Minnesota Stars aim to clinch national soccer title against Fort Lauderdale

The Minnesota Stars are looking for a second win in the final game of the North American Soccer League Championship Saturday night in Florida, and all their rivals are helping to pay the Stars' way.

Last year, the North American Soccer League committed to funding the Stars through 2013 as the team looks for a buyer.

The Stars won the first game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-1 last weekend in Blaine. The two teams meet again at 6:30 p.m. central time Saturday, and insidemnsoccer.com's Brian Quarstad thinks the Stars' sense of teamwork may give them the edge.

"They're a little more like the workmen, where they're out there, you know, just working for each other, playing for each other," he said. "I'm not saying they don't have talent, they do certainly have talent. The Strikers might be slightly more talented, but I'm not sure that they have the same kind of heart."

But as the Stars try to clench the league title, might the other teams be a little resentful?

"I'm sure if you're an owner and you've forked out a lot of money and you're losing a lot of money per year on a team; and then you get eliminated from the playoffs by this underdog; and then have to pay for the underdog besides, I'm sure there might be a few who are feeling funny about it," Quarstad said. "But the fact that it's happened -- I think is a great story."

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