Sports stats



MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Draw 0-0 at FC Dallas

October 2, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


FRISCO, Texas. - After a tough loss against D.C. United earlier in the week, Minnesota United headed south the mess with Texas. In the nation's capital, the Loons sorely missed midfielder Emanuel Reynoso but the Argentine returned to the starting XI against FC Dallas as the team came out in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. While both teams had their chances - and Dallas had a goal called back after a handball call - both goalkeepers had outstanding games and each came away with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw. The biggest impact of the game going forward will likely be Reynoso's red card late in the game, which will keep him out of next week's important matchup with the Colorado Rapids.

Both teams came out energetic and looking to force the other team's hand early. Minnesota pressed high to try to force a turnover and Dallas tested goalkeeper Tyler Miller early from distance, with the Loons' net minder showing he was more than up to the challenge throughout the game. Through much of the first half, the game was played on relatively even teams with the two sides more or less matching each other in chances and possession.

As halftime approached, FC Dallas shifted into a higher gear in hopes of securing a lead before the whistle. The Toros lumped the ball forward and kept Minnesota from getting comfortable on defense, but MNUFC stood their ground and kept things level headed into the break.

The home side couldn't sustain their momentum to start the second half and Minnesota United began to chip away at Dallas' resolve. In the 51st minute, the Loons executed a crisp counterattack off a Dallas corner kick but couldn't quite get far enough ahead of the defense to get a clean shot and then four minutes later, Bakaye Dibassy broke free on the left wing and sent in a cross that Reynoso tried to tap in with the outside of his boot. Phelipe Megiolaro couldn't quite get to the initial cross but he recovered well and made a diving save to push Reynoso's shot over the endline for a corner kick.

In the 60th minute, a cross sent into Minnesota's box was cleared by Michael Boxall, but his clearance struck Ryan Hollingshead and the ball dropped straight down to his feet where the fullback finished it off. But the play went to video review and it was determined that the ball struck Hollingshead in the arm and the goal was called back.

Late on, Minnesota began to put a great deal of pressure on the Dallas defense. In the 71st minute, back-to-back shots from winger Franco Fragapane and forward Robin Lod were knocked down by Dallas defenders and in the very next minute, Megiolaro saved back-to-back shots from those same players in reverse. Looking for something different, Head Coach Adrian Heath brought in forward Fanendo Adi for Ethan Finlay, sending Lod to take over on the right wing in the 72nd minute.

Over the final 10 minutes, it began to feel like MNUFC were building towards something, with Reynoso curling in a dangerous shot on the far post that Megiloaro was just able to deflect out for a corner kick and Lod unleashed a shot from distance that the keeper had to push over the crossbar. But then all of that came to a crashing halt in the 89th minute as video review came in to check out a challenge by Reynoso on midfielder Szabolcs Schon deep on the right wing. Reynoso had stepped on Schon's ankle and after the review, the Argentine was shown a red card. In addition to scuppering almost any hope for three points against FC Dallas, the red card will also keep the midfielder from playing against Colorado next week - a key Western Conference matchup for which the Loons will already be shorthanded due to losing Michael Boxall, Robin Lod, Jukka Raitala and Romain Metanire to international callups.

With six minutes of stoppage time, the Loons had to batten down the hatches and hold off the home side. While Dallas got off some shots, the defense was up to the challenge and Jesus Ferreira's final curling shot went wide as time expired with the teams splitting the points.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Goalkeeper Tyler Miller

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Tyler Miller; D Chase Gasper, Bakaye Dibassy, Michael Boxall, Romain Metanire; M Wil Trapp, Osvaldo Alsono (c), Franco Fragapane, Emanuel Reynoso, Ethan Finlay; F Robin Lod

FC Dallas: GK Phelipe; D Jose Martinez, Ryan Hollingshead, Ema Twumasi, Matt Hedges (c); M Edwin Cerrillo, Jader Obrian, Jesus Ferreira, Brandon Servania, Paxton Pomykal; F Ricardo Pepi

UP NEXT

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. COLORADO RAPIDS

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minn.

10.10.21 | MLS Week No. 29 | MLS Game No. 28

3:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North+, The CW Twin Cities, MNUFC Radio on SKOR North)

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On not turning down a point on the road, but the feeling of needing three given the playoff positions ...

"No. I think we deserved three from the game. You know, we try and go for three every time. As I just said to the players, our second half performance probably deserved to win. We had enough opposites. Keeper has made three or four unbelievable saves. And, I was really pleased with the response of the players on the back of playing in D.C. on Wednesday. And I thought they put a really good shift in. I thought second half was more like us. That's when we were at our best."

On his side having trouble creating chances in the final third in the first half and what he saw ...

