News

The Basics:
FC Tampa Bay vs. NSC Minnesota Stars

Saturday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Florida

Mainsail Title Night

To order your tickets, call (813) 287-1539 or to order online click here.

You can also purchase tickets at the stadium box office on gameday. The box office opens on gameday at 4:00 p.m.

Radio:
1010 Sports
Play-by-Play: Jim Henderson

Online:
The match can also be seen live online at www.fctampabay.com

Records (W-T-L):
FC Tampa Bay: 10-7-8, 37 points
NSC Minnesota: 8-8-10, 32 points

2011 Series (W-T-L): 2-1-0
FC Tampa Bay leads the series with two wins and a draw.

What’s at Stake:
FC Tampa Bay, which has already clinched a playoff spot, can nail down a first-round home playoff game with a victory over the Stars. FCTB can also secure a home playoff game in the first round with a tie combined with a loss or tie by FC Edmonton at Montreal Saturday night.

FC Tampa Bay returns home to take on the NSC Minnesota Stars for the final time this season. Join the team as it hosts a Pink Out Game with the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month upcoming in October we ask that everyone wear pink to the game.

In the first matchup on May 28 in Blaine, Minnesota the teams played to a scoreless draw. FC Tampa Bay used goals by midfielder Pascal Millien and defender Frankie Sanfilippo to post a 2-0 victory on August 13 at Al Lang Stadium. The Stars fell again on September 6 with an early goal from midfielder Keith Savage and the game-winner off midfielder Mozzi Gyorio’s 77th minute free kick for the 2-1 victory at NSC Stadium.

Notes:
FC Tampa Bay clinched a postseason berth for the first time with its win at NSC Minnesota on September 6. Midfielder Keith Savage opened the scoring, heading in his third goal of the year off a cross from forward Aaron King. Stars defender Brian Kallman tied the match in the 51st minute but FCTB midfielder Mozzi Gyorio converted a free kick in the 77th minute for the game-winner. For his efforts, Gyorio was named the North American Soccer League Offensive Player of the Week last Monday.

FC Tampa Bay is undefeated in four of its last five home matches. Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella leads the North American Soccer League in saves with 119. Ambersley is ranked tied for second in the league for goals with 11 and is tied for fourth along with King and Millien for assists with five for the season.

FC Tampa Bay and Ft. Lauderdale are tied for third place in the NASL standings with 37 points, and FC Tampa Bay has played one less match.

NSC Minnesota posted a 2-0 win against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday night. The victory halted a seven-game winless streak for the Stars and helped them in their push to claim the sixth and final NASL playoff spot.

Stars forward Simone Bracalello has a team-high six goals this season. Goalkeeper Joseph Warren is third in the league in saves with 93 and boasts a 1.12 goals against average, which is fifth in the league.

Up Next:
FC Tampa Bay heads to Bayamón, Puerto Rico to take on the Islanders this Wednesday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. The team returns home to host the regular season finale against Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium.