Sports stats



MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United Overpowers Portland Timbers 4-1

July 2, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota United earned three points at home after dominating the Portland Timbers, capturing a 4-1 victory at Allianz Field Saturday night on the backs of an Emanuel Reynoso brace, a Bongokuhle Hlongwane tally and a Portland Timbers' own goal.

27': Forward Mender Garcia headed a cross from defender DJ Taylor towards the net. Portland goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic made a diving, one-handed save to ward off the Minnesota side from scoring.

40': DJ Taylor passed to midfielder Hassani Dotson standing inside the goal area, who was able to put a shot on frame. His attempt was swatted away by Ivacic, but Mender Garcia was available to redirect the deflection with a header, however his attempt missed the far post.

43': MNUFC scored its first goal of the match when attacker Bongokuhle Hlongwane attempted to cross into the goal area to Garcia. His pass struck Timbers' midfielder Diego Chara, forcing an own goal.

45'+4': Emanuel Reynoso scored Minnesota's second goal of the night directly from his corner kick, bending the ball into the net and securing a 2-0 lead just before the end of the first half.

60': After 60 minutes of play, the Timbers found their luck to prevent a shutout. Franck Boli snuck his shot past goalkeeper Clint Irwin, scoring for the away side.

74': The Loons answered back when defender Zarek Valentin played a long ball forward for Bongokuhle Hlongwane to chase, entering a 1v1 at goal. The South African took his shot, slipping his ball between the legs of Ivacic for Minnesota's third goal of the evening.

77': Just three minutes later, Emanuel Reynoso once again found the back of the net following a cross from Hlongwane, who delivered the ball to the unmarked midfielder at the back post.

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Caution, MIN - Miguel Tapias (13')

Caution, MIN - Michael Boxall (15')

Caution, MIN - Hassani Dotson (21')

Caution, MIN - DJ Taylor (34')

Caution, MIN - Adrian Heath (72')

Caution, MIN - Emanuel Reynoso (73')

Caution, POR - Cristhian Paredes (90'+1')

GOAL SUMMARY

1-0 MIN - Own goal, Diego Chara (43')

2-0 MIN - Emanuel Reynoso, unassisted (45'+4')

2-1 POR - Franck Bali, assisted by Nathan Fogaca (60')

3-1 MIN - Bongokuhle Hlongwane, assisted by Zarek Valentin (74')

4-1 MIN - Emanuel Reynoso, assisted by Bongokuhle Hlongwane (77')

NOTABLE STATS

4 - Tonight's match marks the first time since last season that the team has scored four goals in a match. The last game the Loons scored four goals was on July 30, 2022 against the Portland Timbers.

5 - Emanuel Reynoso has tied former Loon Kevin Molino (five) for the most multi-goal games in club history.

ATTENDANCE: 19,844

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Emanuel Reynoso

LINEUPS:

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

Bench: GK Eric Dick, Fred Emmings; D Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman, Devin Padelford; M Kervin Arriaga, Emmanuel Iwe; F Cameron Dunbar

Portland Timbers XI: GK Aljaz Ivacic; D Claudio Bravo, Dario Zuparic, Eric Miller, Larrys Mabiala; M Diego Chara (c), Santiago Moreno, Marvin Loria, Noel Caliskan; F Franck Boli, Jaroslaw Niezgoda

Bench: GK David Bingham; D Pablo Bonilla, Juan Mosquera, Justin Rasmussen; M Victor Griffith, Cristhian Paredes; F Nathan Fogaca, Diego Gutierrez, Felipe Mora

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. AUSTIN FC

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

07.08.2023 | MLS 2023 Regular Season | Matchday 23

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

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On scoring four goals against Portland...

"I'm pleased for the players, obviously. I spoke at halftime, I thought that two-nil flattered us a little bit at halftime. I thought that we were nearly good. I thought we were good in patches and turned it over cheaply. It wasn't a complete 45 [minutes] and I said to them, 'If you want to up the game, if you want to up your pace of it, and a bit more life in it all around and kick the ball better, then we can probably go on and score more goals. If you don't, there's still going to be a game on.' I thought we were better, second half. People were running forward more with and without the ball. I told Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] about getting in the box and, obviously, pleased for Rey [Emanuel Reynoso]."

On Emanuel Reynoso starting to find his form...

"He [Emanuel Reynoso] started a bit sloppy for his own standards. He turned it over the first four or five times, but I think there was a little bit of... he was waiting and waiting for people to put things on and we weren't putting it on. We weren't running ahead of the ball and he got caught in possession a couple of times, but obviously that did his confidence no harm and he's a quality footballer, we know that."

On Emanuel Reynoso's two goals...