"Our final ball wasn't good enough at times. I thought we had too many people wanting to come to the ball. I think Romain [Metanire] got the ball no deeper than their 18-yard box. Nearly half a dozen times in the first half - and I kept looking at the box - we didn't have enough bodies there. Everybody is looking for the ball back and wants to join in. At times, you just got to cross it, get it in the danger area, and make people go and defend it. I didn't think we did enough of that in the first half. Second half, you know, we spoke about at halftime, can we get a few more bodies in the box, and, play the chances that we created."

On if he had a good view on Emanuel Reynoso's red card ...

"No. I'll have a look in a moment. We're just waiting for our videographer to come down, so I'll have a look at it then. Seemed harsh. Nobody else appealed for it. Certainly, heir bench didn't. Their players didn't. So, we'll see."

On if Emanuel Reynoso's red card would be the type of red card the club would challenge given Reynoso's importance to the team ...

"Well, we won't do it just for the sake of doing it. If we feel as though it's unnecessary and it's uncalled for, we'll appeal. But, if we don't, we won't. We've got a big game, but that really shouldn't effect what we say."

On if Tyler Miller is the team's best player again for him ...

"I think his save after about two minutes was outstanding. The rest of the things he's saved, from long range, he would expect to save them. A quality goalkeeper like him. I thought there were some really good performances. Certainly, in the second half as well."

On having one shot on goal in the first 45 minutes and what wasn't working for his side ...

"We got enough of the ball in the final third. We just didn't have enough quality in the final ball. Didn't have enough people to get in the box. At the end of the day, you've got to get people in the box. You gotta try and get people in the danger area and make people defend. I thought we made it too easy for them. We were trying to find the perfect goal. We couldn't get too much. It's all combination play around the 18-yard box without actually looking threatening.

in the second half I thought we were a little bit better and you see where the chances came from. They were a lot closer than as well."

On Fanendo Adi's performance ...

"Well, he's certainly getting fitter. He hadn't played in a long time. We've seen in training, he's getting more and more mobile. Getting himself around the pitch more. And he'll be better from a bit more time. We certainly are going to be needing him between now and the end of the season, so, the fitter he gets, the more he will contribute for sure."

On his take on Ryan Hollingshead's handball ...

"By the letter of the lord, it's a handball. I think if it was the other end, I'd be really disappointed. I don't know what the kid is supposed to do from a yard out when Boxy [Michael Boxall] clears his lines. But, it's the letter of the law. Something that I don't agree with. And, maybe, they'll feel aggrieved by that as well. But, you know, it's just the rules these days."

MNUFC GOALKEEPER TYLER MILLER

On what kind of donuts he will bring for the shutout...

"I wish I was bringing donuts for the victory. But the guys put in a tremendous effort tonight and I'll probably have to go back to the Columbia Heights Bakery because they are only open Tuesday through Saturday, so it's a tough one to get to.

On the goalkeeping from Phelipe...

"I think he did a tremendous job, he made some big time saves. He was able to keep his team in the game. It was definitely a tough game, they had their opportunities in the first half and early on and they were able to keep us under pressure and then we were able to flip it at halftime and put them under pressure, but he did well to keep his team in the game and give them an opportunity to go and grab three points.

On his big save in the first few minutes...

"To be honest I saw it a little bit late because it came from behind another player, I can't remember exactly who it was, but it was knuckling a little bit too and so thankfully I was honest and I was able to make a big time save in an important moment. Too many times we have started off slow and we have given up a goal early and those have been daggers and you don't need those, especially on the road. To be able to come up big for our team, but our team collectively came up really big. Made some really big plays, big tackles, big clearances all throughout the ninety minutes."

On needing three points tonight...

"I mean we were pushing for three, but sometimes that doesn't happen. Tonight we get a point on the road and we all know what's at stake. There are seven games left now and we have four at home and three away and so if we can continue to make Allianz Field a difficult place to play and when we go away from home we pick up a point then we are averaging two points a game. For us that will definitely put us in a positive position, a potentially competing for a home playoff game, and that's everyone's goal right now. We have another big game against a team that's right ahead of us, so if we can take three from them all of a sudden we are within striking distance, so we know that Colorado is going to be a difficult game and we have some guys missing and so do they. We are all looking forward to that game. I don't think anybody should be disappointed with just one point in Dallas because it's a very difficult place to play."

On the mindset going into Colorado game...

"It's next man up. It always has been this entire season. We have gone through so many ups and downs and you have seen guys step up when they have been called upon. We are going to have a few guys that wont be there that normally would but it doesn't matter. We all know what our team is about. It really comes down to the next man up being ready to perform and step up when you're needed. This might be the only time in the next couple of weeks when these guys are needed. This is a big opportunity for them to really stake their claim going into this playoff run."

On the red card call...

"I saw it from a distance so I don't know exactly what happened, but guys were talking about it and from our standpoint, we think Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] took a touch and then just happened to step on the guy and maybe it's a yellow card, but honestly everybody has to take a closer look and really see what happened before we can really judge. But we will see what happens."

Check out the Minnesota United FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from October 2, 2021


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