FC Tampa Bay ousted from NASL playoffs

ST. PETERSBURG The NSC Minnesota Stars eliminated FC Tampa Bay from the NASL quarterfinals 1-0 by an first-half deflection that snaked by keeper Jeff Atinella.

 It was FC Tampa Bay's first loss in five games against NCS Minnesota. FC Tampa Bay won the regular season series with the Stars 2-0-2 and entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.

“Sometimes you need a little bit of lady luck to go your way. I felt we were right out of it tonight,” FC Tampa Bay coach Ricky Hill said.

FC Tampa Bay started slowly and was were kept in its own zone for much of the first half. Some early contact with the Stars led to referee whistles and free kicks that proved decisive.

Following a yellow card to FC Tampa Bay defender Andres Arango in the 14th minute, NSC Minnesota was awarded a free kick. Attinella made a diving save to his right to keep the match scoreless.

NSC Minnesota would get another chance. More FC Tampa Bay contact led to a free kick at the top left corner of the box.

The Stars’ Luke Mulholland scored the winning goal from 18 yards out in the 27th minute, capping the hot start by the sixth-seeded team. Mulholland’s shot was a low liner that bounded through the initial defense but deflected off FC Tampa Bay's three-man wall. Atinella went right before the bounce and the ball went to his open left side.

“Jeff was wrong-footed because of the deflection. That’s how thin a line between success and failure is,” Hill said.

FC Tampa Bay regained its form at the end of the first half and started pressuring the Stars’ end. Speedy forward Pascal Millien worked his way close on a couple of occasions, but could not get much room after the Stars loaded the box.

“We missed our opportunities and made one mistake. That’s how the game plays. You have to put your chances away,” Rowdies captain Frankie Sanfilippo said.

The second half found Minnesota settling back in the box. As the match went into three-minutes of extra time, FC Tampa Bay began firing. Sanfilippo posted a booming shot in extra time that went right and just missed the top corner of the goal.

Though the FC Tampa Bay season came to an abrupt close, both Hill and Sanfilippo praised the atmosphere that the fans brought to Progress Energy field and expected to see the boisterous crew again next year.

“I really appreciate all the support the fans have given us. The venue is absolutely wonderful from a soccer spectacle. The atmosphere that is generated here with the numbers, I haven’t seen that elsewhere. We are disappointed not to be able to continue for them,” Hill said.