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MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United Earns a Point on the Road

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


SANDY, Utah -- Minnesota United battled to suppress Real Salt Lake and its high-powered offense at America First Field, playing to a 2-2 draw in Utah on Saturday night.

16': In an attempt at goal, Salt Lake was awarded a penalty kick after defender DJ Taylor conceded a foul near the penalty area. The play was reviewed then later overturned following a VAR review. Taylor's tackle was determined to be outside of the penalty area and no foul was called.

27': MNUFC opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a goal from Hassani Dotson. Goalkeeper Zac MacMath punched away a cross from midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, allowing Dotson a chance at net. The midfielder's first effort was blocked, but Dotson gained control of the loose ball and took a second shot to secure the 1-0 lead for the Minnesota side.

39': Reynoso earned Minnesota's second goal of the night after receiving a cross from forward Sang Bin Jeong. The Argentine was left unmarked at the far post, striking a shot off the volley and netting his 17th MNUFC and MLS goal.

49': Pablo Ruiz notched what could have been Salt Lake's first goal of the match until the call was overruled by the VAR due to obstruction; MNUFC maintained its 2-0 lead.

79': Danny Musovski put the Utah side on the board after nearly 80 minutes of play from the outside of the 18-yard-box to the back post.

90'+8': Justen Glad equalized in extra time with a one-touch shot following a cross from Diego Luna.

With the result, Minnesota United moves to a 5-7-6 (W-L-D) record and 21 points.

ATTENDANCE: 19,439

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Emanuel Reynoso

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United XI: GK Clint Irwin; D DJ Taylor, Micky Tapias, Michael Boxall, Zarek Valentin; M Wil Trapp (c), Hassani Dotson, Emanuel Reynoso, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Sang Bin Jeong; F Mender Garcia

Bench: GK Clint Irwin, Eric Dick; D Brent Kallman, Devin Padelford, Bakaye Dibassy; M Kervin Arriaga, Cameron Dunbar

Real Salt Lake XI: GK Zac MacMath; D Bryan Oviedo, Marcelo Silva ©, Justen Glad, Bode Hidalgo; M Andrés Gómez, Pablo Ruiz, Braian Ojeda, Maikel Chang; F Anderson Julio, Diego Luna

Bench: GK Gavin Beavers; D Andrew Brody, Brayan Vera; M Jasper Löffelsend, Damir Kreilach, Emeka Eneli; Ilijah Paul, Danny Musovski, Jefferson Savarino

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

07.01.2023 | MLS 2023 Regular Season | Matchday 22

7:30 p.m. CT (MLS Season Pass/1500 ESPN)

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the takeaways from the draw...

"Obviously, it feels like a defeat at this moment in time. I thought some of our attacking play in the first half on the counter was outstanding. I thought Reynoso was outstanding all evening. I thought that long-range shot should have stood, I didn't think it was a penalty. They have a corner that leads to that equalizer which they recycle then is not a corner, it's a goal kick. So that's what I think about it. We took a point from a game we should have taken three and that's disappointing. We have some work to do with certain people."

On the lack of VAR on Mender Garcia's foul in the second half...

"No, we were in the other half, so difficult for me to see. So we'll have to have a look at it. But nothing that we can do about it now anyway. But if it was a poor decision, it wouldn't have surprised me."

On starting Emanuel Reynoso...

"His contribution to the game. Every time he got the ball, he created something. Every time he got in space, he looked like he would find the pass. I thought some of his touches and movements are as we expect from Rey and we have to do better. Conceivably, Sang Bin's [Jeong] 1v1, you know that goes to two-nil. We keep saying the same things and as I've just said to the players, we cannot keep creating chances and not taking them. I know they don't mean to miss. I know that, but the fine margins are such that these are game-changing moments. And then when we put men on at the end, we don't mark in the box. It's like there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Everybody's thinking someone else is going to do something and not deal with the ball. Those two goals were terrible. One ball from 50-60 yards in and behind Boxy [Michael Boxall], goal. The next one is a long ball, we don't deal with the first one, then don't deal with the second one. These are some fundamentals of defending the box, I'm afraid."

On the positives of the night...

"I thought there were some positives, you know. At least all that you mentioned [Rey and Hassani Dotson on the score sheet this season, Sang Bin getting his first assist of the year]. Rey looked like Rey and San Bin.. I told him, he wants to do so well. [...] He has to compose himself and calm down a little bit, but he did well for the goal. It's a good ball, but he had an opportunity where you might say that the keeper made a save, but I expect him to score. A man of his talent, I expect him to score."

