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MLS Minnesota United FC

52,242 Turn out for Minnesota United's Final Home Match of 2018

October 21, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - On Sunday, October 21, Minnesota United hosted the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy and set a new record for a Minnesota soccer team as they welcomed 52,242 fans to TCF Bank Stadium. The University of Minnesota venue has been the team's home for the last two years, and they closed out their stint there before opening Allianz Field in 2019 with a 3-1 loss to a Galaxy side playing for their playoff lives.

Minnesota United began the game - as they have in several recent contests - on the front foot. Just 33 seconds in, midfielder Darwin Quintero got a good look off a pass from midfielder Collen Warner that he fired in on goal, but which goalkeeper David Bingham easily swallowed. The opening minutes overall, though, featured a Loons team playing with a bit of an edge, building up possession effectively. Defensively, every player was trying and largely succeeding in closing out his man and getting a foot or head on every ball that came their way.

"It gave a little bit of extra adrenaline in the beginning and that showed a little bit," said defender Brent Kallman, referring to the record-setting crowd. "We seemed to be a little nervy and a little jumpy in the first half. It took us longer than usual to settle into the game and that could have had a little bit to do with it. Everyone was just so fired up. It was an experience for sure."

Quintero and forward Angelo Rodriguez rang up more chances early on from pressing high and making the most of Galaxy turnovers, but all it took was a momentary slip in focus to let Los Angeles get the upper hand. In the 30th minute - after largely managing to keep Galaxy players from getting a head on any ball served into the box - the defense relaxed just a bit on defender Rolf Feltscher's cross from the right wing and forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic pounced on the opportunity, placing a header into the back of the goal and putting LA on top 1-0.

"He's been an outstanding player," said Head Coach Adrian Heath. "I think we all know how big and strong he is, but people forget he's all talent. The ball he plays for their third goal, you know, a yard further forward, a year behind, it's no chance. Now, for some younger people who had probably been at the game for the first time, they got a chance to witness one of the great players in the last 20 years in European and world football."

To their credit, Minnesota didn't fold down the stretch of the first half. In the 39th minute, defender Francisco Calvo caught the backline napping and made a long run from the left back position all the way to the front as the ball moved down the right sideline, but the cross into him that resulted in a goal came in a hair late and he was called offside. In the final five minutes of the first half, the Loons did their best to draw level but had to head into the locker room down a goal.

After the break, the Galaxy came out with a vengeance and a real hunger to push get a more comfortable lead. In the 49th minute, defender Michael Boxall made a dramatic goalline save after a run through the left side of the box pulled goalkeeper Matt Lampson out of net. Boxall barely got a toe on a ball headed for the back of the net and cleared it out. But on the next attack, the Loons would not be so fortunate. Ashley Cole picked up a long lead pass in the 50th minute and dinked it over to forward Ola Kamara who finished it easily to double the visitors' lead.

Barely a minute later, it was the Galaxy again as Ibrahimovic struck a long, curving pass across the top of the box and found midfielder Romain Alessandrini, who fired in a volley and give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead.

"I think we have moments in games - we have lapses in games - that cost us dearly. You know, we make a mistake for the second goal, then we go and make another one two seconds later. Now the game is over. Up until then, the game was very much alive for us. We started well. I thought the first two or three better chances were for us. I thought our marking in the box was poor for Zlatan's first goal. And two poor mistakes from us after that. I can't fault the effort to the guys to get back in it when we did. But, it's the mistakes that we make that prove costly for us. It's something that we have to irradiate because it costs us dearly in most games."

The Loons showed some life in the 54th minute when Quintero found Rodriguez with a long pass from the right wing. Rodriguez headed it in and got the game to 3-1, but that was as close as the home side would get, despite a few promising efforts that were called back for offside or came up short.

"We always try to do well during the week to give [the fans] joy on the weekend," said Rodriguez. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but truthfully I'm amazed [by their support]. I came from a team that was just crowned champion, finishes in first place and doesn't fill the stadium. Here, every weekend you see a full stadium."

Minnesota United will close out its 2018 season next week on the road against Columbus Crew SC in a game that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. Pregame coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. on FOX Sports North, streaming on FOX Sports GO and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

Lineups

Minnesota United FC Starting XI: GK Matt Lampson; D Eric Miller (Abu Danladi 63'), Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Francisco Calvo; M Collen Warner (Romario Ibarra 54'), Fernando Bob, Rasmus Schuller, Miguel Ibarra, Darwin Quintero F Angelo Rodriguez

MIN Unused Subs: D Jerome Thiesson, Wyatt Omsberg, Marc Burch; M Collin Martin, Maximiano

LA Galaxy Starting XI: GK David Bingham; D Ashley Cole, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney, Rolf Feltscher; M Emmanuel Boateng, Jonathan Dos Santos, Romain Alessandrini (Jorgen Skjelvik 88'), Sebastian Lletget; F Ola Kamara (Perry Kitchen 90+1'), Zlatan Ibrahimovic

LA Unused Subs: GK Justin Vom Steeg; D Sheanon Williams; M Baggio Husidic, Servando Carrasco; F Ariel Lassiter

Match Events

Goals

30' - Ibrahimovic (Feltshcer) - LA

50' - Kamara (Cole, Lletget) - LA

51' - Alessandrini (Ibrahimovic) - LA

53' - Rodriguez (Quintero) - MIN

Discipline

65' - Boxall (YC) - MIN

70' - Fernando Bob (YC) - MIN

70' - Alessandrini (YC) - LA

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTES SHEET

MNUFC HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On what he said to his team following the game ...

