The Minnesota Thunder couldn’t get it done tonight at the National Sports Center, losing a crucial match to the visiting Carolina Railhawks 2-1. The loss pulls Carolina in a tie with the Thunder, when a win would have put the Thunder six points clear of Carolina and would have launched them into seventh place in the standings.

The Thunder spend the next four games on the road before returning home on September 13th and 20th for the final two regular season games of the year.

The Thunder outshot the Railkawks 9-5 tonight, but couldn’t find the back of the net until it was too late.

In the third minute Thunder forward Melvin Tarley nearly got the Thunder on the board early. Tarley collected a through ball in the right side of the box, dribbled twice, and took a shot at the far post. However, his shot was smothered by Railhawks goalkeeper Chris McClellan.

In the 10th minute, the Railhawks struck first. Kupono Low sent a corner kick into the box right on the six yard line. A Thunder miscommunication caused the ball to bounce, allowing Caleb Norkus to get his head on the ball and send it into the back of the net.

In the 23rd minute, new Thunder signing Brian Cvilikas nearly got his first goal in navy blue. Cvilikas collected a ball outside the left side of the box and faced his defender. Nifty footwork got him past his opponent where he took a shot, only to find it hit the side netting.

Eleven minutes later, Carolina got what was their second goal on what was only their second shot of the game. Ronald Cerritos sent a deep ball into the right side of the box to Santiago Fusilier. Fusilier brought the ball back up field about seven yards and lined up for the left footed shot, sending it to the far upper left corner of the net, over the diving Nic Platter.

Platter came up big just before the half saving a point blank shot from Ronald Cerritos, hitting it out for a corner kick that proved not to be dangerous.

The Thunder had 12 corner kicks to tonight compared to only two for Carolina, but not a single one of them proved to be dangerous.

In the second half, Railhawks forward Hamed Diallo nearly got the third goal for the Railhawks. After a poor clearance in the box that Platter tried to dive towards, the rebound came to Diallo who hit the cross bar.

The excitement in the stadium rose in the 75th minute when Thunder midfielder Dale Weiler send a perfect cross into the box for an onrushing Nathan Knox. Knox slid to get his shot on goal, but an outstretched McClellan just barely got the save and sent the ball trickling past the post.

The Thunder put in the pressure for the remainder of the game, but rallied too late for their only goal of the game.

Just one minute after captain Jeremiah Bass hit the cross bar, he redeemed himself after getting a shot off in extra time that beat McClellan to his right to bring the Thunder within one goal. However, the whistle blew on the ensuing kick off.

The Thunder is on the road for their next four games before returning home for the final two games of the season on September 13 and September 20. For tickets call 651.989.5151 or visit www.ticketmaster.com