"Well I would've scored the second one because it was on the goalline. And the first one obviously a little bit of quality from the corner. But he's capable of that and we've seen it in training where he looks like he's going to cross it and he actually whips it in the near post. I'm pleased for him. It was difficult at the beginning, but since he's got here, he's trained really really hard, he's in really good shape and if we can keep him engaged the way that he is at this moment in time, training 100 percent every session, then he will be a big plus for us."

On his yellow-card caution given to him by the referee...

"To be fair he did apologize and say that was his fault. But it doesn't do me any good because I think I might be suspended now, I'm not sure. But we'll see, we'll ask the question, because it was a really poor decision. And I have to say I thought Zuparic [Dario Zuparic] was very clever, because he realized he couldn't get back and we were clear through, so he falls over and the referee gives them a foul, which it wasn't, or takes it back from where it was. Which is disappointing, but it is what it is."

On being suspended for the next game and what the referee said to him...

"The referee thought that, in reflection, that he might have made the wrong decision. I don't know; we'll ask the question."

On if he's seen Emanuel Reynoso score an Olimpico in training...

"Yeah I think so, over the times. He's scored all sorts of goals, but as I say his mind is different than most players. If he thought that that near post was vulnerable, trust me he's gone for that."

On Mender Garcia's performance...

"I think the goal in midweek did his confidence a lot of good. We decided that when they [Portland Timbers] got the goal, to put another body in midfield and try to close it off a little bit and we did okay with that. I thought actually Kervin [Kervin Arriaga] was good when he came on. Gave us some energy, made some really good defensive tackles and stops. It's been a good day."

On changing to a 4-3-3 formation during the game...

"Well I wanted another body in midfield and at 2-1, they're [Portland Timbers] always going to take chances. They were taking more and more chances, they were leaving it man-for-man at the back and I just wanted another body to try and make it more difficult for them to play through us. And if they have to play long and straight, I thought that we dealt with that pretty well most of the evening. What I didn't want us to do is to get stretched and then them start to pick the little holes because they were going man-for-man a lot of the time in the last 15-20 minutes."

On Emanuel Reynoso's engagement with the team and fans...

"Well I did say to him [Emanuel Reynoso] when he came back this is about his actions now, not his words. As most of the players will tell you, he's been training really really hard, he's working hard, he's working hard at his weight. He's kept his weight right down, which I think he feels better for that. So as I say if we can keep him engaged and keep him in that real intense zone in training then with the players we've got coming in, we feel as though he can be a big contributor between now and the end of the season. Because as I've said to you on numerous occasions, not just us, you need your best players to play well if you're going to do anything and he's one of our best players."

On if the number of cautions given to Minnesota was a lack of discipline or the referee's decisions...

"I thought there might have been two [actual cautions], if I think of the incidents. I'll leave it at that. I'm in enough trouble as it is."

On if he was given any explanation of first half cautions at half time on any of the calls...

"No. I don't speak to them [referees] at halftime anymore anyways."

On the goal that MNUFC conceded against Portland...

"I thought it was a poor goal, a cheap turnover. I thought Boxy [Michael Boxall] should have put his foot through it, it was too tight. I thought Wil [Trapp] should have done better with it. But, it's a poor goal from us. We've got comfortable possession from the middle of the pitch, and then two seconds later, he's running through and he's got one-on-one with the goalkeeper. So, not great from our point of view, and obviously it's something that we have to look at and we'll go over."

On defender DJ Taylor's knock...

"We'll have a better look tomorrow. I think he's got a little hamstring strain and normally it's the next day that you can find out the severity of it. I don't think it looks too bad, so hopefully he'll be okay."

On progress with Teemu Pukki paperwork in order to make him available for the next game...

"We are trying. I think that we've got some stuff going on on Monday and then we'll go on from there. Ultimately, you're in the hands of the embassies to hopefully get it through quicker than normal."

On if the team is ready for a packed part of the schedule...

"We'll have to be, won't we? Everybody's going to be in the same boat. Leagues Cup is coming around and there's going to be lots and lots of games between now and the end of the season. We're going to hopefully bring three, maybe four players in in this window, and if we do, that will help us. But, we're for sure like most teams."

On if more players are going to be signed...

"Yes, we're hopeful."

On Bongokuhle Hlongwane's performance against Portland and his growth compared to last year...

"He's got to get in the right spots. We've spoken about him getting in those one-touch finish areas, getting in on the back post. Actually, at half time, I did say to him that you've got to work harder at getting in the box. We had a couple of crosses that came across the back post and he's outside looking in. I said, 'If you want to score,' - as he always says he wants to score 25 goals a season - so, 'You've got to get in on the back post and get in there if that's what you're going to do.' The one thing we can't fault him for is his effort and his energy levels. His good finish as well."

