Minnesota Stars Fail To Pick Up Crucial Points At Home Against Montreal

The Minnesota Stars went down in defeat 2-0 on Saturday evening to the surging Montreal Impact.

Kyle Altman's 2nd half header flew just over the net. Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitialgopher.net

The Stars and their fans had high hopes for a win in Minnesota on Saturday evening. Minnesota needed a win and the subsequent 3 points to keep them in the upper echelon of teams in the NASL. The crowd of 2,267 at NSC Stadium may have also expected a win. Traditionally Minnesota pro soccer teams have fared well against Montreal at home. The Impact had only been victorious in Minnesota once in 10 games. But on this night Montreal, who are 3-1-1 in the month of August and who have outscored their opponents 12 to 6 in that time, had other plans.

The Stars gave up a soft goal in just the sixth minute of the match. Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic received a ball crossed from the left flank. Ryan Pore, recently acquired from the Portland Timbers, started the play by sending a through-ball into Simon Gatti who played the ball down the side of the field. He turned and crossed the ball square and on the ground to Ubiparipovic. The former NY Red Bull, who was actually loaned to the Minnesota Thunder for a brief stint in 2007 seeing one game and scoring in that match, seemed to be unmarked as he ran towards the box. He one-timed the ball and swung it in past a helpless Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren from 18 yards out.

The Stars had to play catch up after giving up the early goal but didn’t seem to have an answer for Montreal who clearly controlled the midfield in the first half.

To Minnesota’s credit they answered the call in the second half. The Stars played more spirited and possessed the ball better as well. Minnesota’s best chance may have come in the 66th minute when central defender and captain Kyle Altman headed just over the bar. But it would be Montreal who notched the second goal of the game. Ubiparipovic’s number was called again when he scored in the 77th minute on a classic counterattack. With Minnesota pressing, the ball was turned over to Montreal who attacked quickly at the Stars goal with numbers up. Hassoun Camara shoveled the ball off to Ubiparipovic, who calmly chipped Warren for the brace.

With the win, the Impact recorded its first victory in Minnesota since August 31, 1997, improving its all-time record to 2-7-2. The Impact’s 12 goals in the last 5 games are impressive for the mere fact that the Impact couldn’t seem to buy a goal in the early part of the season. All that seems behind them now as they make a desperate attempt to claw their way back into the NASL playoffs.

Minnesota now goes into next weekend with a crucial Saturday, September 3rd, game in Edmonton at Foote Field. The two teams are deadlocked in 4th place.

In other action this weekend, FC Tampa Bay defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Carolina won away at Atlanta and the Islander squeaked by Edmonton. See Gerry Wittmann’s Week 22 Recap for full details on all matches. With those results, Minnesota remains in 4th place tied with Edmonton at 29 points. FC Tampa Bay gains 3 more points on the Stars and are now sitting at 34 points and soundly in 3rd place. Fort Lauderdale stays in 6th position with 28 points just one shy of Minnesota and Edmonton and the reborn Impact are climbing from the cellar quickly and sit at 25 points.

The RailHawks have already clinched a spot and a playoff bye to the semifinals. They sit at 51 points, with the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2nd place with 44 points. The Islanders have clinched a spot. The lowly Atlanta Silverbacks, who only have 3 wins in 23 games, have already been eliminated from the playoffs.

Match Recap

Minnesota Lineup: Joe Warren, Justin Davis, Cristiano, Kyle Altman, Chris Clements, Andrei Gotsmanov, Neil Hlavaty (Sandy Gbandi 82), Scott Lorenz, Tino Nunez (Ryan Woods 57), Simone Bracalello, Devin Del Do (Brian Cvilikas 75)

Montreal Lineup: Evan Bush, Cameron Knowles, Hassoun Camara, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Simon Gatti, Amir Lowery, Ian Westlake, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (David Testo 80), Ryan Pore (Leonardo Di Lorenzo 87), Eduardo Sebrango, Mircea Ilcu (Mignane Diouf 65)

Scoring Summary
MTL: Ubiparipovic 7′
MTL: Ubiparipovic 72’

Misconduct Summary
MTL – Sebrango, caution 37’
MIN – Bracalello, caution 50’
MIN – Davis, caution 78’

Statistics
MIN: 5 shots, 10 corner kick, 2 offside, 14 fouls, 3 saves
MTL: 7 shots, 2 corner kicks, 2 offside, 13 fouls, 2 saves

Attendance: 2,267, NSC Stadium, Blaine, MN