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MLS Minnesota United FC

Loons Remain Undefeated with 1-0 Win over San Jose

March 19, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- After standing on his head and making eight saves in a spectacular performance to help the Loons take all three points last week against the New York Red Bulls, Dayne St. Clair made a second consecutive start in net for Minnesota United FC as the Loons hosted the San Jose Earthquakes at Allianz Field. The game marked the first time St. Clair has ever faced San Jose, but he'll need to wait for another day to make his first save against the Earthquakes since the visitors were unable to register a single shot on goal to test the young Canadian.

Luis Amarilla's 36th minute tap-in proved to be the difference on the night and just over an hour later the Loons had three more points in the standings and Wonderwall was sung at Allianz Field for the first time this season.

Despite not registering a shot on goal, the Earthquakes generated several dangerous opportunities and the first chance of the night did belong to San Jose. Cristian Espinoza got behind the MNUFC backline in the 8th minute and took a perfectly weighted chip pass from Jamiro Monteiro on the right flank. Espinoza blasted a shot with his right foot, but it sailed wide of the upper right corner.

It didn't take long for things to get spicy in the midfield between the two clubs. Minnesota captain Wil Trapp was shown a yellow card from referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere for a tough challenge in the 8th minute, and Marcos López went into the book for his foul on Hassani Dotson two minutes later.

In the middle of one of those spicy interactions was Francisco Calvo, one of two former Minnesota skippers on the field for San Jose tonight, was also shown a yellow card for his challenge on Robin Lod in the waning minutes of the first half. It was an aggressive first 45 minutes that saw the Loons whistled for 10 fouls against seven for the Earthquakes.

Minnesota's first real threat on goal came in the 10th minute. Hassani Dotson won a freekick from Marcos Lopez deep on the right flank. Emanuel Reynoso unleashed a corking shot towards the far post on the free kick attempt, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.

The Quakes made a few attempts to notch their first goal from the run of play in 2022, but couldn't place a shot on goal in the first 45. Minnesota native Jackson Yueill tried to open the scoring in the 19th minute with a hopeful blast from outside the box, but sent the ball well over the crossbar.

San Jose also won the first corner of the evening, which then turned into one of Minnesota's best chances in the early going. Bongokuhle Hlongwane defended the corner perfectly, getting a strong header on the ball, which sparked a dangerous counter attack for the Loons. Hlongwane ignited the fast break and got the ball to Amarilla with plenty of space outside the box, but couldn't get a shot on frame to test Marcinkowski.

Minnesota finally broke through with a nice team goal from the run of play in the 32nd minute. It all started with Dotson, who forced a turnover in San Jose's attacking third and immediately fed Reynoso in the midfield. Reynoso found Lod alone on the right flank without a Quakes shirt within 10 yards of him. Lod took two touches with the ball before sending it into the center of the box where Amarilla was waiting to smoothly tap it past JT Marcinkowski with his left foot.

The goal marked Amarilla's second tally in as many career games against the Earthquakes and the second time the Paraguayan international has scored in consecutive matches in a Loons kit.

Amarilla had a couple of chances to pick up a brace moments later. Reynoso fed him the ball in the center of the box in the 36th minute, but Amarilla's right-footed shot went straight into the mitts of Marcinkowski. Less than two minutes went by before the ball found the dangerous feet of Amarilla outside of the box again, but he again missed high.

San Jose threatened to equal the scoring in the 56th minute. Espinoza and Benji Kikanovic had a nice exchange up the right flank, which led to a wide open shot for Kikanovic in the center of the box, but his right-footed attempt went just left of goal.

Hlongwane found himself at the forefront of Minnesota's scoring opportunities in the first 20 minutes of the second half. The South African came within inches of opening his Major League Soccer account in the 64th minute, but Marcinkowski got a hand on it, steering the ball clear of the right corner.

Lod came close to scoring his first 2022 goal in front of the Wonderwall on the ensuing corner. The ball deflected to Lod at the top of the box, who put a dangerous looping shot on goal, but Marcinkowski was able to punch it over the crossbar.

Hlongwane's first start in black and blue came to an end a minute later when he was subbed out for Franco Fragapane. DJ Taylor also checked into the game in the 65th minute, replacing Wil Trapp.

Kervin Arriaga, who made his Allianz Field debut tonight, went down in the 75th minute after a hard challenge, but walked off the field under his own power and quickly re-entered the match.

