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MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United Secures 2-1 Win in International Friendly

June 28, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- MNUFC took on international opponents FC Kaiserslautern at Allianz Field on Wednesday night where the home side secured a 2-1 victory over its German opponents.

5': FC Kaiserslautern struck first when midfielder Aaron Opoku won a duel in the midfield and made a quick run towards goal off the counterattack. Opoku found the feet of Terrence Boyd, who snuck his shot past goalkeeper Eric Dick for the 1-0 lead.

22': Minnesota United equalized in the 22nd minute of the match after midfielder Emanuel Reynoso slipped a pass between the FC Kaiserslautern defense to DJ Taylor on the run. Taylor sent a cross into the middle of the goal area where Mender Garcia got a touch on the ball and scored.

24': Sang Bin Jeong notched Minnesota's second goal of the evening just two minutes after the first. Emanuel Reynoso played a ball over the German backline, allowing the Korean attacker to run onto the ball and bury his shot into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal.

54': MNUFC2 midfielder Diogo Pacheco nearly scored Minnesota's third goal when Cameron Dunbar played a through ball to MNUFC2 midfielder Diogo Pacheco, who's shot just missed the frame.

68': Goalkeeper Fred Emmings made a diving save to prevent FC Kaiserslautern from earning the game-tying goal, ultimately leading to a 2-1 victory for the home side.

With the win, Minnesota United now holds a 3-3-4 (W-L-D) record across all international friendlies at home.

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Caution, FCK - Marlon Ritter (6')

Caution, FCK - Terrence Boyd (30')

Caution, MIN - Zaydan Bello (55')

GOAL SUMMARY

1-0 FCK - Terrence Boyd, assisted by Aaron Opoku (5')

1-1 MIN - Mender Garcia, assisted by DJ Taylor (22')

2-1 MIN - Sang Bin Jeong, assisted by Emanuel Reynoso (24')

NOTABLE STATS

1 - Multiple MNUFC2 players made their first team debut at Allianz Field: defenders CC Uche and Britton Fischer, midfielder Rory O'Driscoll, and midfielder Diogo Pacheco.

3 - MNUFC is now undefeated through three-consecutive international friendlies, defeating both SC Paderborn and Everton F.C. in 2022. Notably, Minnesota holds a 2-1-0 (W-L-D) record against German clubs across all international matches at home.

ATTENDANCE: 19,616

LINEUPS:

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

Bench: GK Fred Emmings, Will Pulisic; D Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman, Britton Fischer, Devin Padelford, Nick Richardson, Jason Ramos, CC Uche; M Kervin Arriaga, Zaydan Bello, Emmanuel Iwe, Rory O'Driscoll, Diogo Pacheco; F Cameron Dunbar

FC Kaiserslautern XI: GK Andreas Luthe; D Jean Zimmer, Jan Elvedi, Boris Tomiak, Tymoteusz Puchacz; M Philipp Klement, Marlon Ritter, Aaron Opoku, Kenny Redondo, Julian Niehues; F Terrence Boyd

Bench: GK Avdo Spahic, Julian Krahl; D Erik Durm, Lars Bunning, Hendrick Zuck; M Aaron Basenach, Neal Gibs, Philipp Hercher; Angelos Stavridis, Ben Zolinski; F Daniel Hanslik

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 scoring two goals in the first half...

"Really good goals as well, great moves. Obviously Rey's [Emanuel Reynoso] involved again, and we are all pleased for Mender [Mender Garcia]. It's a really good finish. Sang Bin [Jeong] made a great run, great first touch. Eric [Dick] did not have a save to make. The goal was poor from our point of view. [We] turned it over cheaply. Hassani [Dotson] falls which you can never... but then I think Boxy's [Michael Boxall] committed to it, and he should have maybe dropped and given ourselves more time and more space to maybe get people back behind the ball. But the response after that was terrific. I thought there were some really good performances. Another 45 [minutes] for Rey, and we saw his qualities again this evening. But the biggest takeaway for me is for Mender and Sang Bin."

On the win coming off of a drought...

"Two really good finishes, yeah. That's a top-reel finish when he's coming across you, to open your body up, and to keep the composure, and to keep the control of the finish was excellent. I thought Sang Bin [Jeong] showed more composure this evening. The kid wants to do so well, everything is like 100 miles an hour. I thought he composed himself a little bit better tonight, stayed on the ball a little bit longer which he's been trying to do. He's been playing too quickly, and wanting to get rid of the ball quickly. Yeah, some pleasing stuff. And then I thought some of the kids did really well. After [halftime] we looked really threatening. Rory [O'Driscoll] came on, and we know he's a good technician, but he picked up the pace of the game. Britt [Britton] Fischer did well with some big headers and showed better composure on the ball. And I thought Dev [Devin Padelford] did well, because the kid out there was really quick. I thought Dev did really well against him, so it's been a good night. Everybody looks like they've come through unscathed, so I couldn't have asked for much more."

On the moves Emanuel Reynoso made on the first goal...

"Nothing surprises me. I see that most days in training, and he has special talent. We've got to keep him motivated. His weight is really, really good. He's been training hard, and we just have to keep him engaged now between now and the end of the season because if we are going to achieve what we want to achieve and there's still plenty of time to go with that, he's going to be an integral part of all of that."

