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MLS Minnesota United FC

Colorado Tops MNUFC 2-0

October 13, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- On a chilly October afternoon, Minnesota United faced the visiting Colorado Rapids at TCF Bank Stadium in a game where both teams struggled with continuity. Four goals were scored total, but only two of them ended up counting after video review called back both MNUFC goals for offside. In the end, the Rapids came out on top 2-0.

"We started quite well, and we had two great chances, two glorious opportunities from Ángelo [Rodríguez] and Darwin [Quintero]," said Head Coach Adrian Heath. "And, I've said it a million times, goals change games. At this moment in time, with the way that we're playing, we need to take them opportunities when they come, to give the team confidence to move on from there. But we didn't, and I said at halftime that I thought the first goal was going to be crucial today, and they got that opportunity, and took it."

In an echo of the game against Philadelphia last week, the Loons began brightly, with forward Angelo Rodriguez picking off an errant pass in Colorado's half but sending his chip over goalkeeper Tim Howard wide right in the third minute. Overall, the first five or so minutes saw MNUFC comfortably possessing the ball and keeping Colorado from putting any kind of flow together.

Once Colorado got their chance, though, the Rapids managed to get some heavy pressure on goalkeeper Matt Lampson, including a span of ten seconds in the eighth minute that saw no fewer than six shots on goal turned away by Lampson and defenders Marc Burch and Eric Miller before the ball was finally sent over the goalline by a Rapids player.

In the 15th minute, midfielder Darwin Quintero missed a golden opportunity to put the home side in front after a cross from Miller on the right wing narrowly missed Quintero's head. It was part of a pattern that persisted in the first half where the Loons would get a decent look but not quite click on the passes or shots required to finish.

In the 19th minute, video review made its first appearance of the afternoon when play stopped to review Marlon Hairston's takedown of Alexi Gomez. Hairston would eventually be awarded a yellow, but not before several minutes had passed. As the first half wore on, Minnesota's energy seemed to flag as frustration got the better of them. In the 40th minute, an excellent run by Quintero through several Rapids defenders would ultimately go nowhere when he got too deep in the box and ended up sending in a cross on the ground that Howard easily swallowed up. The teams headed into the tunnel deadlocked at 0-0.

The second half began much the same as the first half ended, but in the 51st minute, it looked like it would be Quintero who would finally inject some life into it. Rodriguez corralled a long ball in and sprayed it out wide to Miguel Ibarra on the right wing, who fired a pinpoint pass in for Quintero. The diminutive attacker was kept onside by Hairston drifting into the box and looked like the Loons would take a 1-0 lead. Video review had something to say about that, though, and after another several minutes of review, the goal was called back because of Rodriguez being offside on the initial pass.

"It is supposed to be expedited," said goalkeeper Matt Lampson. "The way that they presented it to us was that it should be seamless and quick. All three of them took very, very long. It ruins the flow of the game, for sure, especially when you have momentum on your side. It absolutely destroys the momentum of the game."

Momentum thoroughly broken up, Colorado nudged themselves in front minutes later when Hairston sent a lobbed ball forward and onto the head of a streaking Yannick Boli, who struck a pretty header into the upper right corner of the goal despite defender Michael Boxall being on his back.

It would be another thirty minutes before the Loons could muster a response to the Rapids' 1-0 lead, but in stoppage time, a chaotic scramble in front of Colorado's goal would find the ball at midfielder Ibson's left foot. After sinking the goal to draw the teams level, video review came in and after several minutes the decision was made that Rodriguez was once again offside on the initial pass in the attack, so the goal was once again called back.

In the game's dying moments, Colorado pounced on a loose ball in Minnesota's half that Lampson had come out to get, sending a high ball in for a 2-0 lead. Colorado defender Tommy Smith came over to the Minnesota bench to preen following the goal, leading to a minor donnybrook that took several minutes to sort out and resulted in the ejections of Smith and Harrison Heath from the bench, plus goalkeeping coach John Pascarella. With order restored, the game was restarted in the 104th minute for one last kick around before the ref blew the whistle.

