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MLS Minnesota United FC

Loons Dominate at Home in 4-0 Win

September 7, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, MN - Having slumped back into the regular season following a strong run at the MLS Is Back Tournament, Minnesota United came into Sunday night's tilt against Real Salt Lake looking to get back on track after three straight losses since Orlando. New Designated Player Emanuel Reynoso got his first MLS start as well as his first MLS point with an assist and Dayne St. Clair came in for Greg Ranjtsingh. The two sides - who fought to a scoreless draw in Florida - battled back and forth in the first half with nothing to show for it, but once Minnesota's attack began clicking, the goals game fast and furious. The Loons ended the night with four total and St. Clair got a clean sheet in a game that will go a long way towards building the team's confidence back.

Minnesota began the evening looking much more aggressive and engaged than they appeared in both the FC Dallas and Houston games. When Real Salt Lake was in possession, the Loons stepped aggressively to them and spent a lot more time working the ball themselves, thanks in large part to the efforts of returning captain Osvaldo Alonso, who did his usually excellent job of corralling and cycling the ball out of the back and into the attacking half.

Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair - making his first MLS appearance and start - nearly had a heart attack of a howler early on when he blocked a shot in the 13th minute near the edge of the six-yard box. The ball popped up into the air, headed towards goal, but St. Clair narrowly snatched it back to keep the game scoreless. Minutes later, Alonso would be forced from the game with a leg issue, making way for midfielder Hassani Dotson in the 17th minute.

In the 26th minute, it looked briefly as if the visitors had seized the momentum. A free kick closer to the center circle than the penalty box for RSL offered up a long curving ball from Giuseppe Rossi that found Nedum Onuoha on the far post. Onuoha nodded the ball into the goal, but the celebration was cut short when video review overturned the goal. Onuoha had strayed just offside as the pass was delivered.

As the first half wore on and the teams settled into the game, the play got physical as the two sides jockeyed for position. MNUFC began to start putting together combinations in the final third over the final 10 minutes, with midfielder Robin Lod getting the ball on the left and bringing it out towards the left wing before sending it in for midfielder Kevin Molino, who got off the home side's most promising shot of the night to that point, a wormburner that went just outside of the left post.

Meanwhile, the defense - led by Michael Boxall, who took on the captain's duties following Alonso's exit - held firm, frustrating RSL's attack and keeping St. Clair from having to deal with too much on his first night between the sticks. The teams headed into the locker room deadlocked at 0-0.

Shortly after halftime, the floodgates opened for the Loons. In the 53rd minute, Jan Gregus karate kicked the ball forward to Emanuel Reynoso, who had just enough time to nick it ahead to Molino in the middle of the park before getting laid out by an RSL defender. Molino spotted defender Chase Gasper rushing up the left wing and got him the ball with enough space to beat defender Justen Glad to it. Gasper blasted it past goalkeeper Zac MacMath to open the scoring and notch his first MLS goal.

Less than 10 minutes later, it was Lod's turn to get in on the action. Reynoso delivered a perfectly weighted ball to the Finnish winger on the left wing and Lod controlled it long enough to let Molino make an effective dummy run up the middle that left MacMath flatfooted, eventually dropping him with a smooth left-footed shot for his second on the season. It also gave the Argentine midfielder his first MLS assist.

With two goals in hand, Head Coach Adrian Heath opted to go to his bench and rotate some of the players out. In the 63rd minute, he brought on midfielder Jacori Hayes for Mason Toye, effectively shifting Reynoso to the forward role in the 4-2-3-1. Reynoso, though, would make way in the 72nd minute for Raheem Edwards, who would play more of a false 9 role.

As RSL became increasingly desperate to get back into the game, they left themselves exposed at the back. In the 75th minute, Molino found himself with the ball in the box after a turnover and he held it up long enough for Edwards to cross behind him. Molino deftly dished it to Edwards along the baseline, and he in turn found an unmarked Hayes in front of goal to give the sub the ball on the platter for a smooth finish and a 3-0 lead. The Loons put the cherry on top in the 90th minute with Molino once again providing the spark. The winger stayed onside on an outlet pass to the left side, then began to work the ball back to the middle along the top of the box. Eventually, it found Lod on the right side and the Fin unleashed a gently curling shot with his left foot that found the far post and gave him a brace, plus a satisfying 4-0 win for MNUFC.