On Franco Fragapagne's injury status...

"He's been on the grass today. This weekend, I would think, would be too early for him. The following week is a possibility."

On Bakaye Disbassy's performance...

"I thought it was nice. He's come through, it feels great. He made typical Dibassy interceptions, which he's been really really good at, but for him now it's just a case of continuing and getting this momentum going and getting more and more time and more and more minutes, because as you say, we are pretty much in a wait and see mode with the injury, because there's been little research with the type of injury he's got. Everything for us is new with this, so we've been bringing him along slowly, but he'll be back for the 45 and I was really pleased for him.

On going to the back three in the second half...

"Well, today was a case of we wanted to get nearly everybody on the field and try to get them in good spots. We didn't want to put Britt [Britton Fischer] at right back and somewhere like that, so we didn't look at it as anything today other than the fact that was the system that suited the players we had at our disposal today."

MNUFC2 MIDFIELDER RORY O'DRISCOLL

On playing in front of his hometown crowd at Allianz Field for the first time...

"It was pretty special. I've been coming to games here for a pretty long time, my family has season tickets. It was really special to be at a place where I've been watching games my whole life, or for the last five, seven years."

On how many games he's watched as a fan at Allianz Field...

"Countless. 20, 30? I don't know. I couldn't tell you. But, a lot."

On what the club has seen that has given him the opportunity to play in a game like this...

"My feedback mainly comes from the Twos [MNUFC2] coach, Cameron Knowles. He's been huge in terms of encouraging me on what to do right and what I need to get better at. There's a lot of work that I can do and I kind of recognized that tonight playing at this level; it's a lot faster, you can really feel it. There's definitely a lot of room for improvement that they're helping me out with, both the first team staff has been really helpful, and Cameron [Knowles], too."

On his path to playing for MNUFC2...

"Ultimately ended up back here [Minnesota] on trial with the Twos [MNUFC2] and things worked out. I'm lucky enough for them to have given me an opportunity. Now, to get a chance with the first team, too, meant a lot to me."

On Adrian Heath talking about the technical style of his play...

"That's big praise; it means a lot to me. I've always been a technical player. Growing up, I was on the smaller side and I think I've been able to finagle that into how I play as I've grown up too. Not just rely on my athleticism as that developed too, throughout my teenage years. I'd say kind of technically gifted from a young age, and kept on working."

On what has been important to him with MNUFC2 and the improvement of his game...

"The main thing is the faith that the coaching staff has put in me. Cam [MNUFC2 Head Coach Cameron Knowles] is unreal in terms of the communication and feedback he gives you. I really feel like I've been able to grow from it. My teammates as well. Just working with them everyday, we're all pushing each other and it's such a good group. Really good cohesion within the team and really enjoyable guys to be around, on and off the field. That just helps us work together and get better together."

MNUFC2 MIDFIELDER DIOGO PACHECO

On overall thoughts playing at Allianz Field....

"It's a dream come true. It was really exciting when I first stepped on the field, I just looked around. Growing up it's always what you dreamed about: playing in front of all these amazing fans and one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world. I'm so grateful. I'll be forever grateful for this club, for this opportunity. I'll keep doing my best every day for this club and for these fans."

On playing against an international team....

"You always take from these matches what you put in. For us second team players, it was a big opportunity to show what we are capable of, and it was fantastic to come up with a win. Again, very grateful for this opportunity and hopefully, we'll get more."

On hearing "Wonderwall" after full time....

"Amazing. Everybody talks about it and it's just unique, a unique feeling, and truly amazing to do it right here in front of these fans."

On keeping the second half scoreless....

"That was very important for us. Obviously, we wanted to score, but the fact that we were able to keep the score and have a win at the end, I think that's the major goal. So, we are very happy to do that."

On Adrian Heath's halftime talk....

"Obviously, the intensity to show that we want to put the work in and that's what we tried to do: run in behind, work hard, and I feel like we did a good job keeping the 2-1 [scoreline]. We had some chances we could have finished, but that's part of the game. But overall, I think it was a really good game for the entire team."

MNUFC2 DEFENDER BRITTON FISCHER

On playing in front of nearly 20,000 fans at Allianz Field...

"It's crazy. It's by far the biggest fanbase I've ever played in front of. It was kind of like a dream come true, in a sense, where you always dream of playing in front of all of these people. It was a little intimidating at first, but once you get playing and realize you're just playing the game, it was fun."

On what made the match intimidating...

"I don't think it's about the team or the level or anything like that. It's just the environment. You're in this environment, your heart is pumping, you're going... you're not nervous but you're overly excited because of all of the emotion going on. I think that's the only bit that makes it a little bit intimidating."

On greatest takeaways in getting minutes in the game....

"Just the experience. Anytime you can get in front of people and become comfortable doing that, I think it's a big help. So hopefully in the future that's what I am doing more often, just a little preparation."

On taking some excitement for Sunday's game....

"Yeah, it just motivates you even more. If you perform for the second team, you get more opportunities like this, so even more motivation for MNUFC2."

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