MLS Minnesota United FC

Franco Fragapane Leads Loons to Late-Game Equalizer

Published on September 9, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - In the dying moments of the match against the New England Revolution on Sunday night, MNUFC midfielder Franco Fragapane netted the game-tying goal at Allianz Field, equalizing the match at 1-1. The goal gave Minnesota a rescued point at home and extended the Loons' unbeaten streak to seven straight-games.

7': Jan Gregus sent a through-ball pass to fellow midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who made a run towards the goal and fired off a long shot that missed just high above the crossbar.

12': Minnesota's DJ Taylor received a loose ball from an Emanuel Reynoso dribble inside the box. Taylor's shot at a tight angle was saved by New England Revolution goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr.

15': After being awarded a free kick in the final third, Emanuel Reynoso played a ball over top into the center of the box, finding the head of Michael Boxall who's redirected shot was saved by the Revs' goalkeeper.

28': Continuing a first half filled with Minnesota United holding possession in the New England half, Wil Trapp sent a cross into the box, where Hassani Dotson connected a header that went towards goal, but barely missed.

38': The Revolution opened the scoring on the evening when Nacho Gil - while outside the right side of Minnesota's box - sent a through-ball pass inside the box where an unmarked Carles Gil hit a one-touch shot into the back of the net to capture the lead.

42': Revs' attacker Tomas Chancalay went one-on-one with Trapp, finding space and firing off a long-range shot that hit the crossbar and rebounded back into the field of play.

53': Chancalay hit a shot atop the MNUFC box, missing just wide right of the post.

57': While on a run up the left wing, Ethan Bristow sent a cross into the six-yard box where Hlongwane connected a header, ultimately seeing that headed attempt barely miss the net.

69': Dayne St. Clair saved a close-range shot taken by Esmir Bajraktarevic, who received a cross over the top of the box via Carles Gil.

73': On yet another run towards goal, Bristow placed a ball into the six-yard box, forcing Edwards to punch the ball out of the immediate area. On that rebound from the punch, Jan Gregus struck a powerful shot that hit and skipped off the top of the crossbar and into the crowd.

90'+3': Minnesota United equalized just seconds before the full-time whistle blew. With all men in the box, including goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, the Loons put multiple shots on target that were blocked in front of the net. In the scramble, St. Clair gained control of a deflected ball and passed to Franco Fragapane who was able to slot the ball into the far post for the game-tying goal.

With the draw, Minnesota United sit seventh in Western Conference regular-season standings with an 9-8-10 (W-L-D) record and 37 points.

GOAL SUMMARY

0-1 NE - Carles Gil, assisted by Nacho Gil (38')

1-1 MIN - Franco Fragapane, assisted by Dayne St. Clair (90'+3')

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Caution, NE - DeJuan Jones (14')

Caution, NE - Omar Gonzalez (25')

Caution, NE - Earl Edwards Jr. (74')

Caution, NE - Matthew Polster (75')

NOTABLE STATS

2 - Dayne St. Clair recorded his second-ever assist on Franco Fragapane's goal.

7 - With its draw at home tonight, MNUFC continues an unbeaten stretch of matches, extending the streak to seven-straight games.

10 - Minnesota United additionally has extended its scoring streak to 10 games after Fragapane scored the equalizer.

27 & 29 - Against the Revs on Sunday night, Minnesota United tallied 27 total shots and sent in 29 total crosses.

ATTENDANCE: 19,412

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Dayne St. Clair

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United XI: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Ethan Bristow, Miguel Tapias, Michael Boxall, DJ Taylor; M Jan Gregus, Wil Trapp ©, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Emanuel Reynoso, Hassani Dotson; F Mender García

Bench: GK Eric Dick, Clint Irwin; D Bakaye Dibassy, Devin Padelford, Zarek Valentin; M Franco Fragapane, Emmanuel Iwe; F Ismael Tajouri-Shradi

New England Revolution XI: GK Earl Edwards Jr.; D DeJuan Jones, Dave Romney, Omar González, Matt Polster; M Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ian Harkes, Tomas Chancalay, Carles Gil ©, Nacho Gil; F Giacomo Vrioni

Bench: GK Jacob Jackson; D Ben Sweat; M Emmanuel Boateng, Jack Panayotou, Thomas McNamara, Ryan Spaulding; F Justin Rennicks, Bobby Wood, Esmir Bajraktarevic

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

09.16.2023 | MLS 2023 Regular Season | Matchday 32

7:30 p.m. CT (MLS Season Pass/1500 ESPN)

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On if tonight's result feels like a win...

"Well it does because it comes so late where there was nothing that we didn't deserve. It would have been a travesty if we had taken nothing from the game. I thought we were excellent. Some of our approach play in the first half. They are always dangerous on the break because they have quality, but when I look at the amount of effort and desire from the players to get something from the game. I thought it was magnificent. I thought our crowd were unbelievable as well, so I thank them."

