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Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, Minnesota travels to Al Lang Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. CDT kickoff against the North American Soccer League’s defending champion, and while the match isn’t technically a must-win for United, the players are approaching it as such.

“We have six games left, and we have to look at this as our playoff run,” defender Brian Kallman said Wednesday as the team trained following an unexpected 1-0 loss to the Des Moines Menace in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The “playoff run” days are gone as the NASL’s championship will be contested between the winner of its Spring Season and the winner of the Fall, leaving little margin for error for teams hoping to be one of the two vying for the league title.

Despite the losses—two in the league to go along with the disappointment in the Open Cup—United FC is well within striking distance of the top spot and could theoretically go top with a convincing win at Al Lang. Providing extra motivation will be last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to the same Rowdies squad. Minnesota controlled most of the game but was left ruing missed opportunities as Tampa Bay pounced on defensive miscues for all three goals.

“Last Saturday was one of those that hurt because we definitely deserved to come off the field at least tied, and there’s no doubt there’s a huge disappointment within the club after Tuesday (in the Open Cup),” United FC head coach Manny Lagos said. “We want to show that we’re better, and we have that chance now against the defending champions in a challenging environment.”

To that end, Minnesota’s biggest challenge will be finishing its opportunities, especially early in the match. United FC has outshot its opponents in all but one match it’s played this season, and its 31 shots on goal ranks second in the league. While creating chances has been a comfortable task for United’s front line, finishing them has not. Last Saturday, four first-half saves from Tampa Bay goalkeeper Diego Restrepo left Minnesota off the board and trailing at the break.

At the other end, Minnesota will need to avoid the defensive miscues that have cost it goals in the past month. Struggling with injuries, Minnesota’s backline has changed in each of its last three games. Team captain Kyle Altman will miss Saturday’s game as he continues to recover from a concussion, but center back Connor Tobin traveled with the team and could make his first appearance since suffering a high ankle sprain in training at the end of April.

Video

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Brazilian midfielder Geison Moura re-signed with Minnesota on a short-term contract and immediately made his debut Tuesday night as a substitute in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Moura joined Minnesota in 2010 and was a member of the club’s championship-winning squad in 2011. He also made five appearances in 2012 after re-signing with the club midway through the season, but his year was cut short after sustaining a concussion in early August against FC Edmonton.

Another midfielder, Sean de Silva, has also signed his first professional contract with Minnesota United FC. Despite his young age and having just completed his college career at the College of Charleston, de Silva brings two senior international caps with the Trinidad and Tobago national team as well as 10 appearances with T&T’s youth teams. Collegiately, de Silva recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in three seasons at College of Charleston and was a first-team all-conference honoree as a junior and senior.

In defense, United FC has signed Woodbury, Minn., native Brent Kallman to his first professional contract. A Creighton University product and younger brother of team vice-captain Brian Kallman, Brent begins his professional career in his own backyard. He started and played all 90 minutes in Minnesota’s US Open Cup loss on Tuesday night.

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The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed live via MNUnitedFC.com/gameday or NASL.com/live.

Come meet members of the United FC front office at Nomad World Pub. Nomad will host a viewing party beginning at 6 p.m. on the West Bank for fans in the Twin Cities. Located at 501 Cedar Ave., Nomad features big-screen TVs for all the action and public grills for fans who want to bring and prepare their own food. The Nomad will feature $3 Anheuser Busch beer specials during the game.

In Northern Minnesota, the club’s fans are encouraged to head to Dubh Linn Irish Pub, located at 109 W. Superior Street in downtown Duluth.

United players and staff will also be on hand at Brit’s Pub during the Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. This promises to be one of global soccer’s biggest games of the year. Kick off is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. CDT, but be sure to get to Brit’s early as a large crowd is expected. Brit’s Pub is located in downtown Minneapolis at 1110 Nicollet Mall.

Know of any other public watch parties, or want details on setting up your own at your business? Contact Minnesota United FC and let us know. Email Director of Community Programming Robert Desimone by email or by calling (763) 331-8777.

Photo by Ryan Siverson, RySiPhoto.com

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“It’s a tough one to take, it really is,” Minnesota head coach Manny Lagos said after the game. “Des Moines executed the kind of game plan you have to in a situation like this, so credit of course to them, but we’re disappointed not to do better with the chances we created throughout the game.”

The Menace tested VanOekel in the 23rd and 24th minute as Shadow Sebele and Albert Edward both shot from 20 yards, each eying the top corner and each denied by VanOekel’s fingertips. At the other end, Minnesota’s Pablo Campos brought a sprawling save out of Angevine with a curling right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area. Minnesota forward Travis Wall also had a shot cleared off the goal line following a scramble in the box.

Minnesota threatened throughout the second half as Des Moines looked content to counter. Wall missed a chance in the 57th minute to put United FC ahead, sending a shot wide as he fell backward after a corner fell to the ground in the box. Substitute Geison Moura had a goal waved off 10 minutes later after Campos was called offside when heading the ball down. In the 73rd minute, Campos dragged a tight-angle shot wide, and five minutes later he fought through multiple defenders before sending a shot just over the bar.