On what he might be looking forward to with a Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Emanuel Reynoso scoring combination...

"The one thing we've been working on and been talking about is trying to get more bodies in the box. And certainly the last four or five games, we have been having three and four people in the box every time a cross comes in on a break. That's something that we've been working on. The more people you get in there, the more chance you're going to get on the end of it."

MIDFIELDER BONGOKUHLE HLONGWANE

On why you have been successful in scoring against the Timbers...

"Adrian [Heath] said to me at halftime that the only thing that has helped me to have the good start to the season is because I was running forward and running in behind. In the first half I didn't do that so at halftime he shouted at me and you saw that in the second half my game was not the same as the first half."

On your connection with Emanuel Reynoso...

"We [Emanuel Reynoso and me] have that connection. Even last season I have been assisting him and he has been giving me those passes. So we have that connection and we are still going to do a lot for the team in the upcoming game."

On having Emanuel Reynoso back...

"I feel like he is back. He doesn't need much. He knows football, that thing is in him. He is talented and doesn't need the work to be involved in the game. He's a natural."

On pushing for more wins at home...

"If you can see, we can score, but sometimes we are failing to protect what we have. Today we did a great job to protect what we have. If we can do that in the upcoming games and the home game [next] Saturday against Austin FC we can score early and protect what we have we will have more victories."

On how the team is feeling after the win...

"You can tell everyone is happy. You can tell because we haven't done well at home, I think this is our second win at home, I am not counting the [U.S. Open Cup win] against Philadelphia Union because we won on penalties and Houston 1-0."

On if the team will make it to the playoffs...

"For sure. We are going to make the playoffs. Without a doubt."

On what the team is doing offensively to be able to have the scoring success like this evening...

"We have to use our strength to go forward. Sang Bin [Jeong] has the pace, Mender [Garcia] has the pace and he is strong. I have the pace and am strong. So we have Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] he can distribute, Hassani [Dotson] can pass us the ball. The only thing we need to do is protect the ball and do our job up front as we did today."

On if the team has reviewed film of new signing Teemu Pukki...

"I don't think we need to watch because we have been watching him play since I was young, so I know what he is capable of doing. The only thing we need to do is pass him the ball and he can score. He is a good striker and he is going to help us with his experience from Europe, he's got everything. The only thing we need to do is pass him the ball and be patient with him. I know that he is a good striker from Finland and I know from Norwich that he played very well there.

On being excited for Teemu Pukki to join...

"There is excitement. I can't wait for him to join us."

On the way you embrace the messages from Adrian Heath at halftime...

"There is nothing personal. He is telling me the truth. If I am not going to man up that means I don't have to be here. He was helping me to up my game because he knows what I am capable of. He helped me a lot and I am grateful for that. He has helped me to up my game and help the team with a lot of things in the first half I couldn't do, so the second half was better and he helped me a lot and I thank him."

On if you will pass to Teemu Pukki...

"[Smiling] If I have to I will if I don't have to I wont, simple."

On your nutmeg goal and if that is something you practice...

"I saw that he was not on the goalline. So the time I was running I checked if I can pass the ball or not and I saw him the time I pushed the ball with my head that he was backing up, so I had a chance. In the second half I had another chance and I tried to play it not on the ground and his body was already there, so I thought this time let me go to the ground."

MIDFIELDER EMANUEL REYNOSO

On the team scoring four goals...

[SPA]: "Muy importante. Sabíamos que iba a ser un partido difícil. Pero con el apoyo de nuestra gente y con el grupo, la verdad que pudimos sacar el partido adelante. Contento también porque ganamos de local, que hace mucho no ganamos. Así que tenemos que seguir por este camino que es duro, pero sabemos que tenemos que salir por este camino para cumplir el objetivo que es entrar a los playoffs."

[ENG]: "Very important. We knew it was going to be a difficult game. But with the support of our fans, and with our team, we were able to move the game in a positive direction. I'm also happy because we won at home, which we haven't done in a long time. So we have to continue on this path, which is hard, but we know that we have to go down this path to reach our objective of making the playoffs."

On meaning to score an Olimpico...

[SPA]: "Si, justo vi al arquero que no estaba bien posicionado y bueno por ahí el movimiento de los compañeros también me ayudó mucho. Así que como dije recién, gracias a Dios pude entrar para ayudar al equipo."

[ENG]: "Yes, I just saw the goalkeeper wasn't well positioned and the movements of my teammates also helped me a lot. So as I just said, thank God I was able to come in to help the team."

On if he's scored an Olimpico in the past...

[SPA]: "No, no oficial no."

