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MLS Minnesota United FC

Loons Dominate Club Puebla 4-0

July 24, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota United dominated Club Puebla of LIGA MX in a 4-0 shutout at Allianz Field on Sunday evening. Despite being down a man for more than sixty minutes, midfielders Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Emanuel Reynoso each bagged a brace, giving MNUFC all three points in its first Leagues Cup 2023 Group Stage match.

24': At the midpoint of the first half, midfielder Bongokuhle Hlongwane scored the first goal of the match. With pressure on his back, Hlongwane was able to spin off the Puebla defender and sprint into the attacking third. The 23-year-old cut into the top of the box and buried his shot in the far post.

30': In an effort to cease a Club Puebla attack, defender Michael Boxall was shown a red card for violent conduct.

36': Forward Teemu Pukki nearly found the back of the net for Minnesota's second goal of the evening, standing unmarked in the box. His shot was saved by Puebla goalkeeper Jesus Rodriguez.

45': Tipping a long-range shot over the crossbar, goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair prevented Puebla from equalizing before the end of the first half.

51': Hlongwane earned his second goal with a free header in the center of the box with a late run into the box, putting away a cross from midfielder Emanuel Reynoso.

59': Emanuel Reynoso secured Minnesota's third goal of the evening, settling a pass from Bongokuhle Hlongwane and chipping Jesus Rodriguez.

65': After MNUFC won a free kick in the attacking third, Reynoso put away his attempt from long-range, bending the ball into the upper right corner for his second goal of the evening.

84': Club Puebla almost opened its scoring account when Daniel Alvarez dribbled through the Loons backline, putting away his chance to prevent a shutout, but the goal was ultimately recalled as the ball was out of play.

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Caution, PUE - Angel Robles (5')

Ejection, MIN - Michael Boxall (30')

Caution, PUE - Gaston Silva (57')

Caution, MIN - Adrian Heath (69')

Caution, PUE - Sebastian Olmedo (71')

GOAL SUMMARY

1-0 MIN - Bongokuhle Hlongwane, unassisted (24')

2-0 MIN - Bongokuhle Hlongwane, assisted by Emanuel Reynoso (51')

3-0 MIN - Emanuel Reynoso, assisted by Bongokuhle Hlongwane (59')

4-0 MIN - Emanuel Reynoso, unassisted (65')

NOTABLE STATS

1 - Tonight's victory became Minnesota's first-ever win over a LIGA MX side across all competitions.

ATTENDANCE: 19,609

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United XI: Dayne St. Clair; D Zarek Valentin, Bakaye Dibassy, Michael Boxall, DJ Taylor; M Wil Trapp (c), Kervin Arriaga, Hassani Dotson, Emanuel Reynoso, Bongokuhle Hlongwane; F Teemu Pukki

Bench: GK Clint Irwin, Eric Dick; D Brent Kallman, Kemar Lawrence; M Joseph Rosales, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi; F Cameron Dunbar, Mender Garcia

Club Puebla XI: GK Jesús Rodríguez; D Gaston Silva, Efraín Orona, Diego de Buen; M Brayan Angulo, Daniel Aguilar, Fernando Arce, Gustavo Ferrareis; F Angel Robles, Federico Mancuello (c), Guillermo Martínez

Bench: GK Fraga Miguel, Juan Gómez; D Patrick Villa, Sebastián Olmedo; M Daniel Álvarez, Alberto Herrera, Pablo González, Carlos Baltazar, Diego Zago; F Kevin Velasco, Martin Barragán, Luis Garcia

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. CHICAGO FIRE FC

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

07.27.2023 | Leagues Cup 2023 | Group Stage

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

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On how he feels after the 4-0 victory...

"What do you think? Pretty good. We played for an hour with 10 men, was it? An hour? I thought the players were magnificent. Really proud of them. I thought the crowd was unbelievable. It was a really good night for Minnesota United tonight."

On how fulfilling the result was after being down to 10 men...

"Well yeah you look at that, but I look at the body of work that the players have done. Even the guys that come on put an incredible shift in. I couldn't be more proud about the way they went about it. We spoke about trying to use the LAFC game as a barometer of what's acceptable and I don't mean with the ball, because I know that we're as good as anybody with the ball when we play well. The energy levels and determination to defend, people to help each other out, people to do their jobs, people like him [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] doing both sides of the ball and then every time the ball goes in the box, making 60 yard runs to get in the box and then you get your reward. I didn't think that he [Bongokuhle Hlongwane]would ever score with a header to be honest with you, but obviously we're pleased. "

On the offensive surge and the setups for the goals...