Content to counter, it was a rare push forward that set up Des Moines’ game-winning corner kick. Tulloch’s cross found Fricke peeling off his marker near the penalty spot, and his glancing header found the corner just inside the far post.

Minnesota was unlucky not to find an immediate equalizer as Campos rose well to head a Michael Reed free kick off the bar before Des Moines scrambled it clear. Minnesota had almost exclusive hold of the ball in the final minutes and stoppage but couldn’t find another shot on goal.

Game Summary

Minnesota starting lineup: GK – VanOekel; D – Davis, Dias, Brent Kallman, Venegas; M – Rodriguez (Heitor-Piffer 84), Arguez, Reed, Ibarra; F – Wall (Moura 59), Campos

Minnesota unused substitutes: GK – Hildebrandt; D – Buro, Tobin; M – de Silva, F – Bracalello

Des Moines starting lineup: GK – Angevine; D – Diem, Edward, Fricke (c), Vollmer; M – Hoek, Lax, Sebele, Thaden (Harmon 49); F – Santamaria (Wright 66), Tulloch

Des Moines unused substitutes: GK – Pais; D – Alabi; M – Jupic, Roberson; F – Chester

Scoring Summary

DMM – Brandon Fricke (Jimmy Tulloch) 86

Misconduct Summary

MNU – Cristiano Dias (caution) 34
DMM – Sean Hoek (caution) 42
DMM – Dylan Lax (caution) 67

Attendance: 1,009

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Download: Match Notes and Stats (PDF)

The Menace, of the fourth-division USL Premier Development League, earned the right to face Minnesota at 7:00 p.m. next Tuesday, May 21, at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Des Moines defeated the Madison 56ers 1-0 at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday night. The second round match between Minnesota and Des Moines will be the first outdoor game of the season in Minnesota.

Tickets for the game at the University of Minnesota’s intimate outdoor soccer stadium will be $10 for adults and $5 for youth age 17 and younger. An online presale will run Thursday through Sunday for Minnesota United FC season ticket holders only, with remaining tickets available at the door on Tuesday.

The winner of that game will face the reigning US Open Cup champions at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. Before his team can face the test of dethroning Sporting KC, Minnesota United FC head coach Manny Lagos knows not to look past the PDL’s Menace.

“Now that we know who’s playing after that, we have to be ready and mentally focused to do our job Tuesday night,” he said. “It won’t be easy when you have a bunch of young guys who are going to play their hearts out against you, so you have to step on the field with the same type of mentality and intensity”

Pitting teams from all levels from amateur through professional, the Open Cup is a single-elimination knockout tournament first contested in 1914. The winner of the competition earns a cash prize and a berth in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League, the premier international club competition in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

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Highlights

“It’s a tough one to take because we certainly played well,” Minnesota head coach Manny Lagos said. “Little plays at the end of halves add up.  It was an exciting game for sure for the fans but for us it’s a tough loss and we need to pick our heads up.”

Tampa Bay head coach Ricky Hill agreed that Minnesota played well, even conceding that the hosts had the better run of play in a game his team found timely goals to win. “I think on the balance of play they will be disappointed, but I was delighted with my team’s resolve throughout the game,” he said. “The first goal we scored was against the run of play, and the second one probably was, too.”

Michael Reed’s first professional goal and Simone Bracalello’s strike 10 minutes later had cancelled out strikes from Shane Hill and Luke Mulholland in a game both teams attacked aggressively late in a push for all three points.

Each team had one quality chance in the early going. Miguel Ibarra’s cross set up Etienne Barbara for a volley from a tight angle, and the Maltese striker drew a diving save from Tampa Bay keeper Diego Restrepo. At the other end, Shane Hill’s volley from 20 yards out was struck well after a partial clearance, but his shot was right at Minnesota goalkeeper Daryl Sattler.

The rest of the half was almost all Minnesota, as Barbara and Pablo Campos each drew saves out of Restrepo, who had four first-half saves. Bracalello and Ibarra were also heavily involved in the attack for Minnesota, as were outside backs Justin Davis and Brian Kallman, who made more of a threat moving forward than previous games.

Despite the solid play and limiting Tampa Bay’s chances—two blocked Mulholland shots made up the remainder of the Rowdies’ chances prior to Hill’s goal—Minnesota trailed at the break as Hill made the most of a half chance. Sattler came off his line to punch a cross away from former Minnesota forward Amani Walker at the top of the box. His punch looped right into Hill’s path, and the English midfielder lobbed a shot over Sattler and two United FC defenders on the line to stake Tampa Bay to a 1-0 lead.

Minnesota responded by starting the second half with the same intensity as the first, and substitute Michael Reed rewarded their aggression with his first professional goal after 54 minutes. Bracalello held up play well before feeding Reed’s late run, and the second-year midfielder slid to beat Restrepo to tie the game.

The tie lasted only seconds before Mulholland beat Davis to a loose ball and spotted Sattler off his line, chipping Minnesota’s goalkeeper from 18 yards out for his fourth goal of the season.

