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MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United Wins Late-Game Thriller 1-0 Over Portland Timbers

May 21, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


PORTLAND, Oregon -- Minnesota United FC went west for Matchday 14 to take on the Portland Timbers and left the Providence Park crowd stunned after Bongokuhle Hlongwane's stoppage-time, game-winning goal lifted the Loons to a 1-0 victory on Saturday night.

The first half of the match was off to a slow start with few scoring opportunities despite end-to-end play. The possession was shared almost evenly, and the Loons outshot the Timbers in the first half, with four shots on goal to Portland's one.

MNUFC saw its best opportunity of the first 45 minutes when midfielder Joseph Rosales cut across the top of Portland's 18-yard box, striking a lofted shot to the upper corner of the Timbers goal where Aljaz Ivacic made the one-handed save, denying Rosales.

Portland had one solid chance at goal in the 28th minute as Zac McGraw launched a shot into the center of the goal after a cross from Evander, but Dayne St. Clair made the save.

Into the next half, Diego Chara took a long-range shot atop Minnesota's box nearly finding the first goal of the match and putting the home side ahead, but the shot struck the crossbar. St. Clair was tested again in the 74th minute when Evander attempted to chip the Canadian goalkeeper, who got his fingertips on the ball and made the save.

Midfielder Kervin Arriaga entered the pitch and had an immediate impact, nearly scoring for the Loons after a corner kick from Sang Bin Jeong, but the shot was blocked at the goal line.

In the last seconds of the match in added stoppage time, forward Mender Garcia started an attacking run into Portland's half into the final third. The ball reached the feet of Bongokuhle Hlongwane who shot around the Timbers defense and past Aljaz Ivacic for the game-winning goal. Hlongwane's goal was his fourth of the season; the assist awarded to Kervin Arriaga.

With the victory, Minnesota United improve to a 5-5-3 (W-L-D) record and 18 points this season. The win at Portland also gave Minnesota its fourth road win of 2023 league action, which is now currently the most among all teams in MLS away from home.

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Boxall

LINEUPS:

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

Bench: GK Eric Dick, Clint Irwin; D Brent Kallman, Zarek Valentin; M Kervin Arriaga; F Cameron Dunbar, Sang Bing Jeong, Mender Garcia

Portland Timbers XI: GK Aljaz Ivacic; D Claudio Bravo, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, Juan Mosquera; M Evander, Diego Chara (c), Cristhian Paredes, Darion Asprilla; F Franck Boli, Santiago Moreno

Bench: GK David Bingham; D Larrys Mabiala, Eric Miller; M Sebastian Blanco, Noel Caliskan, Yimmi Chara, Marvin Loria; F Nathan Fogaca, Jaroslaw Niezgoda

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ HOUSTON DYNAMO FC

Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, Texas

05.23.2023 | U.S. Open Cup | Round of 16

7:30 pm CT (B/R App, B/R Football YouTube)

MINNESOTA UNITED POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the importance of the win after 90 scoreless minutes...

"They say they even themselves out and maybe they do. I was so pleased with the players. I thought our first half performance was excellent, thought we had a really good defensive shape and that goes for everybody. I thought the front six were magnificent in taking away certain players for them. It's a big night for us because obviously no Robin Lod, no [Emanuel] Reynoso, and we've come to a place that is always very, very difficult. I'm just pleased for the players that they've got their reward for all of the effort they've put in."

On if the last minute goal makes the victory more special...

"It does because I said to the staff when it was - I think they put four minutes up and after about two minutes had gone - I went, 'a point is never a bad result to get on the road.' So for us to go and pinch three, and as I say, I'm so pleased for the players because the last two or three weeks, we've had a little bit of stick about some of our performances on the road. But tonight, it was like early on in the season again: great mentality, great shape, everybody working for each other, everybody covering for each other. So, I couldn't be more pleased with that."

On the starting formation and Robin Lod being unavailable...

