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NSC Stars rally to end home opener in tie
- Article by: DAVID LA VAQUE , Star Tribune
- Updated: May 1, 2011 - 1:18 AM
Facing a strong adversary and a stiff wind, Minnesota controlled much of the game but still tied.
The Stars’ Simone Bracalello (19) was wide on this first-half shot defended by Carolina’s Brad Knighton on Saturday night at the National Sports Center.
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Trailing 1-0 in the second half and playing into a stiff wind, the NSC Minnesota Stars soccer team had all the adversity it could handle.
Yet the Stars came back to score, taking a 1-1 tie from Saturday's home opener in front of an announced 1,431 spectators at the National Sports Center in Blaine, a game that threatened to completely elude their grasp.
"It was our best all-around game," coach Manny Lagos said. "We kept our heads in there and mentally came back from being down."
Playing Carolina, the team that ended their 2010 season in the playoffs, the Stars (1-1-2) came out playing strong on the offensive end. For the game, the Stars outshot the RailHawks 13-5.
But it was Carolina that took a 1-0 lead as Etienne Barbara scored on a penalty kick in the 59th minute. Barbara, the league's reigning offensive player of the week, scored his fourth goal in as many games.
Lagos said the call was "dubious." Captain Kyle Altman, who drew a yellow card on the play, also objected.
"I stepped up for the ball then pulled back," Altman said. "He went down easy, which is the nature of soccer these days. Guys want to make it tough on the referees. But I know there was no contact."
But there was no disputing the goal's implications. Trailing 1-0 in a game they mostly controlled, the Stars needed to rally.
Simone Bracalello knotted the score 1-1 in the 66th minute on an assist from Tino Nunez, redemption for both players after several near-misses.
"They were playing really well, they just weren't finishing," Lagos said. "As a team, we couldn't quite break [Carolina] down."
Nunez came up empty on two strong scoring chances in the first half. Early in the second half, Bracalello's left-footed attempt was tipped over the goal by diving RailHawks keeper Brad Knighton.
"On a different day, we would have been a goal or two ahead," Lagos said.
NSC Minnesota, now owned by its league, the NASL, pumped up its marketing efforts leading into Saturday's game but blamed the disappointing turnout on morning rain showers.
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