MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Gets First Win, First"Wonderwall" at Allianz Field

Published on April 28, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - In their third time of asking, the Loons at last got the home win they were craving so badly after a pair of draws to NYCFC and the LA Galaxy. Facing a D.C. United squad that sat atop the Eastern Conference, Minnesota United ran out a similar lineup to the last game - a goalless draw - and the home side once again held strong at the back but this time managed a goal in the game's final 10 minutes to give them a 1-0 clean sheet win at Allianz Field after a tight game that saw both teams vying for the go-ahead goal.

"I thought we deserved it with our second half performance," said Head Coach Adrian Heath. "I thought we were outstanding in the second half. We spoke about it at halftime. Can we get further up the pitch? Can we start being a little more positive? Can we get people closer to people? Can we get them out of their comfort zone? And we did, and we got our rewards for it. I'm really proud of the players. Three games in nine days is never easy. I thought we should have took something out of Toronto. I thought we were the better team against LA. And today, certainly in the second half, I think we did enough to win the game."

Minnesota began the game on the front foot, earning a corner kick in the first minute and a second one in the second. Unfortunately, midfielder Jan Gregus couldn't make much of either opportunity, perhaps due to some issues with the turf in the corners that were giving players trouble with their plant foot.

"feel for the groundsman, because he had three feet of snow on it for three months," said Heath. "It hasn't been easy for him. But, it is cutting up a little bit more than we expected. So we'll see what we can do to help him and help the grass."

The first 15 minutes of the game saw Minnesota working the ball back and forth a bit more. So far in the season, the team has found a lot more success down the right side and through the linkups between fullback Romain Metanire and the player ahead of him on the wing, whether it's been Ethan Finlay, Abu Danladi or Miguel Ibarra. But the 4-3-3 formation seemed to give the team a little more balance through the middle, allowing a more balanced buildup.

"He's been outstanding, hasn't he?" said Heath about Metanire. "And I think the back four defended the goal really well again today. I thought the defensive partnership in the middle was very good. Romain [Metanire] gives us that, that little dimension going forward. If there's a better right back in the league, I'm not seeing him at the minute."

For their part, D.C. United conceded possession a bit, but still managed to earn some opportunities early, especially from set pieces. In the 17th minute, Gregus tackled Lucas Rodriguez about 30 yards from goal straight out, giving forward Wayne Rooney an opportunity from a dangerous spot for him, but the MNUFC wall stood tall and blocked Rooney's direct attempt.

In the 21st minute, it looked like D.C. had opened the scoring. The visitors earned a corner kick on the right side that Rooney sent curling in, only to be cleared to the edge of the box. Rodriguez rushed onto it and fired a shot that goalkeeper Vito Mannone made a terrific save on. But Rooney would send it in again off the rebound on the right side and defender Donovan Pines skied over the Loons' defense to head it in. Moments later, though, a video review was called for and it was found that Frederic Brillant was holding down Mannone's arm on the header and the call was reversed, leaving the game deadlocked at 0-0.

Down the stretch of the first half, neither team could firmly take command of the game. Each team displayed capability in possession but both found the final ball wanting. Minnesota's early advantage in possession evaporated in the final five to 10 minutes of the half and D.C. seemed to build momentum through a series of corner kicks, but the teams would head to the locker room with nothing to show for it in a goalless draw.

After only two shots in the first half and none on target, something was going to have to give way for Minnesota if the team was going to eke out a win. Forward Darwin Quintero had gone down hard toward the end of the first half near the endline and six minutes into the second half, he couldn't go any further. Miguel Ibarra was brought in in the 51st minute and it gave the team a shot of energy on the left side. Ibarra immediately got to work, cutting the ball hard inside to open up some opportunities for fullback Eric Miller to get forward and send balls into the box.

