By EVAN REAM
Minnesota United FC’s dream season has come to an abrupt end.
Minnesota United were just seconds away from securing their first NASL Soccer Bowl appearance since 2011, but a controversial goal from Fort Lauderdale’s Martin Núñez in stoppage time took the game to extra time Saturday, where the Strikers won 5-4 to secure their ticket to the final.
With time about to run out, Núñez latched onto a ball played into the box and volleyed the ball past United goalkeeper Matt VanOekel.
The goal was waved off for offside initially, but after consulting his assistant referee, center referee Fotis Bazakos allowed the goal to stand, judging that Núñez had gotten the ball directly after an intentional clearance from a Loons defender.
Entering the final 30 minutes of play, Minnesota United received a blow when key starter Jamie Watson went down with an injury as the hosts were out of substitutions, forcing them to play a man down for the majority of extra time.
Still, Minnesota United pushed the game to penalties where the Strikers led 5-4 before Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Kamil Čontofalský saved Minnesota United captain Aaron Pitchkolan’s weak effort, giving the south Florida side the victory.
Minnesota United took the lead early in the match when recent USMNT call-up Miguel Ibarra cheekily chipped Čontofalský in the 39th minute of the match, but the No.1 seeded club couldn’t hold off their No. 4 seeded opponent.
Here’s a look at the other semifinal match-up this weekend:
In another thrilling extra time game, the No. 2 ranked San Antonio Scorpions knocked off the No. 3 ranked New York Cosmos, 2-1 thanks to a late winner scored by winger Walter Restrepo.
The former Fort Lauderdale Striker cut the ball back with a tight angle and drove a shot on goal that deflected off Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer and center back Carlos Mendes before hitting the back of the net in what was officially ruled as an own goal.
The win ensured that the Scorpions will host the 2014 NASL Soccer Bowl one season after finishing last overall in the league’s standings.
New York opened the scoring in just the 17th minute of the game when forward Mads Stokkelien headed in a pin point cross from midfielder Ayoze Garcia.
Two minutes later, San Antonio’s Rafael Castillo equalized after finishing off his own rebound in an empty net, setting up the dramatic extra time own goal for the Scorpions.
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What did you think of this weekend’s results? Excited for a Fort Lauderdale-San Antonio matchup for the Soccer Bowl? Wish it was Minnesota vs. NY Cosmos?
Share your thoughts below.
It’s not too surprising. Minnesota had only one one game in their last six. Fort Lauderdale was one of the teams on the hottest winning streak coming into the playoffs. The other team that was doing as well as Fort Lauderdale was San Antonio which should make for a great final.
Can’t believe Ft Lauderdale came back. MN had control of that game until the end.
Everytime I watch them Ibarra has a great game and Ramirez doesn’t show up.
Everyone in San Antonio is breathing a sigh of relief. The forecast for Minneapolis this Saturday was 15 with heavy snow. Great game against NY. Things didn’t get chippy, and everyone acted like professionals. The only drawback was we had Redcardo Salazar as a ref.
the Strikers’ goal against Minnesota was clearly offside, bad call, but to me it seemed like a makeup call for their earlier goal that was ruled offside when it was really close. sucks for Minnesota to go out like that. NASL playoffs should be two legs so teams have a better chance to recover from a bad call at the end of the game like that…
It was deliberately played back by Minnesota player, therefore the Strikers player was onside and the assistant overruled by the center ref after deliberation.
http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/17kmnwmumnp6a1i12qeemdere6/professional-referee-organization-pro-clarifies-call-in-minnesota-fort-lauderdale-match#.VGEraPnF9ZE
didn’t look deliberate at all to me.
I should clarify that the fact that the defender from Minnesota swung at the ball is the key in this play. He swung and mis-hit the ball, but he did swing at it. If it had just ricocheted or careened off of the player, it would have been offsides. The defender played the ball poorly which is why there was a no-call and a goal was awarded.
This cannot be! I have been reliably informed by Hempstead Cosmos’ supporters that their team is simply too big for MLS and will dominate US Soccer and win the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League in the near future. Whereas these results indicate they are just another minor league club, indistinguishable from the other second division sides playing in NASL.
I actually feel sorry for the Cosmos’ fans. No not the annoying commenters that are hoping MLS folds and they can be front running, super fans rooting for their super club….they are annoying as heck.
I mean the real fans. Not only did their team lose, but guys like me are rooting against them. I am one of them. It is strictly because of their correlation with the annoying ones.
I was just talking 30 mins ago about going to a Sounders’ US Open Cup game where there were 1,000 fans there. All of us real fans are one of them.
ps. I can’t root for Ft Laud too. It is too soon. Only 30 years since I hated them.