavior), 4th minute
MTL – David Testo, caution (unsporting behavior), 16th
MTL – Ian Westlake, caution (unsporting behavior), 57th
MTL – Nevio Pizzolitto, caution (dissent), 65th
MTL – Simon Gatti, caution (unsporting behavior), 67th
MIN – Jack Stewart, caution (delaying a restart), 82nd

Statistics
MIN: 9 shots (8 on goal), 4 corner kicks, 0 saves, 10 fouls, 4 offsides
MTL: 8 shots (1 on goal), 5 corner kicks, 5 saves, 14 fouls, 2 offsides

Attendance: 12,397