I think we have moments in games - we have lapses in games - that cost us dearly. You know, we make a mistake for the second goal, then we go and make another one two seconds later. Now the game is over. Up until then, the game was very much alive for us. We started well. I thought the first two or three better chances were for us. I thought our marking in the box was poor for Zlatan [Ibrahimovic's] first goal. And two poor mistakes from us after that. I can't fault the effort to the guys to get back in it when we did. But, it's the mistakes that we make that prove costly for us. It's something that we have to eradicate because it costs us dearly in most games.

On Romario Ibarra's impact off the bench ...

You know, it's been frustrating with the likes of Romario [Ibarra] because he's had his hamstring problems, same with Abu [Danladi]. So, a lot of the threats we have with pace in wider areas and through the middle, we haven't had them enough of late. But, as I said a few weeks ago, the best of Romario will be seen next year. The same with Ángelo [Rodríguez] as well. I thought the big man led the line really, really well again. And most of our attacking threats today came from him. We've got to start to work out how to use him better and once we do, when we start to play off him, I think there's a lot of promise in the attacking half.

On the feeling of the occasion ...

Well, once again our supporters have been magnificent and we can't thank them enough. I'm just disappointed that we couldn't give them a performance that warranted the level of support that we had. This has been a good home for us. Our home form, if you look at it over the last two years, has probably been as good as most. So, it's been a good home for us. Now we have to, obviously we still have a game to go, we have to start looking at what's going to make us better moving into the stadium next year.

On what he hopes first-time fans will take away from the game ...

I think the most important thing is that it's an indication of where the game is at in this country at this moment in time. You know, there's 50,000 people here. And you know, I think they've enjoyed what they've seen. I thought it was a terrific atmosphere in the stadium, but obviously the disappointment has been the result and I can't get away from that.

On if he expects more from Romario and Danladi next week vs. Columbus Crew SC ...

Well, we'll see how they are towards the end of the week. But, you know, you would like to get them on the field, maybe get them some minutes before the season ends. But, really for us, we thought they'd give us 20 minutes, half an hour today. We'll have to see where we think it is next week. Because the last thing we need to do now, with one game left, is push them and maybe they break down. We've got a really good period now where we can get some proper work into them and hopefully build them up so they're nice and sharp and fit for the start of next season.

On what he's looking for in next week's season finale at Columbus ...

I think Columbus have still got to win the game, I think. So, we owe it to Montreal and everybody else. That's what I've said to the boys. This might be the last game here, but the guys in Montreal have worked as hard as anybody to get themselves in a position to have a chance and we owe it to them to go and put a performance in.

On Rodríguez's offside calls on a number of goals ...

No, I think he's, we maybe could have given it to him a bit earlier at times, but it's something that we'll work on. I think that last two or three games, he's probably been our outstanding forward. You know, he has made things happen in the game. It was a great ball from Darwin [Quintero] and it was a great header. But, as I've said before, once we give ourselves a mountain to climb like that, to get back three goals against a really experienced group, I think that showed today. You know, killing the game, the referee trying to hurry them up. But, they were savvy. A lot of experience in that team. And the Galaxy are one of them teams, with the players that they have, you know, there's a few teams that have sort of backed into the playoffs and then ended up going on and winning it. They have enough talent to do that and it'll be interesting to see how they go. But they've got one more to go.

On Zlatan Ibrahimovic's performance ...

Yeah. He's been an outstanding player. I think, people look, we all know how big and strong he is, but people forget he's all talent. The ball he plays for their third goal, you know, a yard further forward, a yard behind, it's no chance. Now, for some younger people who had probably been at the game for the first time, they got a chance to witness one of the great players in the last 20 years in European and world football.

On having CEO Chris Wright's support going into 2019 ...

I think, you know, we've come a long way in a very short period of time when you consider the life of a football club. We're only 18 months in from starting. We've got a lot of work to do still, on and off the field, but you know, I'm disappointed. I really am. I thought that we, in our last few weeks, I thought we should have made a better fight at the games than we've done. And that's a disappointment. We've got one more to go, but I'm fully aware of what we'll be expecting next year. I know what we need to get better. I know what I'd like to do, if we can. I think we'll have a group that will be more competitive for next year, which has got to be the most important thing.

On what 52,000 fans in the stands means for soccer in Minnesota ...

