By Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tonight
FC Tampa Bay at NSC Minnesota Stars
When/where: 8:30; NSC Stadium, Blaine, Minn.
Records: Tampa Bay 2-2-3 (9 points); Minnesota 3-2-3 (12)
How to follow: Live stream at fctampabay.com
Previous meetings: This is the first this season. Minnesota won three of four last season, including both games at home.
Last time out: Tampa Bay had what likely was its best game of the season Saturday, a 3-0 shutout at home vs. Montreal. It was the team's third shutout of the season. G Jeff Attinella, a Countryside grad and USF product, notched his first career shutout, making 11 saves. It was the team's most offense this season, with Warren Ukah, Mike Ambersley and Tsuyoski Yoshitake scoring goals. … Minnesota lost to Edmonton 2-1 on the road, snapping the Stars' two-game win streak.
Skinny: It's Tampa Bay's first game without M Tony McManus, who was abruptly released for an unspecified "material breach of contract," the team said. … Tampa Bay could be without three starters, all questionable: F Warren Ukah (right knee), D Omar Jarun (right knee) and Andres Arango (side contusion). … Last time out, coach Ricky Hill changed to a unique 4-3-1-2 formation and it led to the team's highest scoring game of the season.
Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer