Seydou Ba and Kouassi N’Guessan were both on target for the Stars as they came from two goals down in the first half to tie 2-2 against the 2013 Northeast Regional Champions FC LVU Sonic in a pulsating match on Match Day 7 of the National Premier Soccer League Keystone Conference.

First half

The Stars, disappointed after being forced to a 1-1 tie away to Clarkstown SC Eagles on Saturday, June 14, went into last night’s match knowing that a loss against FC LVU Sonic would’ve dampened their hope of qualifying for their first ever playoffs. The Stars have previously lost to the Carolina Blues four times in three seasons, the most recent being a 1-2 loss a fortnight ago.

The Stars started the match on the night slowly and they were made to paid for it when a cross from right saw Lance Dotzman rise to head in the path of Tom Mustac, who stabbed the ball at the back of the net to put the Blues ahead 1-0 in the 15th minute.

Seven minutes later, the Stars conceded another soft goal from a free kick after Lance Dotzman again rose above all the Stars’ defenders to head the ball in the path of former Junior Lone Star FC midfielder Joe Joe Jappah for simple tap in against his former club for the Blues’ 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute.

The Blues almost added a third in the closing stages of the first half but Damilare Adeleye, in goal for the Stars, had to go full-stretch to keep out Michael Gonzalez’s powerful shot. At the other end, Charles Sales, in goal for the Blues, had to save a point blank shot with his foot to deny Aboubacar Coulibaly in the 45th minute to maintain the Blues’ 2-0 lead at the break.

Second half

After a team talk with assistant coach Thomas George, the Stars started the second half with more urgency then they had shown in first half. The Stars almost pulled one back in the 50th minute but Yaya Fane’s free kick was pushed over the bar by Charles Sale.

Still two goals down, coach Bobby Ali decided to make two tactical changes for the Stars in the 57th minute which turned the tide the game. Defender Samuel Fahnboto and defender/midfielder James Geayea were brought on for Aba Zoegar and Amadou Sheriff who were both ineffective. With the introduction of Fahnboto in central defense, Kouassi N’Guessan noted for his speed, was moved to left-back while midfield maestro Fatoma Turay was switched in an attacking midfield role for James Geayea to play at right midfield.

A minute after those two tactical changes, the Stars pulled one back in the 58th minute when Aboubacar Coulibaly used his speed and strength to lose a defender on the right to send a beautiful cross that Seydou Ba rose above all the Blues defenders to send a powerful header at the back of the net.

Coach Bobby Ali then brought on forward Ebere Goodluck for Aboubacar Coulibaly in the 61st minute and two minutes later, the Stars equalized when a cross from Fatoma Turay was headed in the net by defender Kouassi N’Guessan in the 63rd minute, which sparked wild celebration from the scores of Stars fans who made the trip to Whitehall.

With that equalizer, the game became more open as both teams kept looking for the winner. Mitchell Torh almost put the Stars ahead when his powerful cross/shot passed through Charles Sales’ hands to hit the post. At the other end, Tom Mustac mis-hit his cross which Damilare Adeleye allowed to bounce over him to hit the post also in the 74th minute.

There was a late substitution for the Stars after Mitchell Torh sustained a broken hand on the pitch and he had to be replaced by Mohamed Camara in the 80th minute. Camara almost put the Stars ahead after his introduction but after weaving through the Blues defense, his shot was saved by Sales to maintain the 2-2 score line at full time.

This was the first time the Stars have ever taken a point from the Blues. The Stars (3-2-2, 11 points) dropped to fifth, tied on 11 points with third-place BuxMont Torch (3-0-2) and fourth-place Clarkstown SC Eagles (3-2-2).

The Stars will complete their four-game road trip this weekend when they travel to Scranton, PA on Saturday, June 21 to play bottom of the table club Electric City Shock SC (0-6-2, 2 points) before traveling to Binghamton, NY on Sunday, June 22 to face second-place GBFC Thunder (4-1-2, 14 points), the 2013 Keystone Conference Champions, in a clash that might decide who qualifies for playoffs.

After those two matches, the Stars will return to Philadelphia to prepare for their home game against the BuxMont Torch on Wednesday, June 25 before ending their regular season next weekend with two matches away to Hershey FC (Saturday, June 28) and at home to Pocono Snow SC (Sunday, June 29).

FC LVU Sonic (4-4-2)
Charlie Sales; Ali Famili, Justin Worley, Julian Plummer, Conor Osborne; Michael Gonzalez, Danny Gonzalez, Joe Joe Jappah (Javier Alvarado 53′, Matt Baker 61′), Lance Dotzman (Randy Falk 84′); Tucker Sandercock (George Tsrikus 44′, Miguel Ross 80′), Tom Mustac (Colin McConnell 87′).
Unused substitutions: Sky Rimmelee

Junior Lone Star FC (3-5-2)
Damilare Adeleye; Kouassi N’Guessan, Mohammed Mayah, Aba Zoegar (Samuel Fahnboto 57′); Ayouba Fane, Amadou Sheriff (James Geayea 57′), Yaya Fane, Mitchell Torh (Mohamed Camara 80′), Fatoma Turay; Aboubacar Coulibaly (Ebere Goodluck 61′), Seydou Ba
Unused substitutions: Prince Monyan, Harris Mulbah, Alhaji Aly

Scoring Summary
15 – LVU: Tom Mustac (Lance Dotzman)
23 – LVU: Joe Joe Jappa (Lance Dotzman)
58 – JLS: Seydou Ba (Aboubacar Coulibaly)
63 – JLS: Kouassi N’Guessan (Fatoma Turay)

Disciplinary Summary
22 – JLS: Yaya Fane

Attendance: 150