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MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United Earns First Home Win, 1-0, Against Houston Dynamo

May 18, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- One goal from Bongokuhle Hlongwane was enough for Minnesota United FC to earn three points and earn the first home win of the 2023 MLS campaign. The win also meant the Loons remained unbeaten at home against Houston Dynamo FC in regular-season action - it didn't come easy as Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark made four key saves on Wednesday night, thwarting a potentially larger scoring margin.

Minnesota started the match with an attacking confidence, quickly giving the Houston midfield and defense some pressure-filled moments throughout the first 10 minutes. Just before the 15-minute mark, the home side found its breakthrough moment from an in-form Bongokuhle Hlongwane in the 14th minute after a failed Houston tackle attempt on Franco Fragapane cleared the ball to the center of the box, giving Hlongwane open space. The South African's shot deftly slipped past the onrushing goalkeeper Steve Clark to give the Loons the early 1-0 lead.

Houston came back on a counter just eight minutes later when a through-ball by Artur threaded the MNUFC back line, and Ibrahim Aliyu's ensuing shot hit the woodwork and deflected out of play. The Minnesota attack persisted, with two very close opportunities at the close of the second half - both spoiled by Dynamo's Clark: First, Fragapane connected on a cross, but his close-range shot was blocked. The rebound landed at the feet of Hlongwane, whose shot was also parried by Clark in the 42nd minute. Then, a 45th minute snap-header by Luis Amarilla to the top-right corner of the goal was stopped by the Houston keeper to end the half.

Yet again, the Loons started the second half on the front foot, beginning with a 50th-minute Fragapane shot inside the six-yard box, where Steve Clark - once again - made another save to keep the game at 1-0. Houston regained their composure and turned up their attack, but fell flat throughout the remainder of the match.

MNUFC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair faced four shots on target from the Dynamo, making all four saves en route to earning his fourth clean sheet of the 2023 MLS campaign. The Loons notably improve to 6-0-2 (W-L-D) at home against the Texas team in regular-season action dating back to 2017.

With the win, Minnesota United improves to a 4-5-3 (W-L-D) record and 15 points in 2023 regular-season action.

ATTENDANCE: 18,897

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Bongokuhle Hlongwane

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United XI: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Kemar Lawrence, Miguel Tapias, Michael Boxall, DJ Taylor; M Hassani Dotson, Wil Trapp (c), Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Franco Fragapane, Robin Lod; F Luis Amarilla

Bench: GK Clint Irwin; D Brent Kallman, Zarek Valentin; M Kervin Arriaga, Joseph Rosales; F Cameron Dunbar, Mender Garcia, Sang Bin Jeong

Houston Dynamo FC XI: GK Steve Clark; D Franco Escobar, Ethan Bartlow, Daniel Steres, Micael dos Santos; M Artur, Coco Carrasquilla, Luis Caicedo; F Corey Baird, Ibrahim Aliyu, Nelson Quinones

Bench: GK Andrew Tarbell; D Griffin Dorsey, Mujeeb Murana, Brad Smith; M Charles Auguste, Ivan Franco, Brooklyn Raines; F Sebastian Ferreira, Thor Ulfarsson

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ PORTLAND TIMBERS

Providence Park | Portland, Oregon

05.20.2022 | MLS 2022 Regular Season | Matchday 14

9:30 pm CT (MLS Season Pass/1500 ESPN)

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On getting the first MLS home win of the season...

"Seems like it's been a long time coming. Thought it would have been a travesty if we hadn't won the game with the clear cut opportunities that we had created. Their [Houston Dynamo] keeper's had an unbelievable night for them, made two or three fantastic saves and obviously at 1-0, you're never sitting comfortably. Especially late on when they've got really good quality in the box and they've got some good size. It was pleasing and satisfying to see it through."

On the change in team selection tonight...

"Well I thought let's get back to what we know we do. Put people in the places they know they can play and I didnt want to be sitting with a back five giving them more time to play and I thought it went well. I thought we played some good football this evening. Especially the first half, some of our transition moments were excellent in terms of the play that we had. Switched the play well, got the fullbacks forward. Kemar [Kemar Lawrence] had probably four or five crosses in the first half, DJ [DJ Taylor] as well. It's a bit more like us when we play at home. We're always at our best when we can get our fullbacks into the game and get them in the final third. I thought we did a better job at that this evening."

On the personnel changes this game...

"We're trying to manage everybody's load. You know we go again on Saturday and then we go again on Tuesday. The games are coming thick and fast and we can't expect the same group to play. I was disappointed for Luis [Luis Amarilla] because I thought he worked really really hard tonight, and he's a really good finisher with his head normally and the keeper has made a great save. I thought there was some pleasing aspects of the game. I thought we were a bit more like our old self."

On the hustle of the press creating opportunities...