"I thought we got everybody higher up the field," said Heath about the halftime adjustments. "I thought our energy levels were a bit better. Sometimes just being behind the ball is not enough. You have to put people under pressure. And I thought we did that a lot more. In the second half, I thought our fullbacks picked the moments to go out to their wide guys a lot better, and that took everybody else further up the field. We got the crowd in the game."

Although the attack began to loosen up a bit, forward Angelo Rodriguez struggled to exert his will on the game in his usual way, through hold-up play. 19-year-old defender Donovan Pines managed to keep him from receiving the ball cleanly in order to create opportunities for other players following the play, so the team adjusted its approach just a bit, and it was enough.

In the 82nd minute, fullback Romain Metanire sent an early cross in on the near post from the right side, catching Rodriguez in full stride toward the goal instead of with his back to it. Rodriguez redirected the ball onto the far post with a deft touch and past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Bill Hamid to give the Loons a 1-0 lead with time winding down.

Over the final eight minutes and stoppage time, Minnesota United had to withstand a suddenly energized D.C. United attack, but the home side were up to it, often winning possession and keeping it with smart ball movement for stretches as the visitors tried time and again to get a ball on frame. Their best opportunity likely came on a corner kick, but Rooney curved the ball harmlessly into the top of the net and time expired shortly after, giving MNUFC its first home win at Allianz Field and first chance to sing "Wonderwall."

"I'm pleased for everybody," said Heath. "I'm pleased for ownership. I'm pleased for the supporters. I'm pleased for the players. You know, yesterday, that's all Fox wanted to talk about. When will we hear 'Wonderwall'? Which is nice. It's out of the way now. We can start concentrating and getting our mind on Seattle. Because if we go and pick three more points up there, and that will make the table look even more healthier than it is at the moment."

Minnesota United's next game is Saturday, May 4 against the visiting Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field. That game kicks off 7:00 p.m. CT with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports North, streaming on FOX Sports GO and on MNUFC Radio on SKOR North.

Lineups

Minnesota United FC Starting XI: GK Vito Mannone; D Romain Metanire, Ike Opara, Brent Kallman, Eric Miller; M Jan Gregus, Osvaldo Alonso, Abu Danladi (Hassani Dotson 85'), Rasmus Schuller, Darwin Quintero (Miguel Ibarra 51'); F Angelo Rodriguez (Ethan Finlay 90')

MIN Unused Subs: GK Bobby Shuttleworth; D Boxall; M Kevin Molino, Romario Ibarra

D.C. United Starting XI: GK Bill Hamid; D Donovan Pines, Frederic Brillant (Quincy Amarikwa 85'), Steven Birnbaum; M Chris Durkin, Junior Moreno, Leonardo Jara (Ulises Segura HT), Lucas Rodriguez (Zoltan Stieber 78'); F Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola, Wayne Rooney

DC Unused Subs: GK Chris Seitz; D Akeem Ward, Jalen Robinson

Game Events

Goals

82' - Rodriguez (Metanire) - MIN

Discipline

19' - Metanire (YC) - MIN

45' - Birnbaum (YC) - DC

Attendance: 19,620

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTES SHEET

MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the third time being the charm at Allianz Field for a victory ...

I thought we deserved it with our second half performance. I thought we were outstanding in the second half. You know, we spoke about it at halftime. Can we get further up the pitch? Can we start being a little more positive? Can we get people closer to people? Can we get them out of their comfort zone? And we did, and we got our rewards for it. I'm really proud of the players. You know, three games in nine games is never easy. I thought we should have took something out of Toronto. I thought we were the better team against LA. And today, certainly in the second half, I think we did enough to win the game.

On what changed in the second half ...

Well, we spoke about it at halftime, about getting on the front foot and not allowing them to dictate the pace and the tempo of the game. I thought we got everybody higher up the field. I thought our energy levels were a bit better. Sometimes just being behind the ball is not enough. You have to put people under pressure. And I thought we did that a lot more. In the second half, I thought our fullbacks picked the moments to go out to their wide guys a lot better, and that took everybody else further up the field. In the first half, I looked over about five or six times, and Abu [Danladi] is standing next to their highest player and Romain [Metanire] has got nobody. In second half, we changed that. We got about them a bit. We got the crowd in the game. And I thought the best team won on the day.