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Emanuel Reynoso

GOAL BREAKDOWN

53' | Reynoso tracks the ball down off a pass from the wing and gets it over to Molino who spots Chase Gasper running free down the left wing. Chase beats Justen Glad to the spot and fires it past MacMath for his first MLS goal. 1-0

62' | Robin Lod is out ahead of the pack and drops the easiest left-footed shot you're ever likely to see past MacMath as Molino runs down the middle, splitting his attention. Assist to Reynoso. 2-0

75' | Clinic. Molino is clear in the box with the ball on the left side after a turnover. Slides it over to Raheem Edwards who centers it to Jacori Hayes to give the sub an easy finish. 3-0

90' | RSL has thrown everyone forward trying to get a consolation and instead they open themselves up at the back, where Kevin Molino stays onside on an outlet pass down the left side. The team works the ball through the middle of the field along the top of the box until they find Robin Lod on the right side, where he drills a shot inside the far post. 4-0

LINEUPS

Minnesota United: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Chase Gasper, Jose Aja, Michael Boxall, Romain Metanire; M Jan Gregus, Osvaldo Alonso, Robin Lod, Kevin Molino, Emanuel Reynoso; F Mason Toye

Real Salt Lake: GK Zac MacMath; D Justin Glad, Erik Holt, Nedum Onuoha, Tate Schmitt; M Everton Luiz, Kyle Beckerman, Nick Besler, Giuseppe Rossi; F Douglas Martínez, Sam Johnson

UP NEXT

Minnesota United vs. FC Dallas

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

09.09.20 | MLS Week No. 9 | MLS Game 10

7:00 p.m. CT (FOX Sports North, FOX Sports GO, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the performance tonight against Real Salt Lake ...

"It was a huge game for us tonight. Obviously, I'm pleased with the players to get the result and maybe let us calm down a little bit and start playing a little bit like we can do. We had little glimpses of it tonight when we relaxed and played our football. So, it was a huge game for us. And, I'm really pleased for the players."

On Emanuel Reynoso's first start tonight and how he got knocked down hard a few times, but picked himself and the team up ...

"Trust me, the physicality of the MLS is not going to worry him when he'd been playing in the Argentinean first division. He's going to be fine. I was amazed he got through as long as he did. That's a testament for his incredible fitness and the way he's looked after himself. Because, to play like he has done, I think his last game was March. His last big, competitive game. So, it speaks volumes of the way the kid looks after himself."

On not getting a goal in the first half but coming out of this game with three points ...

"As I said before, it was a huge game for us. I was aware of that because as the morning carries on, the more people started jumping on the bandwagon. I know how it is. I know what my job is. I don't know whether it's over the line or not, obviously, we can't see from here, but, if it was, then we had a break. Because, the way that we are at that time, we're a little bit fragile at this moment in time, so, it might have been a game changer. If we have, we'll have a look. But, as I've said, if ever a team needs some luck here, we deserve some. Second half, our attacking play was good. Our ball movement. A little bit of really good combination play at times. As I said after the game, at least we got a couple of goals."

On how important it was to get a clean sheet for both the defense and Dayne St. Clair ...

"Huge. As I've always said, you have a clean sheet, you have a chance at winning any game of football. Conceding eight in three games, you ain't winning many. You know, so, I don't care how you keep it out, you have to do something to keep yourselves in the game. And, we haven't been playing well enough to be chasing games the last three games. As I said, we're a little bit fragile at the minute and I'm hoping that this will give us a huge shot in the arm of confidence because there's nothing like winning that gives players confidence. So, hopefully, we can build on this. We have a big game again on Wednesday, and, if we come out of that one with three points, everybody will be a little bit happier I think. Including me."

On Ozzie Alonso's status ...

"I'll know more in the morning. It's always a little bit tender after the game. And, once he's slept on it, we'll have a better idea tomorrow. But, if it's a hamstring, it doesn't look good, obviously, for Wednesday and maybe next weekend."