"Obviously it's a blow to lose somebody of Robin's [Lod] quality. We'll have a better idea on Monday when he has his op [operation]. We're finding out what the full extent of his injury is. I'm hoping it's not as bad as first fears. But no, the kid [Juan] Mosquera, who plays right back for them, spends nearly all the game in your half of the field. They're a little bit lopsided the way they do that, and I thought Joseph [Rosales] would give us just a little bit more protection out there than maybe Franco [Fragapane]. I thought Franco worked really, really hard. The job that him and Luis [Amarilla] have to do, when you play with somebody who plays at the six, they have to look after the two center backs and they have to look after the six. So, it's a lot of work, a lot of positioning, and I thought they did it excellently."

On seeing composure from Bongokuhle Hlongwane in the final third...

"We said last year that if we can get him scoring goals, then we'll have a player on our hands because there's nobody who covers more distance than him. His high-intensity running off the charts, and now he's starting to get in dangerous positions and if we can keep getting him in them spots, he might not be far away from the 25 [goals] he promised me last year."

On what he is seeing Bongokuhle Hlongwane become...

"He's got a bit more belief in himself. We spoke to him last year about getting in the right spots, and not really overthinking where he's got to be. Just continually getting in the box, take it as it comes, don't overthink it, don't put pressure on yourself to score these goals. I think now he's playing with a lot of confidence, which helps, and he's taking the opportunities that are coming his way. He deserves it because the amount of work he does, especially when the opposition has the ball, is unbelievable."

On advising Joseph Rosales to take long-range shots...

"Yeah, he's a good striker of the ball, especially when it comes from the right and it comes across him. He can manipulate the ball and maneuver to get it out with his feet. He had a couple of efforts in the first half, one was very, very good... a big save from the goalkeeper. I've got a lot of time for Joe [Joseph Rosales]. I think he's a great kid. He wants to work hard. He wants to do well. So, if he keeps working hard, he'll find himself having a good career in the MLS."

On keeping Sang Bin Jeong on the bench to conserve minutes...

"Yeah, he'll be playing on Tuesday. We'll try and mix it up a little bit, make a few changes for Tuesday night's game because the same group can't keep going. I felt like I wanted to give Luis [Amarilla] and Franco [Fragapane] another go because they hadn't played much before that, and they were just sore getting some fitness and a little bit of sharpness, so I wanted them to finish their half. But, there will be changes for the lineup on Tuesday night."

On expecting short-term loans from MNUFC2...

"Probably not. Normally, the next day you have one or two bumps and bruises and we'll see, but at this moment, it looks like we've got a pretty clean bill of health."

On the defense's performance tonight...

"I thought the two center backs were excellent at times because coming here, they've [Portland Timbers] got the pace of [Franck] Boli, they've got the strength of [Dairon] Asparilla, then it's [Jaroslaw] Niezgoda, then it's [Sebastian] Blanco. We defended really well. We got a lot of first balls, and when we didn't, we were there for the second one, which is always hugely important, especially when the opposition are pushing as many men forward as they do. It didn't surprise me we made the blocks [11] because we were in good spots."

On giving Portland's Evander shots outside the box...

"When he hits the crossbar with it, you think, 'we've got to close him down a little bit,' but when you spend $12 million on a player, he's going to be a good footballer. Maybe we gave him a little bit too much time and too much space on a couple of occasions, but overall, I thought we handled him very well."

On Luis Amarilla's performance...

"I just hope he can catch a break because it's not for a lack of effort. He's working really, really hard, and he needs to catch a break. He's got to keep getting in the right spots. I know I keep saying it, and I feel like a bit of a broken record, but he's got to get in the right spots, not overthink it, play free as he can. I'm giving him the confidence by keep picking him. I know he can score goals, I know he can. He's got to keep believing in himself and keep getting in them right spots at the right time."

On being caught offside leading to a change in formation...

"Especially as [Dario] Zuparic, their [Portland] center back is very smart, and he's played an awful lot of games. He's very, very smart with playing the offside trap, and if we don't release the ball early enough, at times, it's difficult for front men to put runs on for you but it doesn't come when you want it to. I think there was a little bit of that tonight. Maybe we went a bit early at times, but I think the ball could've been a bit earlier as well."