On Miguel Ibarra's impact ...

I thought Miggy [Ibarra] was great when he came on. I thought he gave us energy and he gave us some enthusiasm. Obviously, you know, it's never easy leaving somebody like him out. But, he's certainly, he actually gave us something different than we had on the field beforehand. Obviously, another clean sheet, which will please all of you no doubt. That will stop you writing about it again this week, so that's good. I don't have to listen to it all week, so that's good. And then, obviously, three points.

On if his mind ever started to wonder, what if it is another draw ...

No. I was more - I've said this to you a lot - I'm more concerned with the performance than the attitude of the group. If the performance is good, the attitude is good, we do what's asked of the players, I'll always take the result if we do what we can.

On the health status of Darwin Quintero ...

We don't know. He's in a lot of pain at the moment, so we'll see.

On the status of Francisco Calvo, and him being out of the 18 today ...

No, I just felt, obviously his disappointment in not playing, and didn't want any negativity about the group today. He's obviously disappointing, and I thought it would be better if we left him out altogether today.

On if Romain Metanire has been his most consistent player all season ...

He's been outstanding, hasn't he? And I think the back four defended the goal really well again today. I thought the defensive partnership in the middle was very good. Romain [Metanire] gives us that, that little dimension going forward. If there's a better right back in the league, I'm seeing him in a minute.

On what hearing Wonderwall start for the first time at Allianz Field meant to him personally ...

Well, I'm pleased for everybody. I'm pleased for ownership. I'm pleased for the supporters. I'm pleased for the players. You know, I've been doing this a long time. It was obviously a relief for everybody. You know, yesterday, that's all Fox wanted to talk about. When will we hear Wonderwall? Which is nice. It's out of the way now. We can start concentrating and getting our mind on Seattle. Because if we go and pick three more points up there, and that will make the table look even more healthier than it is at the moment.

On if he got any clarification on any of the VAR calls ...

No. I didn't. No doubt I'll have a look at it and see where we are with that. But, somebody said that they yelled Vito [Manonne] down for the goal. So, I don't know.

On if he got what he wanted out of keep the backline in tact ...

Clean sheet. I've said before, if we keep clean sheets, we'll win games. Because, we'll score goals. And even though it took one, which wasn't the greatest goal in the world. But one will be enough. Clean sheet.

On any thoughts on the field today ...

Well, it's a little bit of a concern at the moment. I feel for the groundsman, because he had three feet of snow on it for like, three months. So, it hasn't been easy for him. But, it is cutting up a little bit more than we expected. So, we'll see what we can do to help him and help the grass.

On if he's getting enough off your corner opportunities ...

It's strange, because, was it the other night I said the set pieces were really good this season? And then they're awful again today. But, I spoke to Wayne at halftime, Wayne Rooney, and he, you know, he was really dissapointed because them areas outside the box, I was thinking, this is going to be a problem, but I don't think it's easy for people with their footing, when they put their standing foot down. So, as I say, it's something that we'll have to try and address.

FORWARD ANGELO RODRIGUEZ

On goal and first win at Allianz Field...

[Spanish] "Creo que era importante ganar hoy de local por lo que veníamos demostrando. Bueno creo que vamos sumando y creo que este equipo esta para cosas grandes. Una palabra que yo tengo es ir paso a paso, ya ganamos a DC esperamos el próximo rival."

"I think it was very important to win at home today for how we have been playing. I think we will continue improving, this team is special. I always say it's step by step, today we beat DC, now we wait for our next opponent."

On touch for the goal...

[Spanish] "Como delantero siempre hay que decir que si pero lo medio toque pero igual, suma para ganar y bueno sea gol de Romain o mío sirvió para los tres puntos."