On what his thinking was behind starting Dayne St. Clair in net ...

"Sometimes it's not just the performance of the goalkeeper. Sometimes a change of voice, a change of approach. I just felt that we needed to do something, and, Dayne [St. Clair] has got a lot of confidence in himself. I thought that would have been needed this evening. Obviously, if he had a little bit of luck with a chance with what he meant to tip over, so, obviously, with that, he might have had a bit of luck. Sometimes that's what you need. Certainly, we did."

On if this is vindication for him since he stuck by Robin Lod when his goals weren't coming ...

"No. It's vindication for the kid. As I said after the game, people got to realize he plays for Minnesota and not the opposition. Some of the things that people tell me and people write about him is disgraceful. At the end of the day, he's one of our players and we should stick up for whoever puts the shirt on. And I know that people have favorites in football clubs, because that's the way it is. But, that doesn't mean you're allowed to write and say the things that people say about him. So, I'm really pleased for him. At the end of the day, we've got a quality player. He'll get a lot of confidence for that. I actually thought he was our best player tonight."

On the status of Ethan Finlay and Luis Amarilla, and what his mindset tonight was going into a game with only one striker in Mason Toye on his roster ...

"Well, it's not ideal. We know that. And, obviously, Mason [Toye] ran around and worked really, really hard. So, then you're looking at the bench. At one stage, we were going to put Robin [Lod] up there because he's played there before. We just thought that Raheem [Edwards] with his energy levels and he's incredible in the air for his size, he'd give us a little bit of something. And, I thought he did smashing when he got on. But, obviously, it's not ideal. We'll have a better idea this week when they have a look at Luis [Amarilla] and obviously the Ethan [Finlay] thing, you know, we fear the worst in terms of for the next four, five weeks. We'll see. We might get a better look on Wednesday, but, obviously we'll have to have a serious look at that and what we think we might need to do moving forward."

On what he saw in the dynamic in Jan Gregus and Emanuel Reynoso in their first game together in the midfield ...

"We've got to get to learn to trust him more. He's used to having the ball under pressure. But, these things are going to come with time. I actually thought Hassani [Dotson] came on and gave us a huge lift, actually. I thought he was excellent in midfield. So, there was a lot of good performances. But, yeah, we know that we've got a quality player and now we've got to learn how to play with him, realize what his strengths are, front men to realize when to run away from him, when to come and play with him. That will come over time. Because of the nature of our schedule at this moment in time - Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday - we're hardly doing anything in between because we've got to prepare for another game on Wednesday. So, you know, we're not getting an awful lot of time to work on things on the training field."

On how happy he was to see Chase Gasper get his first MLS goal ...

"I did say at halftime in the dressing room, and I said it on the broadcast, that that diamond shape that they have is difficult to play against when they have the ball. But, if you turn it over cheaply, there's so much room in wide areas, you can get overload, and we wanted to try and get our wide guys to try and drag the fullbacks in and it worked a treat. And, obviously, Chase [Gasper], as willing as he is, made a great run and then it was a quality finish. So, pleased for the boy."

On what Luis Amarilla and Ethan Finlay are dealing with in terms of injuries ...

"Ethan [Finlay] we think it's the meniscus. We'll have an idea on Wednesday when they look inside. And Luis [Amarilla] has had a little issue with his ankle, for maybe, a couple of months now, and we thought he would get better but it's not, and it's been gradually getting worse. So, they'll have a look on Wednesday. We'll have a better idea of timeframe for the both of them on Wednesday."

MINNESOTA UNITED GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR

On making your debut and what went well on the field...

"It was a complete team performance, to come off of three losses, the team really showed up tonight and showed how we can be a dominant team at home. To score four goals was brilliant, to get a clean sheet was a team effort, clearances off the line and things like that."

On when you found out you were starting...

"It was a couple of days ago. I came in from San Antonio FC hoping to my name would be called eventually and I tried to keep working hard in training and be ready when my name was called upon."

On the difference defensively from the previous games to tonight...

