MLS Minnesota United FC

Loons Come Away with One Point in California

September 2, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - Minnesota United played to a 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at PayPal Park, extending its undefeated streak to six games.

4': Minnesota United struck early following a fast break. Emanuel Reynoso was able to turn, with pressure, and play a ball over top to Teemu Pukki making a run between the San Jose backline. Pukki converted, placing his shot in the far post.

13': Ismael Tajouri-Shradi nearly put away another chance for the Loons with a low-driven shot into the bottom corner, but goalkeeper Daniel dove in time to punch away the shot.

16': The Earthquakes were awarded a corner kick and subsequently equalized. While both sides scrambled for the loose ball, San Jose ultimately gained possession at the top of the box. The Quakes strung together a series of passes, eventually reaching Cade Cowell who took his shot from long range, which deflected and bounced into the near post past Dayne St. Clair.

56': Jamiro Monteiro had an opportunity to notch the go-ahead goal when he attempted to redirect a lofted ball with a header in the goal area. St. Clair, with an outstretched hand, cleared the ball to prevent the goal.

63': Reynoso slipped a pass through the Earthquakes defense to Pukki, who turned with the ball and fired his shot past Daniel in the 60th minute. The play was reviewed for a possible handball and the goal was overturned.

66': Cristian Espinoza sent a cross into the box where Jeremy Ebobisse connected with a header, nearly scoring, but was denied by St. Clair who swatted away the ball with one hand.

With the result, Minnesota United sit seventh in Western Conference regular-season standings with an 9-8-9 (W-L-D) record and 36 points.

GOAL SUMMARY

1-0 MIN - Teemu Pukki, assisted by Emanuel Reynoso (4')

1-1 SJE - Cade Cowell, assisted by Jackson Yueill (16')

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Caution, SJ - Carlos Gruezo (31')

Caution, MIN - Emanuel Reynoso (39')

Caution, MIN - Michael Boxall (85')

NOTABLE STATS

2 - Teemu Pukki has scored two goals in his past two matches.

200 - With his start tonight, Zarek Valentin made his 200th MLS appearance.

4 - Minnesota United has scored at least one goal in its past four road games.

3:48 - Teemu Pukki's goal was the fastest scored for Minnesota United this season.

9 - Minnesota extends its scoring streak to nine games, scoring 18 goals in that run.

6 - After tonight's result, MNUFC is now unbeaten through six matches.

ATTENDANCE: 16,151

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Dayne St. Clair

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United XI: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Joseph Rosales, Miguel Tapias, Michael Boxall, Zarek Valentin; M Jan Gregus, Wil Trapp ©, Hassani Dotson, Emanuel Reynoso, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi; F Teemu Pukki

Bench: GK Eric Dick; D Ethan Bristow, Bakaye Dibassy, Devin Padelford, Brent Kallman; M Franco Fragapane, Emmanuel Iwe; F Sang Bin Jeong, Mender García

Opposing Team XI: GK Daniel de Sousa Britto; D Miguel Trauco, Tanner Beason, Rodrigues, Carlos Akapo; M Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill ©, Jamiro Monteiro, Cade Cowell, Cristian Espinoza; F Jeremy Ebobisse

Bench: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Tommy Thompson, Jonathan Mensah, Daniel Munie; M Michael Baldisimo, Niko Tsakiris; F Benji Kikanovic, Matthew Hoppe, Ayo Akinola

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

09.09.2023 | MLS 2023 Regular Season | Matchday 31

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

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On his impressions of the match...

"There were a lot of chances for both teams. I thought we played really well the first half: moved the ball, made them [San Jose Earthquakes] change their shape a little bit because we were really good at playing out through the back. We started to get Hassani [Dotson] and Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] on the ball. The second half we knew they'd come at us and we had to weather the storm at times. Dayne [St. Clair] came up with two huge saves. But I always thought we were dangerous, even late on. You know what I'm going to say about 'clear and obvious' [the recalled goal]; it shouldn't take five minutes [to review] if it's clear and obvious for the goal. We'll see, I haven't seen it back. But six games undefeated, a four point week... we'll keep moving on."

On Teemu Pukki's goal...

"Unbelievable first touch from Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] and Teemu's [Pukki] movement was outstanding. It's a good finish, it's trademark Teemu Pukki. We've seen him do it a million times and that's two [goals] in two [matches] now. Hopefully, we can get him on a run."

On Teemu Pukki's consecutive scoring...

"The fact that he's in the right spots again. As I said after the game on Wednesday evening, if we can get him to score five or six goals in the next few weeks, I think that'll put us in a good spot."

On the goal conceded...

"We didn't do a good enough job on it but it was a deflection and it's really difficult where I sit here, there are a lot of bodies. I'll have to have a look at it again but I don't think we did a good job of clearing our lines and then when they [San Jose Earthquakes] recycled it, it went in too easy for my liking."

On the game getting too open...

"It's difficult against these [San Jose Earthquakes] because we showed them the last couple of games that they've played here and you want to be careful it doesn't end up like a track meeting where we're attacking with three and four [players] and then they do the same because that's what they like to do, especially at home. They've got a lot of pace with J-Bo [Jeremy Ebobisse] and then you've got obviously [Cristian] Espinoza, Cade Cowell. They might be three of the quickest guys in the league. So to have all three of them coming at you, it's pretty formidable when they're at home."

On Dayne St. Clair's performance...

"Yeah, terrific. [He made] a couple of unbelievable saves. The low-down ones sometimes don't look as spectacular as the ones where they're in the top corner, but they're the most difficult ones. I think it was Cade Cowell's that he hit really well and Dayne [St. Clair] got a big hand on it, down nice and early. He's certainly earned his money this evening because he's come up with two huge saves."

On the overruled goal and the time it took to review it...

"The referee has given the goal so he doesn't know. I didn't make the rules up and I didn't make 'clear and obvious' up. That's what they said: 'clear and obvious.' So if you're going to look at it for five minutes, I'm sorry, it's not 'clear and obvious.' And I haven't seen it. It might be a handball, I don't know but by the likes of the rule, 'clear and obvious,' it shouldn't take five minutes to come up with a decision."

On Teemu Pukki getting acclimated to the club and a new country...

"We all know what it's like when you start a new job or you go to a new school, like a kid who goes to a new school; it takes you a while to feel comfortable. It takes you a while to be yourself and integrate within the group. He's got his family here now. He's a really close family-man. [He's] back home every day, straight after training to his family. Having them here now and having them settled, it will do him a lot of good."

On facing the New England Revolution with three players missing for international duty...

"Yeah but one door shuts, one door opens for somebody else. Mender [Garcia] has played really well the last couple of weeks when he's come on. He had a couple of chances again this evening: did one across the face of the goal late-on, made a great pull off the back shoulder which he couldn't quite bring under control. So he's waited patiently and he's done really well so he comes and there will be one or two [others] with us."

On Bongokuhle Hlongwane joining in training the coming week...

"I'd like to think so. I'll have a better idea when we get back tomorrow and then we'll see where we are, but it would be nice to have him back in the fold."

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 2, 2023


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