"As a forward I'm always going to say yes... but I kind of touched it. It doesn't matter if it was Romain's or my goal, what matters is the win and the three points."

On offensive changes from first half to second half...

[Spanish] "Quisimos hacer lo mismo a la primera mitad, pero vimos un grupo seguro, En el segundo tiempo supimos abrir los costados con Abu y Miguel, cuando entro, y ya me toco jugar mano a mano con el central. Creo que ahí empezamos buscar espacios y tuvimos el agresión y bueno gracias a dios se nos dio gol."

"We wanted to do the same from the first half but we came up against a solid defense. In the second half we knew how to open up the wings with Abu and Miguel when he came on which finally gave me the chance to play one on one with their center back. From there we started to find space, we had aggression and thankfully we got the goal."

On supporters singing Wonderwall...

[Spanish] "Bonita, espectacular. Hasta mis hijos la disfrutaron, la verdad estamos muy contentos con la victoria."

"It was beautiful. My kids enjoyed it and honestly we were so happy with the win."

On what's missing to continue this winning form...

[Spanish] "Bueno creo que empatamos con dos equipos que parecen ser unos de los mejores de la MLS. El primero íbamos adelante y nos empataron. Contra Los Ángeles, todos conocen a Los Ángeles... hubo un partido que donde generábamos muchas opciones y no concretamos, en el otro partido lo metíamos y nos hacían gol. Creo que necesitamos ese compacto de estar bien parado atrás y adelante estar efectivos."

"We tied with two teams that appear to be some of the better teams in MLS. The first game we went ahead and they tied up immediately. Against Los Angeles, well everyone knows LA... Against We generated many options and we didn't connect well enough. In the other game (NYCFC) we would score and then they would score. I think we need to keep improving and connecting well both in the back and up front to stay effective."

On left leg injury in final minutes of the game...

[Spanish] "Un golpe como de todos los partidos, no me pasa nada. Estoy bien."

"Regular hit from games. It's nothing and I'm fine."

DEFENDER IKE OPARA

On what impressed him about today's defensive performance ...

You know, being short rest, with a week, I think the effort was there. There was always going to be a little leggy. With the quick turnaround, and the guys really were concentrated through that 90 minutes to really not concede anything, and give them any really good opportunities. And that starts with everyone on the field. The dedication to that side of the ball has been great for us the last two games. And like this past Wednesday, it's got to be continued, it's got to be the standard. We need to expect that each and every game.

On if he was able to build off the backline, and keep it in tact ...

Again, you know, I think it's stressed. We've been really focusing on that. Especially the guys who have been playing. We're setting the tone. It helps set the tone for our whole team when we get that side of the ball right. It's just nice that everyone is dedicated to, and staying disciplined throughout the entire 90 minutes.

On spending more time in the attacking third in the second half ...

A lot of things, but I think the most important is that we were simple. We weren't trying to hit the killer ball every time that we won it, because that just turns into a track meet. And, D.C. has good players when they get the ball under control, they've got the movement, they've got talented players. It was difficult for us. We simplified it in the second half, we worked from side to side, we were patient. And that was credit to Adrian [Heath] and the staff, and what we needed to do.

On if there was ever a thought of what if we draw for a third time ...

I can't speak for everyone. It only crossed my mind for a split second. But, you know, I think, especially if you keep shutouts, you give yourself a good chance to win every game. And, at some point, you find a goal, and that's how it was tonight. I was staying optimistic throughout, and luckily that happened.

On his first experience of Wonderwall at Allianz Field...

Ugh, unfortunately, Fox took me away. Fox took me away from it halfway, so I didn't even get to experience the full. But, it was great. From what I saw, and it was loud. When I was on the road, on the visiting team, I got to witness it and I was like, this is pretty cool. Now I'm on this side. It's great to really be a part of it. It's special.

On if being pulled away from Wonderwall tonight gives him more time to memorize the lyrics...