[ENG]: "No, not officially."

On scoring three goals in two games and helping the team...

[SPA]: "Gracias a Dios. Gracias a mis compañeros, al cuerpo técnico, a los profes que hicieron un gran trabajo para que pueda volver de la mejor manera físicamente. La confianza de todo el grupo y el staff me ha ayudado mucho y me llena de orgullo. Toda la gente siempre apoya, es lo más importante. Así que, ojalá podamos seguir por este camino."

[ENG]: "Thank God. Thanks to my teammates, the coaching staff, the staff who did a great job so that I was able to come back in the best physical shape. The confidence of the entire team and the staff has helped me a lot and fills me with pride. All the fans always support me, which is important. So hopefully, we can continue on this path."

On if he has personal goals for scoring and assisting this season...

[SPA]: "No, no. Obviamente, seguir por este camino con el grupo. Obviamente, en lo personal me siento muy bien, muy feliz pero creo que el objetivo es tratar de entrar a los playoffs. Es lo que nos planteamos como grupo. La verdad que es muy difícil, pero sabemos que este grupo va a pelear hasta el final para cumplir el objetivo."

[ENG]: "No, no. Obviously, continue on this path with the team. Personally, I feel very good, very happy, but I think the [main] goal is to try to make the playoffs. This is what we set out to do as a group. The truth is that it is very difficult, but we know that this group will fight until the end to achieve our objective."

On the team's chemistry...

[SPA]: "Muy bien, muy bien por ahí. Veníamos de jugar de visitante, íbamos ganando 2-0 y por ahí un descuido nuestro. Sabemos que tenemos que mejorar para seguir escalando para arriba porque es muy difícil la liga. La verdad que luchamos siempre para cumplir el objetivo. El grupo está bien, muy fuerte de la cabeza. Tenemos un grupo increíble que tiene jugadores para jugar al fútbol. Así que vamos a luchar hasta el final pero paso a paso estamos bien."

[ENG]: "It's very good, very good out there. We were coming from playing a road game where we were up 2-0 and had some mistakes. We know that we have to improve to continue climbing up the standings because the league is very difficult. The truth is that we are always fighting to meet our objective. The group is fine, very strong minded. We have an incredible group that has players who play soccer. So we are going to fight until the end step-by-step, but we are fine."

On his reaction after scoring tonight...

[SPA]: "Bueno por lo que había pasado que no me pude presentar. La verdad que me acordé de todo y obviamente recordé a mi familia, todo el cuerpo técnico, como dije recién, lo voy a repetir siempre, de mis compañeros, toda la gente que me ayudó para poder estar acá. Estoy muy contento, muy feliz y por eso se me salió el grito del gol fuerte para decir bueno aquí estoy para poder ayudar al equipo."

[ENG]: "Well, because of what happened that I wasn't able to be here. Truthfully, I remembered everything and obviously I remembered my family, the coaching staff, as I said before, I will always repeat it, from my teammates and all of the people that helped me be able to be here. I'm very pleased, very happy and because of that I yelled after the goal to say 'here I am to be able to help the team.'"

On feeling more in the moment more this year than those prior...

[SPA]: "Si, los fans siempre alientan al grupo. Siempre me dieron la confianza pero también yo sentí desde que llegué, siento que me apoyaron mucho. Eso para mi fue muy importante. La verdad que les quiero devolver dentro la cancha porque ellos me dieron para poder estar acá. Estoy con muchas ganas, estoy muy feliz acá, y ojalá que podamos seguir por este camino. Pero estoy muy contento."

[ENG]: "Yeah, the fans always encourage the team. They always gave me confidence but I also felt it since I arrived, I feel like they've supported me a lot. That for me was really important. Truthfully, I want to return to the field because they made me be able to be here. I'm excited. I'm very happy here, and I hope that we're able to continue on this path. But I'm very happy."

On if the match felt like redemption...

[SPA]: "Si, como dije recién, contento por los fans que gracias a ellos también, uno sale para adelante. Le metí muchas ganas para poder volver y para poder ayudar a mi grupo. La verdad que tengo un grupo increíble que me ayudó para poder saltarme rápido y poder ayudarlos también en este año de partidos que tenemos, que estos puntos poder clasificar. Creo que el grupo humildemente va bien. Todos estamos felices por esta victoria."

[ENG]: "Yeah, as I said before, I'm grateful for the fans because thanks to them as well, one moves forward. I really wanted to be able to return and to help my team. Truthfully, I have an incredible group that helped me be able to jump in quickly and to be able to help them in these matches this season, get these points to make the playoffs. I think the group is truly doing well. We're all happy for this victory.

Check out the Minnesota United FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from July 2, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central