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In the final regular season meeting between the sides, Minnesota Stars FC hosts the red-hot Tampa Bay Rowdies at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota on Thursday night. There is no shortage of familiarity between the two sides, as this will be their fourth meeting in just over a month.

The Stars last two matches highlight the inconsistency that has plagued the side in recent weeks. The Stars defeated second place Puerto Rico Islanders in convincing, 4-0 fashion, before falling 2-0 to the rock-bottom Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday. With just two wins in the last eight, the Stars are struggling to find the form that saw them go nine games unbeaten to start the 2012 season.

The Stars face a tough test facing the hottest team in the league at the moment. The Rowdies, on a four-match winning streak, caught a break by not playing Saturday, and will have more time to rest and prepare than their opponents. On the Fourth of July, the Rowdies won their fourth consecutive win on the season, defeating rivals Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-1 in the third Florida Derby match of the season.

In the last meetings between the two sides, the Rowdies defeated the visiting Stars 2-0 in St. Petersburg. The win came just two weeks after defeating the Stars 2-1 in Minnesota. The attacking masterclass of Rowdies’ forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake was on display in both matches, the Japanese forward exhibiting why he was recognized as the NASL Player of the Month for June with a goal in both matches.

With just a point separating the teams in the standings, this could be billed as a six-point match in the grand scheme of things. Historically, the Rowdies have the edge in this series, holding an undefeated 4-3-0 record against the Stars since the start of the 2011 season.

Minnesota Stars FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Thursday, July 12, 2012— 8:30 P.M. EDT

National Sports Center

Blaine, Minn.

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Tampa Bay, 2-1-0, 7pts

2012 Series:  Tampa Bay, 2-2-0, 10pts

                                                Minnesota                        Tampa Bay

Head Coach                        Manny Lagos                     Ricky Hill

2012 Records                     4^th: 6-5-4, 23pts                3^rd: 7-3-5, 24pts                

Last Five Games               L W L W L                             L W W W W

Goals Leader                     Simone Bracalello (4),    Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (6)  

                                               Amani Walker (4)

Assists Leader                  Brian Kallman (3),             Keith Savage (4)

                                               Amani Walker (3)

QUICK FACTS

Minnesota

• The Stars are 4-1-2 at home in 2012.
• Eleven different players have scored for the Stars this season.
• Forward Amani Walker in the joint-leader in goals and assists, tied with Simone Bracalello on four goals and defender Brian Kallman with three assists.

Tampa Bay

• The Rowdies are on a fourth-match-winning streak, starting with a 2-1 victory on the road against Minnesota on June 16.
• Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella leads the league with 66 saves.
• Tampa Bay has the best discipline in the league, picking up just 19 yellow cards and a single red card from fifteen games this season.