"Great, great first goal. Great finish. As I say, I'd be lying if said that we drew it up where Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] went down on the wing and crossed it with his right leg and he [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] headed it in. It was a great play, great ball in from Rey and a great header. A great finish. But they have to have the willingness to get there. That's what gets you the goals. The fact that you want to get in there. We've talked about wanting to get into goal scoring positions all the time, and he's done it again tonight and he's got his reward."

On what he expected from Puebla...

"I don't really think it's my place to talk about Puebla. I was so wrapped up in my own team that I didn't really think about them that much. I thought they had a 10 minute spell, before we got the goal actually, where their shape started to really drag us around a little bit. But Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] got a really good goal, great finish. And then after that it was a case of us being disciplined. Staying in our shape, we didn't really want to change anything too much so we stayed like the 4-4-1. And even in the first half Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] kept playing in that left hand pocket and kept getting that ball in and Pukki [Teemu Pukki] had a couple of chances in the first half as well. I'm more concerned with the way that we approached the game and we were excellent in all departments."

On if this is the real level of the team...

"Well this group that played this evening with Reynoso [Emanuel Reynoso] and Pukki [Teemu Pukki], Kervin's [Kervin Arriaga] come back, Hassani [Hassani Dotson] playing a slightly different role, but if you look at the last two or three performances they've been excellent. I like to think this is just the beginning for this group for the second half of the season. We feel as though there's goals in this group, but the energy level is the thing that's really pleased me and the defensive mindset for everybody to do their job and to help each other. If we do that we will always score goals. We have too much talent in our forward areas not to score goals."

On how Emanuel Reynoso impacts the rest of the team...

"He's a special player. I've said it since we've had him. That his sense has come back, he's been really engaged, he's been training really hard, he looks in really good physical condition and he does the thing that's the hardest thing to do in Football. He scores goals and he makes goals. That's why they go for the most money and get paid the most money. It's quite simple. He's a special player. When he's in the condition he's in now and the mindset he's in now, then there's not many better players in North America or South America."

On Bongokuhle Hlongwane scoring 10 goals on the season...

"We spoke about it in the offseason. When he came back I said to go to the next level, because I know he's going to work both sides of the ball, you've got to be getting between 7 and 15 goals a season to be a top class wide guy. And he's taken that onboard, but his energy levels to keep getting in there, to keep getting in these positions to give himself the opportunity. That's why he's got it. It's because of his energy and his willingness to run. And that's why if he continues to do that, he'll score more goals."

On if the players give him grief for receiving another yellow card...

"Well they do, but I keep getting yellow cards for some of the most ridiculous decisions that I have ever seen before in my life. I don't think that there was anybody in the crowd that didnt think the one on Reynoso [Emanuel Reynoso] wasn't a yellow card when we were breaking. And yeah maybe I've got to stop waving my arms about, but then two seconds later they get a yellow card for exactly the same thing that had happened a minute earlier. Not sure if the Mrs. Heath will be too pleased when I get fined, but there you go."

On his thoughts on Puebla's performance...

"I said this week that I think this tournament will grow. I think it's going to be a real terrific tournament. I said before the game tonight that I don't think that it's ever been as close as it is now between Liga MX and MLS, and the results in the last couple of days have shown that. They have really good players. They are tactically very very sound, but I think that we are closing the gap. When I first arrived in the states 13 years ago that was not the case and every year it has just gradually gotten closer and closer. And there are some really good teams in Mexico to say the least. Tactically sound, very very good players, but we are getting closer and closer."

On if he has seen the replay of Michael Boxall's Red Card...

"I haven't had the chance to see it. Boxy [Michael Boxall] reacted to something the other guy did."

MIDFIELDER BONGOKUHLE HLONGWANE

On the mindset of the team after going down one player...

"I would say our mindset, just like in which tournament? In Houston, [in the] Open Cup. It happened [the red card] first the first half, the last time Kervin [Arriaga] got the red card in the first half. We were struggling. We were one down, so today it was better because we were leading, and so we had to protect what he had in the first half so we could come with a better plan for second half."

