MLS Minnesota United FC

Mcmaster and Jackson Lead Loons to 3-1 Victory over Timbers2

Published on July 31, 2022 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


BLAINE, Minn. -- Fans in attendance at the National Sports Center Stadium got front row seats to the Justin McMaster and Aziel Jackson soccer show on Sunday evening when MNUFC2 returned to winning ways by defeating Timbers2 by a score of 3-1.

The Loons held control throughout the majority of the first half on both sides of the ball. Offensively, MNUFC2 sent 65 passes in its final third, winning four corners and firing off seven shots to Portland's zero. Defensively, Minnesota limited Timbers2, winning seven tackles including a defender Carlos Leatherman successful tackle in the Loons' six-yard box following a Portland run to goal in the 25th minute. Two minutes later, midfielder Justin McMaster connected a pass from midfielder Aziel Jackson inside the 18-yard box, finishing a shot and scoring the opening goal of the match. The goal was McMaster's fifth in MLS Next Pro action and his first since scoring twice at St. Louis CITY2 (April 24).

In the second half, both sides created close chances on goal, but the lead remained with the Loons until the 62nd minute, when Timbers2 forward Selmir Miscic scored off a chip shot, equalizing the match at 1-1. But all-square lasted only five minutes when Aziel Jackson found open space in the left side of the box, tucking his shot in the upper corner of the near post and giving Minnesota the 2-1 lead. In the 89th minute, Loons' attacking midfielder Sagir Arce made a run at goal just past the keeper, taking a shot that hit the post. Forward Tommy Williamson was in perfect position to receive the rebound and scored to extend Minnesota's lead and final score to 3-1.

With the win, MNUFC2 remains in the seventh position in the MLS Next Pro Western Conference standings (7-7-3, 27 points).

MNUFC2 travels to the Rocky Mountains to face the Colorado Rapids on August 6 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Kick is set for 11:00 p.m. CT, and the contest will be streamed live at www.mlsnextpro.com.

GOALS

1-0 MIN - Justin McMaster, Assist by Aziel Jackson (27')

1-1 POR - Selmir Miscic (62')

2-1 MIN - Aziel Jackson, Assist by Justin McMaster (67')

3-1 MIN - Tommy Williamson (89')

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Yellow, POR - Vova Kubrakov (33')

Yellow, MIN - Ignacia Gutierrez (50')

Yellow, POR - G Doran (87')

Yellow, POR - Julian Bravo (88')

Yellow, MIN - Sagir Arce (90'+4')

NOTABLE STATS

20-5 - MNUFC2 outshot Timbers2 20-5, with shots on target favoring the Loons 8-3

6 - Loons midfielder Aziel Jackson led the team with six shots on goal (five on target)

7 - Midfielder Justin McMaster's seven chances created led both sides on Sunday evening

88 - Minnesota defender and Sunday's captain Callum Montgomery connected 88 percent of his passes against Timbers2

30 - Forward Tommy Williamson scored MNUFC2's 30th regular-season goal in MLS Next Pro action to-date this season

TEAM LEADERS (Updated through July 31)

Goals - Aziel Jackson (7)

Assists - Aziel Jackson (6)

Saves - Fred Emmings (33)

Wins - Fred Emmings (3)

Shutouts - Eric Dick (2)

MLS NEXT PRO STANDINGS, WESTERN CONFERENCE (Through July 31)

(W,L,D, points) SOW*

1. Tacoma Defiance (11-3-4, 40 points) 3

2. St. Louis CITY2 (11-4-2, 36 points) 1

3. Houston Dynamo 2 (10-4-4, 36 points) 2

4. North Texas SC (10-5-3, 34 points) 1

5. Whitecaps FC 2 (7-4-7, 31 points) 3

6. Earthquakes II (8-6-3, 28 points) 1

7. MNUFC2 (7-7-3, 27 points) 3

8. Sporting KC 2 (7-9-2, 23 points) 0

9. Colorado Rapids 2 (5-9-3, 20 points) 2

10. Real Monarchs (2-12-3, 9 points) 0

11. Timbers2 (1-14-2, 7 points) 2

*Shoot Out Wins count as two points

MNUFC2 POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH CAMERON KNOWLES

On where his team showed a hunger to win against Timbers2...

"We had to manage a couple of unique situations in this game. We had an experience for the first time have to play a man down for three minutes with a player having received treatment by the trainer, and that was a unique challenge at a late stage, a critical stage that we had to navigate. We knew that this game was important; we haven't had a run of results. We've had some good performances and stretches in games - not for 90 minutes start to finish. I think the guys had to really dig deep for this. You saw a few guys cramping during the game, a few guys had to play out of position for the game in Nabi [Nabilai Kibunguchy] having to drop back and play center back. There was a lot of good performances and work for the guys to dig in and continue adding to that scorline."

On importance of Justin McMaster's goal and assist tonight...

"For all of those guys, to get a goal and assist just helps and builds confidence. The number of chances that were created by the entire group throughout that game, I think it could have been four or five [goals scored] with some of the chances that we didn't take."

On building momentum ahead of Colorado Rapids 2 match next week...

"It's going to be interesting. This will be the first time we are playing a double header [following a first team match]. So, it's going to be interesting to see how that is. It's going to be a long day for our group and a tough game on the road at altitude and a team that's picked up a few results along the way. We'll have to recover from this one first and foremost and then we prepare for that one. But, when you look at the stretch of games we have coming up, we should take a lot of confidence from this one into the remaining fixtures."

MIDFIELDER JUSTIN MCMASTER

On what worked in Sunday night's match against Timbers2...

"I think we had really good movement tonight. We were doing well moving off of each other and we were pretty clinical to create the chances. We were really dangerous and ended up winning 3-1, so it was a good result for the team."

On scoring first goal since April for MNUFC2 during Sunday's contest...

"It feels good. It's good for the confidence and good to get back in rhythm, back in form and to just move on from here."

On the hunger he and his teammates had to get a win...

"It started from the back line. The back line was really good today, the defense was solid today. I think it started from there. We were really organized today and compact and we followed what Cam [Cameron Knowles] told us in the pregame meeting. So, it ended up working out for us and we left with a good result. It was good."

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 31, 2022


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