Ten minutes later, Bracalello and Campos combined to bring Minnesota level. Bracalello played a quick one-two with Campos before pushing his way through two Tampa Bay defenders and firing low past Sattler for his team-leading third goal of the season.

Both sides were aggressive late in the pursuit of the win. Minnesota had a goal wiped off the board after Campos was called offside in putting a shot off the post, negating the tap-in on the rebound. Cristiano Dias also had two chances after getting open on set pieces, but he had a header saved easily and skied a volley.

The Rowdies brought two sprawling saves out of Sattler to tip the ball over the bar, and Shane Hill had a shot deflect wide off his own teammate from a late set piece. The game looked destined for a tie before Savage’s late heroics earned Tampa Bay all three points and dropped Minnesota to its second straight loss. Georgi Hristov broke down the right wing and crossed low. Defender Kevin Friedland, running back toward his own net, couldn’t get enough power to clear the ball, which fell for Savage to slam past Sattler to make it 3-2 with too little time for Minnesota to muster another shot on goal.

Minnesota was without team captain and center back Kyle Altman, who sustained  concussion during the week at training. Kevin Friedland will make his first appearance of the season at center back for Minnesota, while center midfielder Bryan Arguez replaced Reed in the starting lineup after a strong showing in the second half of last weekend’s 2-1 loss at Fort Lauderdale.

Tampa Bay has named a strong lineup with speed on the wings and former Minnesota players Andres Arango (defender), Mulholland (midfielder) and Walker (forward) starting. Former Minnesota defender Devin Del Do was on the bench for Tampa Bay as well but did not play.

Both teams have quick turnarounds before opening their Lamar Hunt US Open Cup campaigns Tuesday. Tampa Bay faces a “road” game against USL Pro side VSI Tampa Bay, while Minnesota faces the Des Moines Menace of the USL PDL at home. That game kicks off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in Roseville. Tickets for that game are $5 for youth, $10 for adults and available at the gate on gameday only. Groups of 15 or more and season ticket holders can pre-order tickets by calling (763) 331-8777.

Match Summary

Minnesota Starting XI: GK Sattler; D Davis, Friedland, Dias, Kallman (C); M Ibarra (Wall 73), Arguez, Pitchkolan (Reed 40), Bracalello; F Campos, Barbara (Barbara 88)

Minnesota unused subs: GK VanOekel; D Heitor-Piffer; M De Silva, Rodriguez

Tampa Bay Starting XI: GK Restrepo; D Arango, Yamada, Scott, Sanfilippo (C); M Cox (Frimpong 71), Savage, Hill, Mulholland; F Hristov, Walker (Cort 71)

Tampa Bay unused subs: GK Fontein; D Gafa; F Del Do

Scoring summary

TBR – Shane Hill (unassisted) 45+
MNU – Michael Reed (Simone Bracalello) 54
TBR – Luke Mulholland (unassisted) 55
MNU – Simone Bracalello (Pablo Campos) 65
TBR – Keith Savage (unassisted) 90

Misconduct summary

TBR – Daniel Scott, caution 90+

Attendance: 4,053

Photo by Ryan Siverson, RySiPhoto.com

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While the stakes aren’t quite as high as the last time these two teams met—last October’s NASL Championship Series, which the Rowdies won in a shootout after two legs ended deadlocked—both will want nothing less than full points. With the RailHawks currently holding a three-point lead at the top of the NASL table, dropped points for either the Rowdies or United FC could open too deep a deficit to make up with the handful of games remaining.

Minnesota had a chance last weekend to keep pace with Carolina, but a slow start cost the team in a 2-1 loss at Lockhart Stadium against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The game marked the third straight that Minnesota has faced a halftime deficit. Head coach Manny Lagos admitted his team wasn’t at its best during another slow start last week, but he said the team has raised its level during the past week of training.

“We’re really excited to get back on the field and hopefully respond with a better effort than last weekend,” he said. “It’s important as you get to the middle part of the season to continue to improve, and after a loss, this is a big game for us. It’s against the defending champions, it’s against a very good team, and it’s at home.”

Other than acknowledge Tampa Bay’s 2012 championship, Lagos wouldn’t be drawn on the revenge factor of the game. His players did the same, choosing instead to focus on Tampa Bay’s quality and a tight history between the clubs over the past three seasons.

“I think most guys are over it by now. Maybe a few will leave a little bit extra in some challenges, but we’ve got to put that aside and focus on this year,” defender Justin Davis said. “We’re more focused on coming out the right way, not having a little lull like we did against Fort Lauderdale and setting the tempo in the first five minutes so the game goes the way we want it to.”

Midfielder Lucas Rodriguez has played against Tampa Bay since it returned to action in 2010 and said that revenge doesn’t matter with the NASL’s split season and the need to pick up points at every opportunity. “They have good players, a good coaching staff. They’ve done really year the past few years. One year you beat them, one year they beat you, that’s just soccer, that’s just how it is. Every time you start a new season you always want to win, and this year with the new format we have to beat everybody and everybody, it doesn’t matter who we play, we have to be ready to win.”

A Look Ahead

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