Stars out to tackle FCTB
After getting back to winning ways last Saturday with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks, the NSC Minnesota Stars face a difficult two-game road trip to try to clinch the final available spot in the North American Soccer League playoffs. The team finishes its season series Saturday night at 6 p.m. CDT against FC Tampa Bay at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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The Stars can finish anywhere from fourth to seventh place in the eight-team NASL. The team currently holds a three-point lead on the Montreal Impact in the standings, but road games against Tampa and the league-leading Carolina RailHawks to close the season make for perhaps the league’s most difficult home stretch. Still, the Stars can clinch a spot this weekend with a win and a Montreal loss or tie or with a tie and a Montreal loss.
“We’re still putting pressure on ourselves to go out and do well and make the playoffs, but it was a relief to play well for 90 minutes Saturday and get a win,” Lagos said. “This isn’t the point in the season to go through a rough patch like that, so it was an important result, definitely.”
The Stars took a big step toward the postseason last Saturday with the win against the Silverbacks. Just as important as the three points was the lifting of a cloud of self-doubt that had enveloped the team during a difficult run of form that saw it slide in the league’s standings.
“It was definitely much needed, but at the same time we haven’t forgotten that Montreal is right behind us,” said Brian Cvilikas, who has started three straight matches at forward after seeing limited minutes for the majority of the season. “We know we have to go out on Saturday and take care of our business, and we know that we might have to do the same thing a week later.”
Cvilikas’ reintroduction to the lineup hasn’t been the only change the team has made. The Stars have added a pacy winger in Anthony Hamilton and a creative attacker in Luke Mulholland, both of whom signed in early September after successful seasons in the third division USL Pro. The Stars were helped Saturday by Jeff Cosgriff’s return from a foot injury. The 6-foot-4 winger scored an early game winner against Atlanta and nearly created additional goals. Midfielder Ely Allen is also nearing a return from knee injury suffered in July and Daniel Wasson, one of the team’s key contributors in 2010 has also returned from injury, although neither player will make the trip St. Petersburg.
Despite the renewed confidence, Saturday’s match will be far from easy for the Stars. Minnesota has won only once in three visits to Tampa, and FC Tampa Bay has business of its own to take care of. With three games of its own left to play, Tampa has a great opportunity to lock up third place in the NASL and the home playoff game in the opening round that would come with it. Although it can’t overtake the Puerto Rico Islanders for second place in the league due to head-to-head results, Tampa can tie the Islanders on points and make a statement to the rest of the pack if it can win out.
The Stars and FC Tampa Bay last met September 6 at NSC Stadium. Despite outshooting the visitors 16-11, the Stars were repeatedly foiled by strong play from goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, who made seven saves in a game Tampa won 2-1 thanks to midfielder Mozzi Gyorio’s 77th minute free kick.
In three matches this season, the Stars and FC Tampa Bay have combined for 88 shots. Lagos doesn’t expect the back-and-forth style to change, meaning the Stars should have some quality chances to find goals on Al Lang Stadium’s short, narrow field.
“We’ve got to focus on putting those opportunities in the back of the net,” Cvilikas said. “We know we’re going to be able to get service, so it’s important to stay calm in front of the goal and focus on proper form to finish our chances.”