"We kept a really compact shape tonight and really worked together as a unit, shifting side to side, closing out when the ball was going backwards and moving as a unit - and of course with the communication as well."

On the nervy moment [in the first half] and on your confidence you kept the ball out...

"The ref said I kept it out so that's what I am going to go with. From on the pitch it didn't look like it crossed the line and that's what the ref went with."

On the run with San Antonio and the confidence gained from it...

"To get game experience is the toughest thing for a young player, so to be able to go out on loan and play a few games and to use that to kick on here and get the experience to apply here as well."

On getting the shutout in your first MLS start...

"It's what you hope for. Clean sheets in any game, you always want to keep a clean sheet, so to start that with my first game was good and hopefully more to come in the future."

On your impressions on Emmanuel Reynoso...

"You can see from tonight the dynamic and vision he has, the ability to attack, but also work hard defensively and be together with the unit that's everything you want from a front guy."

MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER EMANUEL REYNOSO

On his thoughts on his first start went...

[SPA] "Primero, muy contento, feliz. La verdad que hace mucho que no jugaba, pero contento porque conocí mis compañeros, a conocerlos en entrenamiento y eso es lo que necesitaba. Así que me sentí muy bien en el partido, físicamente me sentí bien. Contento y feliz por sumar estos tres puntos importantes que era importante ganar de local. Pensar en el partido que viene y estar atento al rival que va venir porque va ser muy duro."

[ENG] "First, really happy. Honestly, it's been a while since I've played but really happy to have met my teammates, meet them at training, honestly that's what I needed. I felt really good in this game, physically I felt good. Happy and content to get the three points that were super important to get at home. Now thinking ahead to the next game and prepare for our next opponent which will be a challenge."

On what changed between the first and second half...

[SPA] "En el primer tiempo, estaba el partido muy cerrado, no encontrábamos los espacios pero después nos empezamos a mover, empezamos a juntar y creo que cuando vino el primero gol ya empezamos a encontrar los espacios y nos soltamos mucho más. Empezamos a tener sociedades en el medio. Creo que después del primer gol empezamos a jugar y dominamos el partido."

[ENG] "In the first half, the game was really closed, very tight, we couldn't find any space but we started to move around, started to connect and then after the first goal, we found more space and loosened up. We started to create more partnerships in the midfield. I think after that first goal we started to really play and we dominated the game from there."

On switching his cleats after the first half...

[SPA] "Me los cambie porque los botines eran nuevos, los rojos. Los blancos los venia usando en el entrenamiento, me cambie por comodidad nada más."

[ENG] "I changed them because the red boots were Brand new. I switched to the white cleats because I had been using them in training. Really only switched due to comfort, nothing else."

On his thoughts on the depth of the squad missing two starters tonight but a decisive win...

[SPA] "Creo que los que jugaban no pudieron estar, pero los compañeros, los que le toco entrar, la verdad lo hicieron muy bien. Ayudaron para el equipo mucho. Entonces hicimos un gran partido todos. El grupo a pesar de que estábamos bien agotado, supimos a llegar adelante el partido y empezamos a encontrar los espacios. Ahora tenemos que descansar y pensar en el partido que viene, tratar de corregir los errores que tuvimos hoy y pensar en el partido que viene."

[ENG] "I think those who had played couldn't, but those who started did a great job. They added to the team. We had a great game, all of us. The group, despite being depleted, we were able to get ahead and find the spaces. Now we can rest and think about the next game, try to fix today's errors and think of the next match."

On his pass to Robin Lod that led to the second goal...

[SPA] "Fue una jugada que salió el rebote y me creo con el perfil para adelante y sabía que el extremo al izquierdo nuestro es muy rápido. Trate de asistirlo y darle un buen pase y con el control que hizo, como definió, la verdad que lo hizo muy bien."

[ENG] "The play started from a rebound and I was able to create from the profile. I knew the left winger was very fast. I tried to make the assist, give him a good pass and with his control, his definition, honestly he played it very well."

On his initial impressions on the physical nature of MLS compared to Argentina's first division...