On if he would have jumped in the Wonderwall if he was closer...

"Probably. But it was what we deserved. You've heard me say it a million times, I'm a big believer in life that you get what you put into it. And tonight we got something from the game, and it was the last kick of the game, but we deserved that. The effort of the players was unbelievable."

On if getting the defender forward was a part of the game plan in the second half...

"Obviously, as you get more and more desperate and time is winding down then you start to take more and more chances. Against a team like this with the likes of Bobby Wood come on, they've got Carles Gil, [Tomas] Chancalay, they've got a lot of pace in their team. So we're always vulnerable, but we kept going and we've been working in training all week with Dayne [St.Clair] setting Fraga [Franco Fragapane] up in the last minute. That's a joke by the way."

On who makes the decision to send Dayne St. Clair forward at the end of the game...

"Well he looked over and I just said 'yeah, get yourself in there.' At the end of the day, you never know. Get another body, somebody who's not marking, and as it happened it fell to him. It's a good job that he mis-controlled it, because I can guarantee you he would've had a shot of it had it been in front of him. I know there's been a lot of frustration with Fraga [Franco Fragapane] the last few weeks. He's incredibly frustrated, not playing, but he comes in everyday and trains hard and he got his reward for that."

On if he's ever seen a goalie get a last minute assist...

"I've seen keepers score before, but not one of mine. I was just pleased for the group. Seven games now that we haven't gotten beaten in and every point is precious at this time. We're playing against a team that was it last year were in the Supporters Shield? Two years ago, this year they are second [in the standings]. They're a really good team. I'm pleased."

On what he thought of Bongokuhle Hlongwane's return...

"Full of energy. First half I thought he was going to create and do something for us because him and DJ [Taylor] were doing really well, combining really well down the right hand side in the first half. And I don't think we created enough for the amount of quality possession we had in the final third."

On New England attacking down the right hand side and what he did to stop it...

"Well we didn't, at the end of the day it was a corner that came out and they recycled it and we got a lot of people back, but it's a good pullback. And it's a great finish from Carles Gil. Sometimes you have to go 'that's a good goal'. But from our point of view, I'll have a closer look at it. Obviously in the heat of the moment you can't see where everybody is. He [Carles Gil] certainly had too much room from the corner to get the ball in."

On what he told the team after the game...

"I was proud of them. Really pleased for them. The effort and determination to try and get something out of the game. I don't think I could have asked for any more. And they didn't give in until the last kick of the game and that's what they got and they got their reward for that."

On how he views drawing eight games at home this season...

"No, our home form has not been good enough this year. But as I always say, and you've heard me say a lot in these press conferences, 'never turn away a good point'. And today the atmosphere in the dressing room is like [a win]. We've had two or three games this year where we've conceded with virtually the last kick of the game. Today we've had our reward for the endeavor that the players have put in."

GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR

On Dayne St. Clair assist to Franco Fragapane...

"Obviously, we wanted all three points tonight but in a moment like that where there's only a few seconds left to be able to still pull out a point this late on the season is definitely going to be important because we are at the point in the season every point matters and that could be the difference between the end of the season"

On if tonight's win feels like three points...

"Yes and no I think when we look back at the chances and the domination we had over the game I think we will be disappointed that we didn't get three points but I think anytime you score a goal in the last play of the game you have to be somewhat happy with it at the same time."

On his feelings about not getting a chance to take the last shot...

"Yeah for sure, anyone that knows me knows I was definitely gonna shoot it but it skipped over my foot and I heard Hassani [Dotson] calling for the layoff but in the corner of my eye I saw Fraga [Franco Fragopane] and trust him in those areas so if I can reward him and play the pass just like any other player would, so I'm happy with the end result."

On the communication between Dayne St. Clair and Adrian Heath to get him up the field that far...

"Yeah, when you know it's late in the game like that you always take a glance and they give me the go ahead. Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] actually served the ball a little early so I wasn't fully in the box so I think that's possibly how I was so open, of course the ball bounces out to Izzy [Ismael Tajouri-Shradi] and at that point in the game you make a decision whether to run back or stay in and I decided to stay in and then the ball drops to me and I'm just trying to make a play to help the team."

On if he is a two way player now to offer the team...

Yeah I told Fraga [Franco Fragapane] after he'd have to take me out for dinner for the assist. Yeah I don't know, go to Adrian [Heath] to start to ask for some assist bonuses next."

On comparing his assist last year against Vancouver...

"Yeah Vancouver, obviously that one was a little bit different. More of a long ball. I think Luis [Amarilla] did a good job of occupying the defender and it goes over both of them and then Fraga [Franco Fragapane] just played through it and is on a one vs. one with the keeper. Happy with both but I think the way that this one comes is definitely one that I will always remember."

On if his assist last year was from a goal kick...

"No, the ball got played back to me in open play."

On the last time he had an assist in the opposing team's penalty area...

