MLS Minnesota United FC

Loons Earn Road Victory in Houston

Published on August 29, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


HOUSTON, Texas. - A week after a pair of disappointing games that saw Minnesota United up a man for 138 and only one goal and two points to show for it, the Loons flew south to face the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium - a venue where they had never won in MLS. Although they fell behind before the echoes of the opening whistle had even died out, the squad rallied behind a brace from forward Adrien Hunou to win 2-1, claim all three points and extend the Dynamo's winless streak to 15 games.

It didn't take long for the fireworks to start in Houston. The teams had barely started to break a sweat before the Dynamo drew first blood in the first minute. Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla headed the ball wide to Fafa Picault, who sent it back centrally for Carrasquilla who struck a deflected ball that beat goalkeeper Tyler Miller to put the home side on top 1-0.

Without Emanuel Reynoso, Minnesota at first struggled to get creative in the attacking third. The Loons are accustomed to Reynoso dictating the pace and direction of play and without their maestro they were at something of a loss initially. But rather than pushing Minnesota out of their comfort zone, the Dynamo appeared to sit back in a very low block, giving Minnesota's deep-lying midfielders - Osvaldo Alonso and Wil Trapp - time to cycle the ball and find gaps.

In the 16th minute, Minnesota took advantage of a free kick to get back on level terms. With Trapp filling in for the absent Reynoso on set pieces, the midfielder sent a curling free kick into the box, where Ethan Finlay pinged it back across the face of goal and directly onto the foot of forward Adrien Hunou for his third goal of the year and his first in nine games.

Playing at home, though, Houston were far from out of it. They displayed some trickery on their set pieces, mixing in short passes and delayed runs to throw Minnesota's defense off, but one defender who remained unflappable throughout was Tyler Miller. Miller ended the night with four saves, each of them crucial in the end and he played aggressively often, coming out of his box to stymie attacks and snatch down dangerous crosses.

Fafa Picault was responsible for much of that danger on the night, speeding down the wings and making life difficult for Romain Metanire. In the 32nd minute, the Brazilian carved out enough space to launch a curled shot that struck the very corner of the crossbar and the right post, just barely missing the chance to scoot inside the woodwork. A good bit of luck and a much-improved MNUFC defense from that opening minute kept the game level through the end of the first half.

With both teams vying for the lead, the second half opened up a bit more than the first. Midfielder Jacori Hayes had to leave the field with an injury in the 59th minute, and he was replaced by the Loons' newest acquisition, forward Fanendo Adi. Adi slid in up top, moving Hunou to a secondary striker role and the Frenchman feasted.

In the 73rd minute, Metanire had a long throw-in to Adi, which Adi shielded long enough to flip a cheeky backheel to an onrushing Ethan Finlay. Finlay bobbled it momentarily before settling it and finding Hunou on the secondary run. Hunou struck a right-footed shot cleanly past goalkeeper Michael Nelson, who was making his first MLS start. The goal gave Hunou a brace and put Minnesota ahead 2-1.

While the Loons no doubt would have loved to get an insurance goal and only their third win by multiple goals this season, it was clear that they were content to hang onto the lead they had when defender Jukka Raitala came in for Hunou in the 78th minute. As the Dynamo threw everything they had forward, the MNUFC defense stood tall, especially Miller, who pulled off big saves down the stretch to hold the lead and get Minnesota all three points in the end.

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Tyler Miller; D Chase Gasper, Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Romain Metanire; M Jacori Hayes, Wil Trapp, Osvaldo Alonso (c); F Hassani Dotson, Adrien Hunou, Ethan Finlay

Houston Dynamo: GK Michael Nelson; D Adam Lundkvist, Zarek Valentin, Tim Parker (C), Teenage Hadebe; M Griffin Dorsey, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Matias Vera, Darwin Ceren, Fafa Picault, Maxi Urruti

UP NEXT

MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington

9.11.2021 | MLS Week No. 23 | MLS Game No. 22

p.m. CT | BSN, CW Twin Cities, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the injury list on the team currently...

Sometimes you get it. I've never had it where all your forward players are the ones who are injured. Its something we are looking at because, we have seven attacking players who are all in the same boat. It looks like there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. They are all out on the grass, they are all training. So hopefully by the time we get back there's two or three of them that will be able to join in the group for Seattle.

On Adrien Hunou scoring...

He got in good spots. I keep telling him he's got to keep believing and getting in the right areas. I liked his first goal, because I don't think he spends enough time in those danger spots close enough to the goal. And then his second one is a lovely finish, very composed. Im pleased for him. I'm pleased for the group to be honest with you. Its difficult when you've been saying the same things, and keep believing in what we are doing and results will come. If you look at our last three results, for us to only have a couple of points is criminal really with how we have played. So to get a win here, where some might have said we were fortunate. This is a just reward for what we have done the previous three games where we haven't really got any reward. Tonight we rode our luck a little bit at times. I thought Tyler [Miller] was great at times in goal. Great spots, great starting spots for through balls. Every time he was called upon. I thought Brent Kallman came in and did outstanding. There was a lot of good performances.

I'm honest enough to know this break is coming at a good time. We need to get away from each other for three or four days, get healthy and get refreshed.

On Honou scoring and doing this differently or getting different results...

Bit of both. I don't think he spends enough time in and around the goal when it matters and keep believing the ball is going to come for him. He's done that better tonight. I really pleased for the second goal. He's scored it from two yards out, three yards out and that's where goalscorers predominantly get most of their goals.

On Houston scoring early...

Poor decisions, two or three poor choices, we went for balls that we weren't going to get. Not enough urgency to get in the right spots, to I thought 'here we go again' because this has not been a kind place to us for some reason. We generally don't play well here. They got themselves back in the game and showed a good resolve at times we have started to move the ball really well.

On fatigue and humidity affecting the team...

It does, it always does down here. Its difficult. Maybe subconsciously players think about it more than they should. It wasn't bad tonight by Houston standards. This group has played most of the minutes and there was some fatigue in there as well. I think we could do without the internationals going away. Certainly the rest of the group will have three or four days off.

On Hunou's role changing with [Fenendo Adi] coming in...

I was pleased for the big man. He had a nice backheel for Ethan Finlay who had a nice ball of Adrien's second one.

MNUFC MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY

On the win...

Tonight I think this group that we had out there and who were available knew what we were going to get into and that it was going to be a battle for 90 plus minutes, and its hot. It's three points but it feels like a bonus one with everything we have been dealing with as a group. We knew that the group that started and was available for this game was more than capable.

On the offense doing anything differently...

We put the damn ball in the net. Simple as that. We have been creating chances, we have run in to hot goalkeepers, we have hit the post. It was great to get Adrien [Hunou] on the board tonight. It was huge for his confidence. Those two things for the individual and collectively for the group is going to be a catalyst for us moving forward.

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