With both favourites having lost the first leg of their two-game playoff series last week, Saturday’s last games of the NASL semi-final may feature one of the greatest bursts of giant-killing in recent North American soccer history.
NASL Playoffs Second Round, 2011: Two Favourites Trying for a Miracle
The Puerto Rico Islanders are in the trickiest spot of all. Travelling to Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale to take on the Strikers, the Islanders are down 3-1 in their two-leg series and face a nigh-impossible task against a very persistent Fort Lauderdale team that, but for a little bad luck, might have been in second place themselves. Meanwhile, the Carolina Railhawks are down 1-0 but heading home against a team which barely squeaked into the playoffs: seemingly a good position, but the NSC Minnesota Stars are a strong defensive team on a hot streak that’s undefeated against Carolina this season.
A reminder for those wanting to catch the playoff action that all NASL games are streamed live online at nasl.com.
In the evening’s opening game the first-place Railhawks are in tough try to get off the ropes against the unheralded but suddenly dominant NSC Minnesota Stars. With Minnesota holding a 1-0 series lead the pressure will be on departing Carolina coach Martin Rennie. Carolina was almost laughably dominant in the first two-thirds of the NASL season, but not long after Rennie accepted a 2012 head coaching role with the Vancouver Whitecaps Carolina’s form has slid. Now Carolina’s on a five-game losing streak and down a goal against a team which lost more than it won in the regular season.
It’s become a cliche to say it but the NSC Minnesota Stars are a very hard team to play against. They conceded only 27 goals all year. In their last five games, three of which were on the road and four of which were against quality opposition, Minnesota has conceded only two goals. The Stars have had a few tough games this season, a few big losses on the road, but in recent months they’ve been more than stingy.
Now, you’d think that if anyone could break them down it’s the Carolina Railhawks. The Railhawks led the league in goals with 50. Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos, the league’s two leading scorers, scored twice more than the whole NSC Minnesota Stars roster. There’s so much offensive talent in the Carolina lineup that you’d expect them to break through Minnesota’s collection of journeyman defenders. But the only thing Carolina broke last week was their own pride as those Minnesotan journeymen held Carolina in check.
Those not familiar with Minnesota may be surprised how little star power is on that defense. They’re led by 25-year-old Kyle Altman, team captain and NASL leader in minutes played. Altman came up with the Albequerque Asylum. He got his first professional experience with the 2008 Minnesota Thunder then spent the 2009 season out of soccer all together. He’s one of the NASL’s best defenders but he doesn’t get any MLS buzz, doesn’t show up on any highlight reels, just plays constantly and keeps teams from scoring.
Of all the Minnesota defenders only bench player John Gilkerson has even come close to playing at a higher level, having been a one-time member of the New York Red Bulls roster who never got into an MLS game. There’s not a lot of skill on that defense but there is a good understanding between players, a boatload of tenacity, and not many mistakes. It’s enough that the offensively brilliant Railhawks have failed to win a single game against Minnesota all year.
The Puerto Rico Islanders are in trouble.
Fort Lauderdale has a strong record at Lockhart Stadium. They only lost by two goals at home once all season, dropping a 2-0 decision to Tampa Bay in August. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s never been the greatest road team and have a record of six wins, six losses, and two draws away from Bayamon this year including only one two-goal win (against, funnily enough, Tampa Bay). If Puerto Rico does stage a comeback it will be a miracle.
Not everything is against the Islanders. Last Saturday, the team was hurt by CONCACAF World Cup qualifying taking place the day before; a number of Islanders players, mostly importantly defender Richard Martinez, concentrated on the Puerto Rican national team and wore themselves out. With the Puerto Rican national team having eliminated itself from qualifying on Tuesday, its players should be relatively fresh for Saturday’s playoff clash.
Puerto Rico does have the firepower to put goals on the board. David Foley and Jonathan Fana were (one opportunistic goal for Fana aside) largely ineffective last week but both are proven all-round playmakers. Fort Lauderdale’s defense is good but not great and their sole goal against last week was an ugly mental mistake. With the Islanders coming out like hellions and the Strikers potentially complacent, there’s potential for something remarkable.
Only potential, though. Two goals at Lockhart Stadium is a lot. Fort Lauderdale’s in great form and it’s hard to see Daryl Shore’s troops collapsing with one hand on a ticket to the NASL finals. The Puerto Rico Islanders are defending second-division champions, two-time defending CFU Club Champions, and have faced a lot of adversity in their time. But they’re not the Caribbean powerhouse they once were and this series is now Fort Lauderdale’s to lose.
Down only a goal and playing at home, obviously Carolina has a very good chance to get back into the series. But their season-long struggles with Minnesota, their recent struggles to beat anybody… how can the lowly Stars not be favourites to advance to the NASL finals? A month ago nobody, and I mean nobody, would have bet on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the NSC Minnesota Stars clashing in the league final. Now it might be a surprise if it doesn’t happen.
Parity is wonderful, unless you’re cheering for the favourites.
See More:
