Minnesota Stars Take on Puerto Rico Islanders in Tuesday Evening Action
Tino Nunez scored for the Stars and kept the Wisconsin Badgers on their toes in Saturday's scrimmage. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
The NSC Minnesota Stars (1-0-1, 4-points) will take on the Puerto Rico Islanders tonight (2-0-0, 6-points) in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The game kicks off at 7:05 CT and can be caught on live stream through the NASL website.
Neither team played games this past weekend and should be fresh. However, Minnesota did play exhibition games against Division 1 college teams on Friday and Saturday. They rested some of their starters but a few of the starting 11 saw some minutes.
This is Puerto Rico’s first home game of the season while the Stars will see their third game in a row on the road. Minnesota returns home and plays their home season opener on Saturday evening against the Carolina RailHawks.
Puerto Rico defeated the Carolina RailHawks in their first game by a score of 2-1. They defeated FC Tampa Bay 2-0 in their following game. Their one goal allowed is the stingiest so far in new league.
Minnesota defeated the newly reestablished Atlanta Silverbacks in their season opener by a score of 2-1. Then they drew with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 1-1. The Stars win and draw both happened in the dying minutes of action. Andrei Gotsmanov scored an added time free kick to put Minnesota up over Atlanta and Brian Kallman fouled in the box at Ft. Lauderdale allowing the Strikers to score an added time penalty kick, stealing the 3 points from Minnesota.
Keys:
Minnesota will need to do a better job of controlling the midfield in the first half which has been a problem for the team thus far. The weather can always be an issue in Bayamón with high humidity, something the Stars will not have much time to adjust to as they flew into Puerto Rico on Monday afternoon.
Puerto Rico has looked surprisingly fluid for a team that hasn’t always played well in the beginning of the season. They will need to break down a Minnesota defense that looks to be improved over the 2010 season.
If there is rain, Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel is legendary for poor drainage and will leave both teams playing around puddles.
The NSC Minnesota Stars supporters group the Dark Clouds will again have a viewing party at the Sweetwater Bar and Grille in St. Paul. Details can be found on Facebook.
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[Taking off official IMS polo and proudly putting on my orange Islanders jersey...]
Hey you Stars fans–looks like your boys are going to catch a break with the humidity but it (shocker!) does look like it’s gonna rain. And like Brian pointed out, we all know that should be a HUGE plus for the Islanders.
I don’t have any predictions regarding the attendance at “La Islandera” tonight but if you want to take the three points you had better bring it tonight coz the JRL ain’t the Nessie.
Maybe the Minnesotans had a chance to visit Viejo San Juan this afternoon after training. Hope they had a little opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth. Because tonight, Manny’s side is going to have to face a team that caught a scheduling break and is eager to set the right tone at home…
Um, if I am an Islanders fan, and just want to note the result, do I get in trouble
3-1 (rhymes with “we won”)
Ok, now that’s asking for it.