"There wasn't much of a flow of the game," said Heath. "That was probably one of the reasons that we had the incident at the end of the game that we did. Knowing the rules of the game is different than knowing the game. I just felt the referee today didn't help the situation with the continually blowing up, people going down, blowing when it's not head injury. That frustrated everybody, and I think that led to a lot of the unnecessary ending to the game."

Minnesota United plays its final home game of the season next Saturday, October 21 against the Los Angeles Galaxy. MNUFC is expecting a record crowd of 50,000-plus for the game, which kicks off at 4:00 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, streaming on WatchESPN and on MNUFC Radio on 1500 ESPN.

Lineups

Minnesota United FC Starting XI: GK Matt Lampson; D Eric Miller, Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Marc Burch; M Maximiano (Mason Toye 90+5'), Fernando Bob, Miguel Ibarra (Frantz Pangop 62'), Alexi Gomez (Ibson 72'), Darwin Quintero; F Angelo Rodriguez

MIN Unused Subs: GK Alex Kapp; D Wyatt Omsberg; M Collen Warner, Harrison Heath

Colorado Rapids Starting XI: GK Tim Howard; D Marlon Hairston, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith, Edgar Castillo (Decklan Wynne 46'); M Bismark Boateng, Jack Price, Cole Bassett, Dillon Serna; F Shkelzen Gashi (Giles Barnes 87'), Yannick Boli (Niki Johnson 78')

COL Unused Subs: GK Zac MacMath; M Johan Blomberg, Enzo Martinez, Sam Hamilton

Match Events

Goals

61' - Boli (Hairston) - COL

90+7' - Jackson - COL

Discipline

22' - Hairston (YC) - COL

28' - Miller (YC) - MIN

73' - Maximiano (YC) - MIN

90+14' - Heath (RC) - MIN

90+14' - Smith (RC) - COL

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTES SHEET

MNUFC HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the flow of the game ...

Well, flow of the game. There wasn't much of a flow of the game. That was probably one of the reasons that we had the incident at the end of the game that we did. Knowing the rules of the game is different than knowing the game. I just felt the referee today didn't help the situation with the continually blowing up and people going down, blowing when it's not a head injury. That frustrated everybody and I think that led to a lot of the unnecessary ending to the game.

On this being the second altercation with Colorado Rapids this season ...

I don't think so. I've certainly not heard any of the players mention anything in the dressing room beforehand. But obviously, today was a really frustrating game from our behalf. We started quite well and we had two great chances, two glorious opportunities from Ángelo [Rodríguez] and Darwin [Quintero]. And, I've said it a million times, goals change games. At this moment in time, with the way that we're playing, we need to take them opportunities when they come, to give the team confidence to move on from there. But we didn't. I said at halftime that I thought the first goal was going to be crucial today and they got that opportunity and took it.

On if he got a chance to review the two goals that were called off due to VAR ...

No. I have not a chance. From down where we were, obviously you'll take his decision for it, but it was obviously frustrating from everybody's behalf. The amount of time that we took, even if it's the right decision. If that's the way the game is going to go, not sure it's going to benefit the game. You can't have four- and five-minute stoppages. That's not what our game is about. That's what makes it the game it is. The flow of the game. The continual play. Not four- and five-minutes break. And people on the ground don't know what's going on. People on the bench don't know what's going on.

On if this game helps determine the core 8-9 players that the team will build on ...

The last couple of performances have been really disappointing. I can't deny that. But, you know, I train with these guys every day for a long period of time. So, you know. We know that we need to add to the core group that we like and make us better. That's what today will do. There will be some time for reflection come the end of the season to decide which way we'll go. Obviously there will be changes, because that's the nature of the game. And we need to do that to get better.

On Jerome Thiesson's omission from the 18-man gameday squad ...

I just thought Eric Miller today would be fine for us. And that was the reason for it.

On Thiesson's omission from the bench ...

Similar. Same. I wanted to give some opportunities to one or two other people.

On the altercation at the end ...

