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NASL Quarterfinal Preview: Puerto Rico Hosts Minnesota
Islanders Host Stars on Sunday
Posted on Fri, Sep 28, 2012

The 2011 NASL Champion Minnesota Stars travel to face the Puerto Rico Islanders at Estadio Juan RamÏŒn Lourbriel on Sunday. The quarterfinals are a single elimination game while the semifinals and NASL Championship Series will each be a 2-game series with each team playing at home once and the team with the greater number of aggregate goals in both games winning each series. If this game is tied after 90 minutes, the teams will progress to a 30-minute extra time period (the golden goal rule will not be in effect). If the teams are still locked in a draw following the extra time period, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.

The home side has come out on top in each of the four meetings between the Islanders and the Stars this season. In fact, in all four encounters the visiting side has failed to register a single goal. At home, the Stars got the better of Puerto Rico twice, winning both encounters at NSC Stadium by impressive 4-0 scorelines.

Puerto Rico won by a goal to nil in their first match hosting the Stars, less than a month after the first 4-0 defeat. The final meeting of the regular season took place at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, just four days after the Islanders’ second 4-0 defeat in Minnesota. The Islanders continued their home dominance, defeating the Stars 2-0, and ending a drought of six matches without a win.

 

Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Minnesota Stars FC

Sunday, September 30, 2012— 6:00 P.M. EDT

Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Tied, 2-2-0, 6 points

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

 

                                               Puerto Rico                        Minnesota

Head Coach                        Adrian Whitbread            Manny Lagos

2012 Records                    3rd: 11-8-9, 41 points       6th: 8-11-9, 35 points      

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

Goals Leader                     Nicholas Addlery (9)       Amani Walker (7)

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

                                               

Puerto Rico

  • Lost just two games at home all season
  • One win in last eight matches
  • Two of last three wins came against Minnesota
  • Lost 4-0 to the Stars on two occasions
  • Suspended: None
  • At risk: None

 

Minnesota

  • Lost five of 14 regular season away games
  • Just one win in last twelve matches
  • Have never won in Puerto Rico (0-1-4) since 2010
  • Last road win: May 19 at Fort Lauderdale Strikers
  • Suspended: None
  • At risk: None
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Standings
TEAM GP W T L GD PTS
Carolina RailHawks 6 3 2 1 4 11
Tampa Bay Rowdies 6 3 2 1 3 11
Atlanta Silverbacks 6 3 1 2 1 10
Minnesota United FC 6 2 2 2 1 8
FC Edmonton 6 2 2 2 1 8
San Antonio Scorpions 6 1 2 3 -4 5
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 6 1 1 4 -6 4
*Tiebreakers: 1. Goal Differential - 2. Total Goals - 3. Head-to-Head record