I think it tells you everything. It's growing. The game is here to stay. I spoke a few weeks ago and somebody said, do you think the game will survive? Them days have long gone. This league is getting bigger and stronger and better every year. And then, the fact that we've had 50,000 here ... The support has been magnificent here. And, we have to build on that. We have to keep them engaged with our performances on the field. We have to keep them engaged by continually moving the club forward. It's going to be a big year for us next year and I'm fully aware of that.

On his expectations for the next time his team plays a home game (at Allianz Field) ...

That will be nice. That will be nice. I think most people think it's going to be good. I don't think they realize how good it's going to be. This is going to be a game changer for this club moving forward. And, we're not talking about another year. This could be the next 20, 30, 40, 50 years. This is going to be the home of football in this state. So, we're really looking forward to it, but we've got a lot of work to do before we open up the stadium.

MNUFC FORWARD ÁNGELO RODRÍGUEZ

On the loss to LA Galaxy ...

Truthfully, a bit ashamed for the people who came to watch us in this last game. But well, I think we continue to commit those small errors that we need to learn from and correct. We hope to finish well in the last game and start thinking about next year.

On the support of the Minnesota fans ...

That's why I tell you that personally, I feel ashamed. We always try to do well during the week to give [the fans] joy on the weekend. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but truthfully I'm amazed [by their support]. I came from a team that was just crowned champion, finishes in first place and doesn't fill the stadium. Here, every weekend you see a full stadium.

On the last game vs. Columbus Crew SC and looking ahead to 2019 ...

Finish well. Finish well in Columbus and well, next year we have to come in with more energy knowing that we need to make it to playoffs.

MNUFC MIDFIELDER MIGUEL IBARRA

On playing in front of 52,000 fans ...

I have seen it when it is packed for college, so now knowing it was packed just for our game, coming from NASL days to where we are at now is just amazing.

On the feeling being on the field ...

It was a great feeling. Soccer here is big and it is going to keep growing. Once we have our stadium next year we are going to always sell out every game. Just having them support us and be behind us is big for us.

On the impression left on first-time fans ...

I hope they liked the atmosphere out here. We did not get the result we wanted to, but we are going to keep going. We are going to get better and we are going to get there.

On what went wrong in the loss to LA Galaxy ...

For me it was just little mistakes - little mistakes that we can easily fix. We had chances too that we could have put away faster and earlier in the game and we didn't. That is soccer, so we have to move on.

On what the team hopes to achieve in its season finale next week ...

The thing for all of us is we have to go for three points, end the season right and end the season with a W and get ready for next year.

On his expectations for Allianz Field ...

We are expecting the same thing we had here - a full game of everybody coming out to support. I am sure everybody is going to want to see the new stadium and our home opener. For us, it is be prepared and ready to get the W.

I drive by a lot and the whole team went to go check it out. We have not been lately, but we saw it.

On playing on a grass field next season ...

For a lot of people we are just happy that we are going to be able to have grass and not play on turf. Having that grass field is really big for us.

On if a natural playing surface will help his game ...

Definitely. After playing on turf, a lot of the guys come out banged up. Now knowing that we are going to be on natural grass is not going to hurt us as much. For me, I am always going to working no matter if it is turf or grass.

MNUFC DEFENDER BRENT KALLMAN

On the growth of the club ...

It has been steady growth ever since I joined the club in 2013. That was the first year of the rebrand and our attendance has just been going up and up and up, culminating tonight with the 50,000-plus that came and showed what we have. We have incredible support and it just keeps growing and growing. Even though it wasn't the result we wanted at all, it was a good way to send us off heading into Allianz next year.

On the feeling being on the field ...

It gave a little bit of extra adrenaline in the beginning and that showed a little bit. We seemed to be a little nervy and a little jumpy in the first half. It took us longer than usual to settle into the game and that could have had a little bit to do with it. Everyone was just so fired up. It was an experience for sure.

On the impression left on first-time fans ...

I hope they want to come back. Soccer is getting more and more popular in this country for a reason. It is the world's game and we have a lot of cultures in the city. It is awesome. I hope they come back. They got to see a lot of action. There were four goals and there could have been a lot more. Next time hopefully we give them three points, but I think if they are going to come back if they came tonight.

On what the team hopes to achieve in its season finale next week ...

We have to show improvement, especially on the road. We have a lot to prove to ourselves and to everybody on the road. We have to give a good performance. We have to keep the game close and make sure we are nice and compact, defensively, and not give up silly goals. We have to make Columbus earn everything next week.

On the difference playing at Allianz Field next season ...

Grass and we will have a permanent home. We won't be in the visitor locker room or anything like that. It will be our place and it will be home. It will be a proper set up, if you will. It will be an awesome atmosphere, I think.

It is on the way to Woodbury for me. When I go back to Woodbury to see family it is right there. It is awesome, especially at night.

On his message to fans ...

Thank you so much for staying with us all year even though we had a lot of ups and downs. Probably a little bit more downs and they stood with us and they kept coming out. They are incredible during the game. They give us that push when we're here at home and that is why we have a good home field advantage. If we could have figured out our road form a little bit better this year we would have actually given ourselves a chance. That has a lot to do with them, so thank you so much.

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