SB Nation Minnesota - Stars vs. San Antonio: Another Draw For Minnesotahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2012-09-02T10:36:57-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30509842012-09-02T10:36:57-05:002012-09-02T10:36:57-05:00Stars Relinquish Early Lead Again, Draw 1-1 With San Antonio
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<p>It's now eight games without a win for Minnesota, as the Stars and San Antonio Scorpions played out a 1-1 tie on Saturday night at the National Sports Center.</p>
<p>Just as they did the week previous, Minnesota led 1-0 at halftime. <b>Amani Walker</b> tapped in a <b>Miguel Ibarra</b> cross in the 33rd minute to give the home team the advantage. The Stars also held San Antonio without a shot on goal in the first half, and - once again - had high hopes of being able to take all three points at home.</p>
<p>It wasn't to stay that way, however. In the 71st minute, <b>Pablo Campos</b> - the NASL's leading scorer - turned into a creator, feeding <b>Hans Dennissen</b> on the right side of the Stars' penalty area. Dennissen curled home his shot to tie the game at one.</p>
<p>Minnesota again brought on two forwards in the closing stages to try to find the winner, but again needed a late save from keeper <b>Matt Van Oekel</b> to prevent a loss. Campos this time fed substitute <b>Esteban Bayona</b>, who was alone with only Van Oekel to beat, but the keeper managed to hold Bayona's low shot to preserve the tie.</p>
<p>Minnesota remains sixth in the NASL standings, eight points ahead of seventh-place Edmonton FC, though the Eddies have a game in hand. Those two teams meet again next week in Minnesota, for the second time in three weeks, with the Stars all but able to wrap up a playoff spot with a win.</p>
<p>Our prediction? A 1-1 draw after the Stars lead at halftime. It only stands to reason.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/9/2/3286947/stars-relinquish-early-lead-again-draw-1-1-with-san-antonioJon Marthaler2012-09-01T17:16:36-05:002012-09-01T17:16:36-05:00Stars vs. San Antonio: Minnesota Takes On League Leaders
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<img alt="Miguel Ibarra goes for goal against San Antonio on August 11. Image courtesy Jeremy Olson at DigitalGopher.net." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RILv7UofabmW45DWhnDXHt9-rJ8=/140x0:590x300/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/1172417/Ibarra-preview-730.jpg" />
<figcaption>Miguel Ibarra goes for goal against San Antonio on August 11. Image courtesy Jeremy Olson at DigitalGopher.net.</figcaption>
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<p>The Stars have failed to win seven in a row - and now have to try to end that streak against the NASL's best.</p> <p>Seven games. That's the current winless streak for the Minnesota Stars: seven games without a win, four of them losses, three goals total in the skid. Coach <b>Manny Lagos</b> is starting to get a little peeved about<a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/8/25/3268859/a-list-of-missed-stars-chances/in/3029992"> the team's inability</a> to score; <a href="http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/08/stars-prepared-for-first-place-scorpions/">according to mnstarsfc.com</a>, the team did punishment drills this week in practice if a player shot high or wide or otherwise failed to test the goalkeeper.</p>
<p>This happened last year, too: the Stars turned around a seven-game slide just in time to sneak into the playoffs, and managed to launch a championship-winning campaign from there. But Saturday's opponent won't help Minnesota's confidence; the San Antonio Scorpions lead the league, have scored more goals than any other team, and have allowed fewer than any other. In short, they are dominating the league. Keep an eye on striker <b>Pablo Campos</b>, who leads the league with 18 goals - nine fewer than the entire Stars <i>team</i> has scored this year.</p>
<p>That said, it wasn't too long ago that Minnesota outplayed San Antonio at home; the Stars scored twice against the Scorpions on August 11, except that both goals were ruled offside. (A regular report would say that these calls were "very close calls." Another way of saying this is that "the referee was blind.) Late in the game, the Stars gave away a penalty, and ended up losing 1-0 in a game from which they deserved better.</p>
<p>Saturday night, we'll see if Minnesota can come up with another home performance against San Antonio - or if this year, they'll have an eight-game streak from which to try to come back.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/9/1/3285905/stars-vs-san-antonio-minnesota-takes-on-league-leadersJon Marthaler