I don't know what triggered it off. Somebody said one of their guys came over and celebrated to our bench. You know, so I'll have to see. I'm probably in the dark as much as you of what went on and the reason they got sent off. But hey, it is what it is. We've got to - as much as it's disappointing at the time when people do that - you got to be professional and bite your tongue and get on with it.

On Matt Lampson's return ...

I think he'd probably wanted to take the second goal back - it was the decision he made to commit. But he kept the goal well. He made saves that I expect him to make.

On what he was hoping to see from Alexi Gómez and if he saw it ...

I think it was one of them games, I'm struggling at this moment [to analyze] it until I see it again, to really see that somebody had a game that they could be really pleased with. Knowing the group of players that I've got, and working with them, it was one of - arguably - one of our worst performances of the season I thought. You know, I look back at the defeats to Dallas, we had 19 efforts on goal that night, we played really well. Two late goals against Seattle, but we played really well on the day. Today, I can't say that. I thought the first goal would be crucial and it turned out they got it and we weren't good enough on the day to do anything about that.

On if this performance is related to post-playoff elimination issues ...

Maybe, maybe. We'll see. But obviously, to go back to your original point before, people have a lot to play for between now and the end of the season. I actually think the game next week will be good for us. The fact that it's [LA] Galaxy coming in, who will more than likely have to win the game, the full house here. So, it might come around at a good time for us.

On if he thinks Zlatan Ibrahimovic will make the trip because of the turf ...

I would think so if they need to win to make the playoffs. Because the Galaxy have got enough talent, that if they do make the playoffs, they will be dangerous. They can win on the road against anybody. So, I would expect them to have a full complement of players next week. Because I think it will come down to that game. They'll be looking at that, in the light of their last couple of games, as a game that they maybe can get three points. It's going to be a big game for us.

On how he gets his players to show up for the LA Galaxy game ...

Well, if you can't show up in front of 50,000 people against the standard bearers of the league for the last maybe eight, nine years, then maybe you're in the wrong profession.

MNUFC GOALKEEPER MATT LAMPSON

On getting the start in goal ...

We lost the game, so it did not feel that good.

On the crazy defensive sequence in the first half ...

Keep the ball out of the net. I just tried to get in front of it. Luckily my teammates were there to bail me out a few times and I bailed them out a few times. That is how a team works.

On motivating the team after two goals were disallowed ...

I mean, it is heartbreaking, especially goals like that - high, emotional goals that tie the game twice. That is brutal. Credit to us that we fought back each time, but it just was not enough. The first goal was a great goal and the second goal was a bad mistake and we lose the game because of it. We are much better at home than that. We were not good enough today and we did not deserve to win. This is one of our worst home performances of the year.

On how the length of the first VAR review affected the game ...

It is supposed to be expedited. The way that they presented it to us was that it should be seamless and quick. All three of them took very, very long. It ruins the flow of the game, for sure, especially when you have momentum on your side. It absolutely destroys the momentum of the game.

On if the referee let the game get out of hand emotionally ...

We are not allowed to speak on the referees. I don't want to get fined.

On what needs to be fixed ahead of the LA Galaxy game ...

Play a lot better than we did today, that is for sure. Every single one of us needs to play better. We need to create more opportunities and we need to keep the ball more. I think in the first half it was 60-40 possession, them. That is not our team, especially at home. We need to keep the ball more, we need to create more opportunities and we need to be a lot more solid in the back. We can't be giving away goals like we do and we can't be making the mistakes that we do at the back.

MNUFC FORWARD ÁNGELO RODRÍGUEZ

On if he had seen the VAR reviews from the game ...

I haven't seen them, but they told me about them. It's very difficult to tell [if you're offside] when you're on the field, but the play ends and I don't understand how they call it offside so late.

On how extended breaks in play affect the game ...

A lot. We had them there. We were ready to tie the game. We got cold. It changes everything, everything. But we're committing errors that hurt us and we have to correct that.

On feeling disappointed after a game like that ...

Yes. Truthfully, yes. We trained all week, came in with expectations. All of you guys, our families watch us. And dropping a result at home, with everything that transpired, you leave very sad.

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