Abu Danladi made his 2022 debut by checking into the game for Amarilla in the 78th minute. Danladi nearly picked up his first assist of the season after a clever exchange between himself and Lod off a throw-in in the 81st minute. Lod found Danladi unmarked in the right side, who one-timed back to the Fin, who nearly beat Marcinkowski with his left foot, but sent the shot just a hair too far to the right.

Jacori Hayes also made his first appearance of the season, coming on for Reynoso in stoppage time.

The stoppage time fireworks belonged to the Loons and Fragapane, who had a golden opportunity to open his 2022 scoring account. Fragapane had the ball and ocean of space after San Jose's last ditch effort to find a shot, but he took one too many touches to try and get around Marcinkowski and the Quakes keeper shutdown the threat before he could get a shot on goal.

Earthquakes Head Coach Matías Almeyda falls to 0-5-2 against the Loons since he took over in San Jose in 2019.

Minnesota didn't have a point to its name through four games last season, now has eight on the season. Good enough for second place in the west at the time of this writing and a strong average of two points per contest through a stretch that included two road contests against playoff teams from last season.

Up next for the Loons is a home date with the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, April 2 after the upcoming international break. It will be interesting to see how Seattle approaches the fixture, with Leg One of the CONCACAF Champions League Semi Final with New York City FC looming on April 6.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Forward Luis Amarilla

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, Hassani Dotson; M Wil Trapp (c), Kervin Arriaga, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Emanuel Reynoso, Robin Lod; F Luis Amarilla

San Jose Earthquakes: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Tanner Beason, Marcos Lopez, Francisco Calvo; M Eric Remedi, Jackson Yueill (c), Jan Gregus, Jamiro Monteiro; F Eduardo Lopez, Jeremy Ebobisse, Benji Kikanovic

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

04.2.2022 | MLS Week No. 5 | MLS Game No. 5

7:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW Twin Cities, MLS Live on ESPN+, SKOR North)

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the importance of collecting points across multiple games...

"I'm pleased that we got eight points from four games considering the teams that we've played. I said before the game that that point away at Philly, you look at their last three results and see how they are doing, that's a big performance and I knew it was. Lots of many other people thought it was. I would have rather taken eight from four, obviously away games at Philly and Red Bulls. It's been a good start. I still, being as greedy as I am, I still don't think we've put our real top notch 90 minutes together yet. When you look at the game today, it would have been a travesty had we not taken all 3 points considering I don't think they had a shot on goal I can't think. We had Dayne [St. Clair] last week and this week, he's kept the goal. When I look at Bongi's [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] opportunity and Fraga's (Franco Fragapane) and Robin's [Lod] had a couple half good looks. One - nil, you're never completely certain. You're always a mistake a way or a little bit of quality away from getting one point when you thoroughly deserve three."

On Hassani Dotson's role and his performance today...

"Yes, I hope he's as good as Philipp Lahm. We've said it on numerous occasions with Hassani [Dotson], he's got a really good feel for the game. He was excellent at fullback and then when he goes in midfield, then he brings his power and his physicality in there. We were worried with the way that they play and the way that they run with the ball, that Will [Trapp] might get another yellow card and that might change the course of the game so we decided to change it. DJ [Taylor] did well last week in Red Bulls so we thought we'd put Hassani in there and I thought he did excellent when he went back in there."

On the start of this season compared to last season...

"We're eight points better off and I feel a little bit better. I'm sure our supporters feel a little bit better than this time last year. But, as we proved last year it can change very quickly. What my job and the staff's job is to remind the players of what's gotten us eight points from four games. That's been having a really good solid base. I think our back four were excellent again this evening. A couple of goals we've conceded but a good start."

On getting Emanuel Reynoso back on track ...

"He'll keep on doing what he does, you know, and we know that the quality is there. I don't think the field helped him this evening. The field is not in a great condition at this moment in time, it's very bobbly. He has so much faith in his own ability, and he needs a good surface to play on. But will be fine, and he is working hard which is important and them attacking three players Fraga [Franco Fragapane], Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane], whether it be Robin Lod, and Rey [Emanuel Reynoso], working with Luis [Amarilla] now; it's new for a few of them so that will get better. I'm pleased for Luis [Amarilla] cause he's been working really hard. But I think if we create the chances, we'll score the goals, I really do, you know he got one or two last year at Quito, and if he plays all the games this year, I'd be very, very surprised if he doesn't get close to 15. I know he said 25 when he first got here, we'll sort of remind him on that one."

On the team's success against Matías Almeyda...