On how he feels he and Emanuel Reynoso are playing together...

"I feel like it's easy for me to play with Rey [Emanuel Reynoso]. He understands me. I can play short and sometimes he can put the ball behind for me and I can run, then he is always looking for the cut back or he is always waiting for the ball in the right place. For me when I get in the box I have to lift my head, look for him [Emanuel Reynoso], look for Teemu [Pukki], but I haven't been finding Teemu so I have been finding Rey in the right spot. So, given last season it happened, I'm not surprised.

On if he realized he reached his 10 goal mark on the season...

"No."

On what it means to reach the 10 goal mark on the season...

"It means a lot to me. I feel like it gives me the confidence to go for more each and every game, but if it didn't happen, then maybe if I would have scored today than I wouldn't have scored another goal after that game. I need to be consistent with my goals. I need to work hard, so that I can score each and every game."

MIDFIELDER EMANUEL REYNOSO

On the solution to playing with 10 men and getting a result...

[SPA]: "Si, muy difícil. Sabíamos que iba a ser duro jugar con 10 [jugadores]. La verdad que el grupo siempre estuvo unido y siempre tuvo la mentalidad firme para poder sacar el partido adelante. En el primer tiempo, se unieron [Club Puebla] bastante y con el ayudo de Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] ya pudimos salir a jugar más adelante. Creo que después, fuimos superiores. Estoy muy contento."

[ENG]: "Yeah, very hard. We know that it was going to be hard to play with 10 [players]. Truthfully the group was always united and always had the firm mentality to be able to get the next game. In the first half, they connected [Club Puebla] a lot and with the help of Bongi [Bongkuhle Hlongwane] we were able to play more forward. I think after, we were superior. I'm very happy."

On the free kick he scored and his thoughts...

[SPA]: "Muy contento. En el entrenamiento, como dije recién, habíamos visto videos de ellos [Club Puebla] que cuando había pelota cerca del arco, se metían muy atrás. Entonces por ahí patear para el arco [hacia] los defensores o delanteros nuestros y poder rozarla. Pateé el arco y muy contento, contento que pudo entrar.

[ENG]: "I'm very happy. In training, as I said before, we had watched videos of them [Club Puebla] that when there was a ball near the goal, they were far away. So I kicked the ball so that our defender or forward could reach it. I took the shot and I'm very happy, happy that it went in."

On Bongokuhle Hlongwane's growth this season...

[SPA]: "No, la verdad que Bongi [Bongokule Hlongwane] hace un trabajo enorme. Corre mucho, siempre está ayudando al equipo. También ayuda con goles. Estamos muy contentos por él, por el crecimiento como tu dices, por anotar goles, por hacer asistencias. Entonces ojalá podamos ayudarlo a él también para que siga en este nivel.

[ENG]: "No, the truth is Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] does a great job. [He] runs a lot, [is] always helping the team. [He] also helps scoring goals. We're very happy for him, for his growth as you say, for scoring goals, for getting assists. So I hope we're able to help him as well to continue this level."

On the level of competition between MLS and LIGA MX and facing an opponent that's towards the bottom of the league...

[SPA]: "La verdad que muy competitiva la liga mexicana. Me gusta. Yo la admiro mucho. Puebla es un equipo que intenta jugar, son muy agresivos. Pero bueno, creo que nosotros hicimos un gran partido. Creo que tuvimos la mentalidad firme, los 90 minutos siempre estuvimos atentos. Y bueno, creo que por estar muy atentos y agresivos pudimos convertir los goles que fueron decisivos en adelante."

[ENG]: "The truth is that the Mexican League is very competitive. I like it. I admire it a lot. Puebla is a team that wants to play, they're really aggressive. But I think that we played a great game. I think we had a firm mentality, we were focused for 90 minutes. And I think that for being focused and aggressive we were able to score goals that were decisive going forward."

On his family being here in spirit...

[SPA]: "No, no están en Argentina. Pero están acá, siempre están apoyándome. Siempre miran los partidos. Cada partido que terminamos, en la semana siempre me mandan mensajes. Están lejos pero siento que están conmigo. Siempre que a uno le va bien, están contentos."

[ENG]: "No, they're in Argentina. But they're here, always supporting me. They're always watching the games. Every time a game passes, they send me messages during the week. They're far away, but still with me. Every time I do well, they're happy."

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