"I thought the two upfront worked hard Fraga [Franco Fragapone] and Luis [Luis Amarilla] gave the four behind them an opportunity to press as well and I thought we played in there off a little bit more than we had of late."

On Bongokuhle Hlongwane's evolution as a player...

"He's at five goals this season with two in the [U.S.] Open Cup. We've played, with the Open Cup game, what, 13 games this season now. To get five goals, he might get me the 25 goals that he said he was going to get me when he left last year."

On the play by Kemar Lawrence late in the game...

"Terrific last ditch tackle. We'd just spoke about it. He was in a really good defensive position, that's why he managed to get the block. Sometimes I feel like he's a little bit further out looking in and he was in a good spot and that's why he had the opportunity to make the last ditch tackle. But it was nonetheless great defending."

On getting a clean sheet after conceding the last couple games...

"We did speak before the game about let's get back to what we are. That's the fourth cleansheet of the season. So if we can keep that ratio for the games that we've played we won't be too far away."

On the squads positiveness for a turn in results...

"Well, you hope so. And the last thing that I need to be doing is piling on and being so aggressive with them. I've said to them I know we're a good team. Four or five weeks ago, we hadn't been beaten in the first five games. Three of them were on the road. So we haven't suddenly gone from being a really difficult team to beat to an easy team to play against. We're not an easy team to play against and tonight I thought we showed that."

On the amount of yellow cards given...

"One of the reasons why we took Wil [Wil Trapp] off so early was because he had a couple of tugs at one or two people and he had already been booked and the last thing that we needed was to go down to 10 men. I'll have a look at the game and see if they were cheap yellow cards."

On Houston's Goalie making great saves...

"Two or three of them were outstanding saves. I can't complain when the keeper has to make a great save to keep the ball out of the net. If we don't hit the target or it's a poor finish, that's another thing. But tonight I can't fault the guys. I thought two or three of the saves were outstanding."

On managing the load for the team...

"We'll see. We'll travel tomorrow to Portland and we'll see how everybody is in the morning. After every game there's one or two bumps and bruises, but we'll see how they are tomorrow."

On the team's corner kicks this season...

"No, I don't think our corners have been good enough this year. We spoke about that the other day. I think there's a couple of things. I thought that the ball's haven't been good enough at times and I don't think that there has been enough determination to get on the other end of it."

On playing a 4-5-1 at the end of the game...

"I just wanted to try and get another body in the middle of the park because they were taking chances then and were starting to throw extra men forward. And I just thought an extra body might help us try to get Robin [Robin Lod] to screen our two central defenders and I thought that he did that well late on, but we still dropped a little bit too early and a little bit too deep."

On Hassani Dotson being a consistent starter...

"I think you all know what I think of him as a player. When you've been out for nine- ten months like he was, it doesn't come back overnight. This is a slow process for him. I don't think were going to see Hassani [Hassani Dotson] being back to the best that he was last year. For still maybe a couple of months you don't just get it back in six weeks. He's still got a bit of a ways to go. The more we need him on the field the more he's getting there. I thought that he made some really crucial interceptions this evening."

On preparing for Houston next week...

"Whenever you look at the team sheet and you've got two of their best players not playing, that's a positive for you. But no doubt they'll be back for next Tuesday and the fact that they're at home will probably be a different game. But I think that if we approach them in the right manner and don't beat ourselves and take opportunities when they come on the road, we're more than a match for anybody."

GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR

On getting the first MLS home win of the season...

"I think it's been tough for our fans recently, and we know we wanted to be able to get that win at home for them and to hear Wonderwall. Just as much as they wanted to hear it, we wanted to hear it, and we all got a taste of that in the [U.S] Open Cup. But, we know we wanted to carry and continue on in that in the league with a full stadium."

On how difficult it is to keep the locker room positive during the hard times...

"First and foremost, confidence in ourselves and confidence in each other and continuing to just believe in each other. Of course, we have all played sports a long time. Everyone goes through those ups and downs. It's just about trying to stay positive. We know we have good players here and it's just about showing up."

On how he communicates with Miguel Tapias...

"In terms of directional sense, I try to use Spanish when I can. I wouldn't say my Spanish is good at all. I know a couple words, but then when you have guys in the back line like DJ [Taylor] and Zarek Valentin, they're able to translate because they're bilingual. It's talking to those guys to maybe get some extra words to basically expand my vocabulary, like 'came in after' and ask how you say, 'leave it' for that ball at the end. That's one that sometimes that language barrier in that split second is a little bit tougher, but if you can hear it in your natural language, it's a little bit easier for everyone.

On how he coordinates playing with Miguel Tapias...

"We play a worldwide sport. You are always going to play with people that necessarily don't speak the same language as you, so I think there's a lot of nonverbal communication that goes on as well."

