Minnesota Stars Stop Streaking Carolina RailHawks with Dramatic Win

The NSC Minnesota Stars defeated the Carolina RailHawks by a score of 1-0 Saturday evening in Blaine, Minn., at the NSC Stadium. The game-winning goal scored by Amani Walker was a dramatic one, recorded in the 3rd minute of added time and was Walker’s first professional goal. The win was the 5th of the season for Minnesota, keeping them in 4th place in the standings at 5-7-3 with 22 points, one point off from 3rd place Puerto Rico and two off from 2nd place Edmonton who sit at 24 pts. Minnesota continues their streak of being undefeated at home this season with 3-wins and 5-draws.

The win was important to keep Minnesota in the upper portion of the 8-team North American Soccer League standings. But the victory seemed especially big for the Stars and their fans as they put a stop to the Carolina RailHawks’ 13 game unbeaten streak and an amazing 10 game win streak, which had propelled them to the top of the league with 37 points and a 12-1-2 record. Minnesota has caused two of the three blemishes (2-losses and 1-tie) in a nearly untarnished RailHawks record this season. The Stars tied Carolina at their last meeting in Minnesota on April 30th with a score of 1-1. This was also the first time the RailHawks have been shutout this season. They have averaged 2.3 goals per game with 35 goals scored and only 14 allowed.

Minnesota is now 3-2-1 against Carolina over the past two seasons with head coach Manny Lagos at the helm.

“Minnesota are well coached and hard to break down,” said Carolina head coach Martin Rennie. “They’re disciplined, they press hard and they work hard for each other. They tie a lot of games, and they hardly every lose by more than one. All their games are close.”

Stars head coach Manny Lagos also had praise for Carolina. “I give them credit. They have the best team in the league. There is no doubt about it. They’ve been playing the best of any team in the league. For them to come here and for us to get the result is huge. I really think this game was more important for us. I don’t want to say we were in a rut, but we were having some ties at home and not finding ways to win. The best part about tonight, between the players, and the crowd, they found a way to win.”

Amani Walker celebrates his late game winner for Minnesota. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net

The game started out with early pressure from Minnesota on the Carolina defense which seemed to set the tone. But just minutes into the match, Pablo Campos of the RailHawks looked to have thrown an elbow at Stars outside back Jason Davis who hit the ground hard. A foul was called and a yellow card was issued. Davis had to leave the game after the training staff were unable to stop the bleeding on the gash outside of his right eye that will require stitches.

Later in the fist half Minnesota had to use their second substitution when Ely Allen went down in a tackle clutching his knee.

“It was an odd game for us because I thought we came out sharp and we were thrown for a loop with a play that I thought potentially was a red card for Carolina,” said Stars coach Manny Lagos. “It wasn’t called and we had to make a substitution. It took a player out of our game and I think it upped the level of intensity for both teams. Credit to Carolina, they’re a very good team. But that was a tough pill for us to swallow because we had to make a sub in the first 5 minutes of the game. Then we had a second major injury with Ely Allen going down. So I had to make two subs before half time. The second half was a battle. I was surprised by how physical Carolina was. But I felt our guys decided to match them with the intensity.”

Minnesota did match Carolina’s intensity with nearly an equal number of shots at 14 for Minnesota and 13 for the RailHawks with 6 on goal for the Stars and 5 on target for Carolina. Saves were equal with 5 apiece, with the RailHawks dominating both fouls and corners (6-3).

Rennie didn’t agree with Lagos on the physicality of the game even though his team had 19 fouls to Minnesota’s 10. “I don’t think it was particularly physical. I just think these two teams are always going to work hard. There always seems like there’s a lot of competition between these teams.”

“I think were were a bit disappointed with our decisions in the final third. The second yellow card for Chris Nurse was a bit harsh because he had the ball and both players collided. At that point we were just holding on with 10 men.”

The red card Rennie spoke of was a second yellow for Chris Nurse in the 85th minute, which left the RailHawks shorthanded for the remainder of the game and defender Kyle Altman with a giant knot on his shin after the game.

But earlier in the second half, after good exchanges by both teams, Minnesota looked like it would be down a goal after Altman was called for a handball in the box. As the ball was flying around in the Minnesota penalty area it caromed up and hit an unknowing Altman in the arm. Oddly the the referee called a spot kick despite Minnesota’s pleas. League-leading scorer Etienne Barbara stepped up for the kick hoping for his 15th goal of the season. But Minnesota goalkeeper Joe Warren had other plans. He guessed correctly, diving to his right to block Barbara’s penalty. Barbara followed up but struck the ball high and over the open net.

Minnesota finally broke the deadlock but it wouldn’t be until the 93rd minute of play. Devon Del Do, playing out wide on the right flank, made numerous fakes until he was able to push the ball backward and get an excellent cross to the far post. It found the head of Brazilian midfielder Geison Moura who directed the ball down and into the path of Walker who was able to make the easy tap in from 5 yards out.

“We know we can play with anybody in this league,” said the game winner Walker. “We have the skill, the fitness, the gall to stay with anybody. We don’t give up.”

Walker also had words of praise for goalkeeper Warren. “He’s a monster. He’s from another planet. I swear, he’s too big and he’s… he’s just great,” said Walker with a big smile on his face.

Lagos was another of the many Stars staff and players who couldn’t quit smiling after the game. He concluded by saying, “I like our team. I think we have guys who want to fight for this team and fight for themselves.”