"Well, we have done well. They've changed slightly. They're not as man for man as they used to be but they do change things around. Like that shape they started with, with [Eric] Remedi dropping in, and [Francisco] Calvo going left side of the three, they haven't done that this season, so you know they change each time. But, the most important thing is to stay disciplined and then move to play forward into the spaces that they leave. I thought we did that in the first half very well, but I don't think our final ball was good enough in the first half, and I thought we rushed things a little bit too much."

On Bongokhule Hlongwane's first start...

"Oh, we've been really pleased with him. You know, we want him to score, and you can tell he had a great chance and a couple times he got a shot when a pass might've been on but no, we've been delighted with him. You know he's settling in really well, and starting to get an understanding of what we're looking for when we've got the ball and when they've got the ball, in them moments of transition. So, we've been delighted with him, and the new guys have come in have been excellent. They really have."

On the math behind games played and point performance...

"I wasn't so bad at school, I might have surprised one or two people but I wasn't bad."

On being undefeated to start the season...

"A good solid base, don't give goals away, don't beat yourself. I must have watch four or five games today, the amount of times teams beat themselves by always wanting to play, instead of playing to what the game is giving you and we haven't done that this year. When we needed to fight through we've done it, defending as a group, people have fronted the back four have done excellent working really hard and if we give ourselves a base I know we'll always create chances with the people that we got."

On Luis Amarilla's finish and his other chances...

"Yeah, I thought we were rushed in the final third a lot of the first half. The final ball wasn't quite good enough, we could've composed ourselves a little bit more but I'm sure that will come."

On Francisco Calvo's yellow card...

"I haven't seen it, but somebody said that it looked pretty bad so I don't know, I've not seen it."

FORWARD LUIS AMARILLA

On the goal he scored and the chances he had...

[SPA]: "Cuando hay situaciones de gol, para un delantero, es bueno. El día de hoy me tocó varios ocasiones, lastimosamente no pudieron ser completadas. Creo que falto un poco de precisión. Lo importante es que el equipo ganó, que sacamos un triunfo y pude ayudar al equipo. Bueno el gol, fue una transición rápida. Me acuerdo mas o menos pero fue una asistencia de Robin [Lod] que me puso la pelota ahí y quede empujar y fue un trabajo en equipo, digamos."

[ENG]: "When there are chances for a goal, for a forward, it's always good. Today I had a lot of chances, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish them. I think some precision was missing. But most importantly was that the team won, we got the victory and I was able to help the team. Well, the goal, it was a quick transition. I remember a little bit but it was an assistance from Robin [Lod], he put the ball there and it left me to just push it in and it was a team goal, I'd say."

On how comfortable he is starting to look on the field and his feelings on the game...

[SPA]: "Fue un partido difícil. Muy difícil. Es un equipo que vino a presionar de visitante, obviamente difícil de jugar. Y Minnesota se hace fuerte de local, creo que muchos equipos saben eso. Lo importante, como dice vos, me voy sintiendo mejor con el equipo. Conociendo ya los compañeros y eso hace también que partido tras partido sea un poco más fácil de llegar a situación de gol y tener un partido como el de hoy."

[ENG]: "It was a difficult match. Very difficult. It's a team that came to press as a visitor, which is difficult to play. And in Minnesota, we're tough at home, I think a lot of teams know that. What's important, like you said, is that I'm feeling better with the team. Getting to know everyone and that helps, with each game, for it to be easier to get the opportunity to score and have a game like tonight's."

On his goal of playing with the Paraguay National Team...

[SPA]: "Si, por supuesto quiero volver a estar. Una situación en la cual la selección ya no está clasificada para el mundial, lastimosamente. Pero quiero seguir estando, estar en un futuro y poder aportar a mi selección, que es lo que uno como futbolista desea."

[ENG]: "Yes, of course I want to get back there. It's a situation where the team isn't in a spot to qualify for the World Cup anymore, unfortunately. But I want to keep being there, be a part of the future and support my national team, that's what any footballer wishes for."

On reaching the next level after securing eight points in four games...

[SPA]: "Muy bien. Contento porque fueron puntos muy importantes para el equipo, para nosotros, para seguir pensando en hacer un gran año, que es lo que queremos. Realmente esperamos seguir de esta manera después del descanso. No importa los días, vamos a seguir trabajando, seguir mejorando para poder volver a estos triunfos que son muy importante para el equipo."