On how the team defended corner kicks...

"I think we were good. We gave up more than we probably would have liked to, but I thought that we were able to test ourselves and show that we can stand those moments. Obviously it's not ideal when you are giving up that many corner kicks and wide free kicks, but I think we stood up to the challenge of winning the first ball and getting the ball out of the box."

On how he felt being home and teammates being in normal positions...

"We have a lot of guys that can play multiple positions. I think when you are playing your natural position you get a little bit of a self-boost in confidence either way. Like you said, it's about getting guys in their natural positions and the positions that they want to play in."

On if he saw anything on tape from the last few goals and games...

"We review all the games. I think I nitpick myself more than anyone when any ball goes in the net, but I think back to the first goal in Kansas. Their pitch is not normally fast and the ball normally skips, but on that play it hits a dry spot and bounces up. On a different day, if I put my hand high and it bounces under, people are going to blame me for that too and whenever the ball goes in the back of the net you always want to do better and to help the team. I'm definitely happy with the clean sheet tonight."

On the quick turnaround between upcoming games...

"Like you said, it's controlling our bodies and putting ourselves in the best opportunity to be able to play our role. At the end of the day, the gaffer picks the lineup and if you are picked up that day or not you just need to be prepared, because there's a lot of games coming up and you never know when your number might get called."

On if there's anything specific he does to recover...

"The usual stuff. A couple guys went to cryotherapy this week just because of the schedule congestion and ice baths, massages, all the usual things."

On if this win felt like a must win...

"It's tough to call it a must win, but I think we definitely wanted to win, especially not having a win at home was definitely weighing on a lot of us, because our fans were so good and supported us through thick and thin. I think being able to share the joy of Wonderwall at the end has been something we have been chasing for a while and we are looking to go and do well on the road, then continue at home again."

On how to stay loose and not tighten up when losing...

"There's a lot of teams that make the playoffs this year. We all know the way this league works. If you win three or four games in a row all of a sudden you're back at the top of the table or close to it. I think it's just believing in ourselves. Also in the past we have gone through these tough moments. We've had good summers where we've probably been one of the best teams in the summer. We know we kind of have that belief in ourselves. We start with a good run at the beginning of the season to give ourselves a cushion and we've probably went past that, but looking forward to build upon that again."

MIDFIELDER HASSANI DOTSON

On the trust he has with the team and coach to return after injury...

"It feels great to have the trust from the coaching staff. I just try to show up every day, and work hard, and try to compete because it's a pretty competitive midfield room. We have a lot of guys who have done a great job so far. I'm just thankful to be out here, to be healthy and help the team win."

On the importance of the win tonight...

"It's a combination with our run of play of four losses, as well as not winning at home in the league. There was definitely a little bit of pressure that was there and we put on ourselves. You can just see all of the emotion, all of the relief that the guys had after we got the win."

On how the team needs to do for a quick turnaround at Portland on Saturday...

"Each person has their own, individual recovery process that they like to do, whether it's mentally or physically. Me, personally, I like to do an ice bath or contrast. Some people will get a massage or Normatec boots. I think it's enjoy this win for tonight and then tomorrow, we look over film, make sure we take care of our bodies and hydrate, and we go and get a result in Portland."

On winning 1-0 while the margin of victory could've been bigger and how that feels...

"I think some of those games happen during a season, especially such a critical one, and we've had a couple of games like that so far this year. The biggest thing is making sure that we got the result. We won the game that we thought we needed to win, and we'll fine tune those things during the week."

On how close he feels to being 100% healthy...

"It's pretty tough just because away at Vancouver, I had a little knock, so recovery with these games are a little bit longer. Maybe I have to get a little bit more treatment, a little bit more tedious warming up and stuff. But, they say that's pretty normal for your first year coming back, all the stress and the load on the body. I feel better soccer wise, adapting to the speed of play, and so for me, that's the biggest piece. Once I can put myself in a better position, then I think the athleticism will come second and that's fine."

On returning to a 4-2-3-1 helped get a result...

"It's just a little bit more natural for us since I've been here, but you can't fault the coaching staff for wanting to play [a 3-5-2 formation] against Kansas because we played so well, I thought, against Philly [Philadelphia Union]. Kansas, they had a must win at home as well after they got a good result against Seattle. I think that's what makes it so difficult is that the league is pretty balanced. No matter where you are in the league table, you have an opportunity to win."

On facing the same team in six days but with changes in personnel...

"One thing that helps is when we look over film, we can look over the team that we just played. A few years back, we had Portland and we played them on Wednesday and then on Saturday for a [U.S. Open] Cup game and league match. It's always a little bit funny, it's a little different because you had just seen them but that's the nature of the beast. You want to keep playing the Cup games, you want to keep competing, but I think right now, we'll be focused on Saturday."

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