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Minnesota Stars FC (8W-10T-8L) heads down to Puerto Rico to take on the Puerto Rico Islanders (10W-7T-9L) for the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the two sides this season. In both team’s most recent match, the Stars defeated the Islanders by four goals to nil to clinch the final playoff spot.

It was the second 4-0 scoreline for Minnesota against Puerto Rico this season. The Stars first pulled off the feat in their first home match against the Islanders on July 4th, the largest margin of victory in their history. The recent drubbing ended a nine-match-winless streak for the Stars, while extending Puerto Rico’s winless run to six games.

For the Stars, it was the first time the team scored more than one goal in a game since mid-July. Recent addition Nate Polak registered his first goal for the Stars off an assist from on-loan Orlando City forward Jamie Watson. Energetic winger Miguel Ibarra doubled the lead off an assist from Amani Walker, the forward returning the favor to Ibarra for the final goal after Watson opened his Stars’ account just seconds in to the second half.

The Islanders are winless in their past seven matches in all competitions (six NASL matches). With a victory Minnesota can tie Puerto Rico in the standings and currently boast a superior goal difference which is the first tiebreaker this NASL season.

Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Minnesota Stars FC

Saturday, September 8, 2012— 7:30 P.M. EDT

Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Minnesota, 2-1-0, 6 points

2011 Series:  Puerto Rico, 2-1-1, 7 points

                                                Puerto Rico                         Minnesota

Head Coach                        Adrian Whitbread                 Manny Lagos

2012 Records                     3^rd: 10-7-9, 37 points          6^th: 8-10-8, 34 points      

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

Goals Leader                       Nicholas Addlery (8)            Amani Walker (7)

Assists Leader                   Jonathan Faña (5)                Amani Walker (5)

Puerto Rico

• 7-3-2 at home
• Have already clinched a playoff spot
• Winless in last six matches
• Lost 4-0 to the Stars in last meeting
• Suspended: Osei Telesford (accumulation)
• At risk: Nicholas Addlery (four yellows)

Minnesota

• 2-6-4 on the road
• Clinched playoff spot with win against Puerto Rico this past Tuesday
• Unbeaten in last five matches
• Without an away win in last eight attempts
• Suspended: None
• At risk: Justin Davis (seven yellows); Neil Hlavaty, Brian Kallman, Martin Nuñez, Kentaro Takada, Kevin Venegas (four yellows)