On Bongokuhle Hlongwane's goal celebration...

"Yeah, he came running over to us, so I saw him. But he got booked for taking his shirt off, which drives me crazy, but what was it, the 94th minute? You expect players to be excited, and I like that response. I like the fact that he saw the reaction of his teammates as well. It's a very, very good group, and they're very committed. It'll be a nice evening meal this evening, for sure."

On the symbolism of Bongokuhle Hlongwane doing Robin Lod's signature goal celebration...

"Everybody knows what Robin [Lod] is for this group. He's a bit of a talisman. He's quiet but everybody likes him, great professional. Everybody's obviously gutted for him. As I say, I won't know until Monday evening basically about the extent of his injury, but it's going to be a big loss for us because not only is he a quality player - as he's proven - he can play in four or five positions for us. You're losing that versatility as well. So, hopefully not too bad."

On the magnitude of the win going into Tuesday's match...

"We'll see how everybody is tomorrow. When I came out the locker room, the physios didn't tell me anything [or] anybody was struggling. We'll see how everybody is tomorrow when we fly to Houston, but I would envision there will be some changes for the game on Tuesday night."

FORWARD BONGOKUHLE HLONGWANE

On scoring the late game-winner instead of being on the other side of a late goal...

"I'm very happy, very happy. As you said, it's been happening to us, so I think today was our lucky day to get the late win."

On his goal celebration and how it mimicked Robin Lod's go-to celebration...

"Robin [Lod] is one of our good players on the team. I felt so bad after I heard that he just got an injury in the last game and he played the whole game, so I didn't know after I came into the game. That [the goal celebration] was for him."

On his goal-scoring momentum that he is currently riding...

"I feel like it is just the moment because in last season, I played so many games without a goal or assists, so I think this time, I'm very happy that I'm performing. I'm very happy."

On having confidence and belief in himself to get the job done...

"Yeah. As I said before, I feel like now I understand how the league works. So, I feel like I understand everything, I understand my teammates, I understand everyone. Even the coach [Adrian Heath], I know what he wants from me, what he wants from us."

On finishing scoring chances as the next step in his growth as a player this year...

"Yeah. I think last season, I got so many chances, but I couldn't convert a lot of them. This season I told myself I have to work so much on my finishing. I know each and every game, I'll get the chance, so I have to do that chance whenever I get it."

On conversations with his mother about scoring goals and what that means to him...

"The last time I scored, I did talk to her. She was like, 'now you have to talk to us before you score, this must be the thing that you need to work on each and every day in training.' So I was like, 'yeah, you know I'm trying but it's not easy.' I have to focus, I have to work hard on myself."

On effort that he brings in the defensive side of play...

"When you play as a winger, you have to work hard. Because, when we're defending, the team needs you. When we attack, we want you to attack. I think working hard is the only thing that's helped me to keep going like this in the game."

On kneeling beside DJ Taylor after his game-winning goal...

"It was DJ [Taylor]. He said, 'let us pray,' so we were praying after the game because that win meant a lot to us because we thought we were [only] going to get a point. Then, we just scored the late winner. No one believed what happened. DJ came to me and said let us pray, so we were praying. I had never done that before; it was just in the moment that came."

On his chemistry with Emanuel Reynoso last year and the thought of connecting again this year...

"Hopefully when he comes back, when he gets the chance to play, hopefully we can continue where we left last season."

On what he expects his role to be in the match against Houston on Tuesday...

"I think we can do it on Tuesday, but it's a short period of time so we need to rest. I trust the guys. We can do it because it's not like it's our first time playing after three days. We can make it."

On looking at Robin Lod's injury and feeling the need to step up...

"I feel like we need to step up more because we lost one of our starters. I think we need to step up more on our wings. I feel like it's going to be hard because some of the players play a lot of games because if Rob [Robin Lod] is out, we're not going to have enough [in our] squad."

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