[SPA] "La verdad que el futbol argentino es muy físico, se mete mucho también se juega, ¿no? La diferencia que vi acá es hay mucho espacio, tener más tiempo para resolver cada jugada. Eso es lo que vi, y eso es lo que voy a tratar a acostumbrarme."

[ENG] "Honestly, argentine soccer is very physical, you get in it but you also play, right? The difference here is there much more space and there is time to think about each play. That's what I saw and that's what I need to try to get used to."

On how he feels physically after this game...

[SPA] "Bien, bien, me siento bien. Como dije, hacía mucho que no estaba jugando por el tema de la pandemia. Ahí en argentina entrenábamos por Zoom, y obvio que no es lo mismo, pero después vine acá. Trate de ponerme bien físicamente para estar de posición del técnico. La verdad que me sentí bien y a la media que vayan pasando los partidos me voy a sentir mucho mejor."

[ENG] "Good, good, I feel really good. Like I said, it had been a while since I played because of the pandemic. In Argentina we were training via Zoom, obviously it's not the same, but then I came here. I tried to get in shape quickly so I could be an option for the head coach."

On how he feels as a part of the team after two games...

[SPA] "Si, si, eso es lo que vine a buscar. Trate de jugar, trate de asociarme con mi compañeros, me estoy conociendo con ellos con los partidos y en los pocos entrenamientos. Trate de acoplarme mucho al grupo, trate de asociarme rápidamente en el grupo. Me han recibido muy bien, ahora a descansar, a pensar al partido que viene que va ser muy importante para seguir allá arriba y tenemos que ganar y conseguir los tres puntos aquí en casa."

[ENG] "Yes, that's what I was looking for. I tried to play, tried to associate myself with my teammates, I'm getting to know them through the games and the few trainings we've had. I'm trying to connect with the team as much as I can, as quickly as I can. They've welcomed me here really well. Now I rest and think about the next game coming because it's very important to keep moving up. We need to win and get those three points at home."

MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER ROBIN LOD

On his thoughts on his performance tonight...

"I mean, we played a really great game as a team, it was a really good team effort for us. We had a tough couple of games away and now we get back to a home game and we showed we can rebound from the tough losses. So, it was a really good effort from the whole team."

On facing Salt Lake down in Orlando and how he changed sides this time in the attack...

"Yeah I mean, we had a couple changes on the lineup and I felt comfortable playing the right side today and I was lucky to score a few goals."

On getting to play with Emanuel Reynoso in his first start...

"I really enjoyed playing with him. I can see that the quality he had with the ball and I think he's going to be a good player for us. I mean, probably he's not full-fit yet, but he's going to be a really good player for us when he gets some games under his belt and of course when the connection gets better game by game."

On getting goals in open play rather than on set pieces....

"Yeah of course. As I said, we played a really great game as a team and the goals were really nice team efforts. I think all of the goals were really nice combinations and the guys got good chances so of course it was a really good boost for the whole team, and not only winning by 1-0 and making a comfortable win. It gives us a lot of confidence moving forward."

On one healthy striker tonight and stepping up...

"No, as I said, the whole team played well. And I mean, Raheem not maybe in the most comfortable position as coming from the bench and I think he did a really great job playing there up front. So, I mean we have a deep squad and that's a good thing."

On playing in front of Chase Gasper vs. Romain Metanire...

"I mean it's a little bit different since I get my left foot on the inside of the field from when I'm playing on the right side, so maybe I can go more on the inside and let Romain go on the side. I think with Chase we both (a little bit) played the same position - like on the side - and it's just different playing on the left and right side when you're playing with the left foot. I mean, I enjoy playing with Chase...I think we do great on the left side also."

On the mood of the team as losses stacked up prior to this game...

"We haven't played that many games at home this season and the away games are always, always tough, and we knew that we are still a good team even though we had a few loses and we knew that when we come back home we can change the game. And today we showed that we are still a good team."

On playing at Allianz Field with no fans...

"Yeah, I mean the stadium is great. The grass is really great and you just feel comfortable playing there. I still don't say it's the same without the fans, I mean the fans make our stadium amazing from what I've experienced. So, I really miss playing in front of our great fans, but still better playing here at Allianz Field than at empty away games."

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