On having nine minutes of stoppage time...

"Yeah, well it didn't surprise me but I was su--rprised. Yeah."--

On the team having a full week before the next match...

"We're at a stage where once again... Boxy thought he felt tired and Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane]. These international guys getting back Thursday night for a game on a Saturday night is not ideal. It would be nice to get another week with the guys, get some fitness into some. In the likes of [Bakaye] Dibassy get more work into him. Rey get more work into him. And then obviously, hopefully we got one or two things out in the transfer market and then we add to this group and make competition for places a little bit stronger than it is at the moment."

On Bakaye Dibassy subbing in...

"No, just do your job. He knows where to play. He's played there before and push DJ [Taylor] a little bit higher to probably go toe-to-toe against [Andrew] Brody. But he's played there before and he knows what that's about and he'll be better for obviously getting a few minutes."

On Zarek Valentin's performance playing 90 minutes after international duty with Puerto Rico earlier in the week...

"I did, but I thought Zarek's [Valentin] positioning was outstanding. A couple of times he intercepted balls that would have been really dangerous if he'd have been off a yard one way or the other. A couple of times on the back post with [Damir] Kreilach he backs in and stops him [from] getting a free header. He knows the game. The fact that he, same again, he's played and comes back late in [the week], I think it's been a big effort from Zarek."

On DJ Taylor's performance...

"I thought he did really well in the first half because the [Andres] Gomez kid, as I said when we played them [Real Salt Lake] at home, we watched him for a long period of time and the kid's got real talent. He's a box of tricks, he's really, really quick and I thought DJ [Taylor] handled him very well."

On his opinion of the plays overruled by the VAR tonight...

"I didn't think it was a penalty. But the second one, when people are shooting from 25 yards, 20 yards- maybe I don't look at the rules like everybody else. I don't think that the guy who was offside... but that's not the rules. I didn't think he was completely interfering with the sight and the line of Clint [Irwin]. Maybe I'm wrong... maybe from where I looked... I think it's harsh on the attacking team if you shoot from 25 yards and it goes across the goalkeeper and goes in that you say 'well somebody eight yards in front of you, nine yards in front of you stopped you from saving it.' But that's just me."

On signing another defender during the Secondary Transfer Window...

"We hope to do something. We need somebody in that position for this type of reason. We'll try if we can. If we can't, we won't. I'm hopeful."

MNUFC MIDFIELDER HASSANI DOTSON

On how it felt to score and the game result...

"Being up 2-0 it feels like we lost two points, but at the end of the day the first one is the hardest so I am happy to get that one out of the way and contribute more towards the end of the season."

On being surprised with the amount of stoppage time...

"That was a pretty controversial game, I don't want to get into it until I watch the film, but I was definitely a little surprised to see nine minutes. I know there were a couple stoppages that did occur in the second half."

On VAR intervention and the foul on Mender Garcia...

"I was trying to talk to the referee, but I am not the captain. From my point of view it looked like he came through Mender [Garcia] and it should have at least called for a second opinion. But I am not trying to bark at the referee too much and get a yellow and jeopardize myself. But I felt, especially since he went down that there could have been a [VAR] replay because it was a pretty aggressive tackle."

On Emanuel Reynoso's first start...

"He played really well. He did a good job of finding the open space and taking pressure off of us. We saw it in practice this week and so I am excited he got the goal. It probably takes some pressure off of his back as well."

On getting back in form and taking three points...

"We were right there today. It's pretty disappointing, especially with the work we put in and they were able to come back from two goals. It is better for our body to have that break. You could tell there may have been some missed sharpness from not having that game last weekend. We do have a friendly against F.C. Kaiserslautern, so we will see how that plays out, but this one we just need to reflect and look at what we can do better and close out the game in the future. When we had our chances we looked dangerous once we were composed and broke their press. We have to take some of the negatives and work on that and keep moving forward with the positives.

On this game bothering you more with a history of late goals this season...

"Anytime you are ahead, no matter when the goals come you are frustrated. Especially when we capitalized so quickly in the first half. We had a couple warning signs to boost the energy or do better and unfortunately we didn't capitalize."

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 24, 2023


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