"Probably when I was a kid, definitely nowhere near in my professional career or anything like that or even in college, definitely when I was a kid."

On if he celebrated up in the stands after Fraga's goal...

"I ended up pretty close, there was a lot of bodies I kinda looked up and he might have been in row seven, I don't know he got up there quickly but people like Bakaye [Dibassy]and the guys there were in there just as far as him so there wasn't really much room for me to get up there."

On what he is working on for the next game...

"Clean sheet and three points I think obviously we know next week is going to be a big game playing against the "nicest rivalry in sports", which I don't agree with whatsoever but we know it's going to be an important game with it at home. We're obviously disappointed that we haven't got as many wins at home but we also have to take pride in the fact that we haven't been beaten [at home] so we know going into that game that three points is going to be very crucial, especially it being at home as well."

On if he has ever scored a goal in his career...

"I have not yet, yet, key on yet"

MIDFIELDER JAN GREGUS

On goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair's assist on the game-tying goal...

"A crazy, crazy ending. It feels amazing. Honestly, I think we deserved at least a point because we played very well from the beginning against a strong team [New England Revolution]. We kept pushing and believing and thank God it finished with a goal in the last second."

On how he describes the goal...

"I just remembered we had many corners throughout the game and in the last one I was like 'is this the moment?' and then the ball was rebounded to me. I tried to hit it well and then all of the sudden I see that Dayne [St. Clair] is there, I didn't know he was coming for a corner but thank God he made an assist. Amazing."

On if it was frustrating that the goalkeeper got an assist...

"Absolutely not. No, whoever gets an assist, it's for the benefit of the club and the team. Like I said, I'm very happy we got at least a point because we played very well and this group definitely deserved it tonight."

On if he ended up over the barrier with the Wonderwall for the celebration...

"No, I actually stayed. I was just celebrating with myself. I was just happy we managed to score, but no I didn't go there."

On if this night feels like a three-point night...

"Yes, this draw feels like a win because of the way we played. We played the whole game and we kept pushing and pushing. We had a lot of chances, over 22 or 23 shots today, so it just shows how aggressive we were and thank God we managed to score at least one [goal]."

On his shot hitting the crossbar...

"It was a good chance as well. I hit it well, just unlucky it didn't go in."

On some disagreement after the New England Revolution goal...

"We were just talking that one guy tried to block me there and wasn't looking at the ball at all. It looked like he [was trying] to get a foul out of it. But I remember there was a play after the set piece where they had one free player on the side who managed to cross and did a good finish, so that was a bad goal."

On the New England Revolution having too much space before their goal...

"First it started with a corner, and then in the second ball the organization wasn't so right. Like I said, the guy tried to block us there and they managed to get one there. Probably the organization was not the best, but we still could have probably not made it happen. But it is what it is."

On Jan Gregus and Emanuel Reynoso's developing relationship in the midfield...

"I wouldn't say developing. I knew Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] from years ago when I played with him. It's easy to play with him. He's a great player. He makes plays happen out of nothing and he's so talented. It's just about finding him in spaces and he'll make things happen for sure."

MIDFIELDER FRANCO FRAGAPANE

On the result of the match...

[SPA]: "No teníamos que perder, se nos dio un punto muy importante para nosotros."

[ENG]: "We didn't have to lose, we got a very important point for us."

On if he's ever been assisted by a goalkeeper...

[SPA]: "No, la verdad que no, fue la primera vez."

[ENG]: "No, truthfully, it was the first time."

On celebrating the last minute goal knowing the team earned a point at home...

[SPA]: "Si, la verdad que fue un partido que merecimos ganar. No se nos pudo dar. Nosotros atacamos por todos lados en nuestra casa. Pero bueno lo último, pudimos hacer el gol y empatamos. Es algo que hemos hablado que no teníamos que perder puntos en casa así que un punto creo que nos queda bien.

[ENG]: "Yeah, the truth is it was a game we deserved to win. We weren't able to get the win. We attacked from all sides at home. But at the end, we were able to score the goal and tied. It's something that we've talked about that we can't lose points at home so I think a point helped us."

On the difficult schedule ahead...

[SPA]: "Sabemos que tenemos unos partidos difíciles pero nos queda un partido en casa muy importante que no podemos perder los puntos aca. Nosotros tenemos que ser fuertes en el local porque tenemos muchos partidos en casa."

[ENG]: "We have some difficult games but there's one very important [game] at home that we can't drop points here. We have to be strong at home because we have a lot of games at home."

On a message to the Spanish-speaking fans...

[SPA]: "Gracias por apoyarnos. La verdad es que vienen siempre al estadio [si] ganemos, perdamos, empatamos... [ellos] vienen siempre. Nos apoyan mucho."

[ENG]: "Thank you for supporting us. Truthfully they always come to the stadium if we win, lose, tie... [they] always come. They support us a lot."

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 9, 2023


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