[ENG]: "Very good. Happy because they were very important points, very important for the team, for all of us, to keep working towards having a good year, which is what we want. Really, we expect to keep playing this way after the break. It doesn't matter the days, we will keep working, keep getting better to keep securing these victories that are so important for the team."

On his connection with Emanuel Reynoso...

[SPA]: "Si. Ya que sea importante. Es un gran jugador. Yo lo admiro. Tiene una calidad tremenda y para un delantero, es mucho más fácil jugar con un jugador de esa forma, de esa calidad tan buena que tiene. Esa conexión va mejorando a medida que pasa el tiempo."

[ENG]: "Yea, it's important. He's a great player. I admire him. He has tremendous quality and for a forward, it's much easier to play with a player who plays that way, with such good quality. It's a connection that keeps getting better as time goes on."

On how often he is reminded of his 25 goals comment...

[SPA]: "Me daba un poco de miedo, pero hay que afrontar. Uno tiene que tomar la responsabilidad. Vine para hacer goles. La cantidad van sumando, que eso es bueno, buena señal. Espero continuar así. Ayudar al equipo. Todos los compañeros, el cuerpo técnico me dicen 'faltan tantos goles, faltan tantos goles.' Pero pienso en lo presente y hacer lo que venía haciendo que es trabajar duro y convertir goles."

[ENG]: "It was a little scary, but you face it. You have to take the responsibility. I came to score goals. The quantity will keep going up, so that's good, it's a good sign. I hope to keep going this way. Help the team. All my teammates, the coaching staff, they tell me 'this many goals left, this many goals left.' But I think in the present and do what I've been doing and that's work hard and score goals."

On if Robin Lod's cross took a deflection and how adjusted...

[SPA]: "Se desvio. Si. Se desvió y cuando hubo el desvío, creo que el desvío ayudó un poco para que el balón entre a...entre el portero y en el medio del balón ahí. Creo que la deflexión hizo un poco que la asistencia sea un poco mejor."

[ENG]: It deflected. I think the deflection helped a bit for the ball to go...in between the goalkeeper and the middle of the ball there. I think the deflection helped make the assistance a little bit better."

DEFENDER BRENT KALLMAN

On the defense playing well despite different lineups being used...

"We've got experienced players, that really helps. Guys that really know their position and understand their positioning within their positions and that helps us a lot. Even Hassani [Dotson] who has done it quite a bit in the past, he has proven that when he is called upon to play left back or right back that he can get the job done. Just trying to do all the little stuff, good communication, talking this out, having good shape. Experienced guys."

On the conditions of the field...

"Not nearly as difficult as Red Bull. I have been holding onto this, I haven't seen anybody talk about it. This is the first time I've ever played in MLS where they didn't wet the [field] before or at halftime. Because it was lightly snowing before the game so they could technically say it was precipitating, so they had the option of not wetting [the field]. We couldn't move the ball. And that suited them - of course it did its gamesmanship. They play a very direct game, they play for second balls. The field is not in great shape, but the ball moves quick. So at least we were able to move the ball, we were able to dribble out of things. Last week you saw the ball kept getting caught underneath guys and getting poked away. It's not really on our attackers, the field was really difficult. It's early on, we had a brutal winter, they'll get that field in better shape."

On the good start and how the team can improve moving forward...

"We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. In this game for example, we should be more clinical. We should put that game away. You never know, things can happen and we could've given away that game or at least taken a point. When the game is open like that and we have all those chances we need to be killers, we need to put those games away. We are not going to be able to always see those games out without conceding. The road performances have been really good and that's a good start. When we are at home and have a lead and teams are chasing the game I would like for us to be more clinical."

On comparing the start this year to last year...

"I remember last year there wasn't any panic in the group and that was partly because we had really good leadership. We had some really experienced, high character guys that were keeping everyone going week to week in training and in preparation. I just remember there not being a ton of panic last year. But yes, mathematically its definitely better to be out front."

On playing against Francisco Calvo and Jan Gregus and if he saw the Calvo stomp...

"I didn't, I figured there was something there when they did the check, but I haven't seen it yet. It's a soccer game, we are all competitors when you step between the lines, friendships, and brother-in-laws and all that stuff goes out the window for 90 minutes."

On handling the pressure of the good start...

"We just keep up the preparation. One of the goals is always to get better during the season, so you always want to be taking tiny steps forward. If we can just keep building upon the things we are doing and do them a little bit better I think we will be good. It's in the preparation and the training week-to-week. Making sure we are doing the little things right, keeping it solid and we will be fine."

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