Stars score late, top RailHawks 1-0 in first leg
Midfielder Andrei Gotsmanov scored in the 90th minute to stake the Minnesota Stars to a 1-0 lead in their two-legged, total goals North American Soccer League semifinal series against the Carolina RailHawks. In a game where neither team could finish gilt-edged scoring chances, Gotsmanov’s delicate chip from the top of the penalty box might have been the most difficult finish of the night, and it gave the Stars a vital lead in front of 2,512 fans at NSC Stadium.
“We go into these games with an incredible amount of respect for Carolina because they play hard against us, and both teams put a lot of energy and emotion into getting a result tonight, and it’s great that we did,” Stars head coach Manny Lagos said. “I walk off the field thinking this a good level, this is great, but we know it’s just halftime.”
The Stars and RailHawks square off again next Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Minnesota’s season ended at Carolina last season thanks to a first half red card and a disastrous 26-minute spell in the second half. Playing with a 1-0 lead, the Stars will look to continue their success this season against Carolina.
Both goalkeepers made crucial saves as the clubs each put seven shots on goal Saturday night. Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren made seven saves, including a remarkable reflex save on a deflected shot in the first half and stops on two breakaways in the second half. Carolina’s Brad Knighton was also in form, denying Brian Cvilikas’ close-range header late in the second half to keep the game scoreless until its final minutes.
Perhaps Minnesota shouldn’t have needed a late goal. Kyle Altman rang the crossbar with a lunging shot in the fourth minute, Cristiano Dias headed a Luke Mulholland corner kick over the bar from four yards out in the 11th and Lucas Rodriguez couldn’t find the final touch on two chances in the 17th and 18th minutes.
Carolina also had its fair share of missed opportunities. Johnny Steele and Matt Watson both beat the offside trap in the second half, but Warren stoned each of them on their breakaways. Steele also curled a shot just wide in the first half after being afforded too much space on his left foot, and Floyd Franks wasted opportunities on either side of halftime, heading an Etienne Barbara cross over in the first half and driving an uncontested shot wide from 18 yards out in the second.
As the game approached stoppage time, a scoreless tie looked on the cards, a result that would have suited the RailHawks well returning to WakeMed Soccer Park, where they are 11-2-1 this season. Instead, Gotsmanov made the most of a half chance, controlling a poorly cleared ball with his chest and looping it over Knighton into the far side netting.
“The ball just popped up, and I thought the defender was going to head it out,” Gotsmanov said. “Fortunately he missed it, it hit me right in the chest and bounced at my feet, and the only thing I could really do was chip the goalie.”