Ah, yeah. Apparently, I'm an Oasis fan now. I never would have thought that.

MIDFIELDER MIGUEL IBARRA

On what it felt like to hear Wonderwall in this stadium...

"I mean, it was amazing. I think we've been trying to look forward to this day, to hear the fans and the whole stadium sing Wonderwall. We're lucky to able able to get the win today with the team's performance, and I'm just really happy with the team's performance. We kept a clean sheet again, which is our objective."

On if he expected to be put in at halftime...

"Well I had already started warming up first half, so I knew there was something bothering Darwin [Quintero], so they just kept telling me to make sure to keep warm just in case he needs to pull out. So right when it was the second half, they told me to get going because it looked like I was going to go in."

On if it's difficult to balance wanting to play a full game and making sure not to rush returning from injury...

"Yeah definitely. I think that there's no reason for me to rush it. I've had this injury before, so making sure I'm patient with it, getting minutes little by little, and so far it's been feeling really well. I'm happy with them, and I told them I'm happy with the decision. The team's playing really well, so it's just about pushing the people that are in front of us."

On if he thought he had a goal on his left-footed shot...

"I definitely think I had a chance to score twice with the left. Unfortunately, I didn't get it. One of them they made a good save, and the second one hit the defender, so I'm just looking forward to making sure I score it next time."

On what he was told by the manager before entering the game...

"He just told me make sure I go out there, he has all the confidence in me, so make sure I go out there in confidence and go out there with energy, because that's what the team needed. So I made sure I went out there and put in a shift so I can help the team."

On if he felt like he helped increase the team's energy upon entering the game...

"Yeah definitely. The players and coaches told me that once I went in, I changed the game, so that was my goal, to go in and make sure I was able to put in what Darwin [Quintero] was doing or even better, so I'm glad I was able to do that."

On if he saw how much of a touch Angelo [Roriguez] got on the goal...

"Uh, no. Messing around I told him that he didn't touch it, he said he did."

On what he felt at the end of the game...

"It was amazing just hearing the whole stadium sing Wonderwall. Like I said, we were looking forward to it, so I'm sure everybody had a great time with it."

GOALKEEPER VITO MANNONE

On his second clean sheet at home, and how it feels ...

It feels great. Hopefully more to come. To be honest, it's what we work for. I think the whole team does. Defending, you know, it's most important thing when you start a game. Don't concede and don't give chances to the opponent. Especially at home. It's a great base for us to go and win games. If we done it against the first in the league, and we done it against LA. We can do it against anybody. It's up to us to deliver, and have high standards.

On the goal that was overturned by VAR, and what he voiced to the referee ...

I couldn't jump. Basically, I jumped and the one guy completely focused on me. And the other one was free to make the header. It's not even, I don't think it's the guy that made the header, but somebody else who was focusing on stopping me.

On if the player had his arm up during the overturned call ...

Yeah. Fell in my face. I just turned around and I couldn't jump off. And it was straight after an action, and it was a quick one because I made a save, got up and I had to go for the cross. There's so many bodies in the box when these things happen, but the ref said straight away, I'm going to check it, because he wasn't sure.

On if he has faith in the VAR reviews, or if it's a flip of the coin ...

Yeah. I was pretty sure. I said to the ref, go and check it. Because I'm being fouled and I couldn't jump off, that is not a 50/50 where you go up for the header and you lose the challenge. Somebody in the box did that, so obviously I thought it was a foul.

On what a bummer it would have been if his save before the recalled goal would have gone to waste if the goal was deemed good ...

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, it's football. I had to make the save, otherwise it was 1-nil down. So, thankfully I could make it and the boys after that were terrific, and defending fantastically.

On what he liked about the defending the team did on set pieces today ...

We staggered them a lot. I thought we got ready for it. I wish there were less fouls outside the box, because that's what we kept saying before the game. Limit the free kicks, because Wayne [Rooney] has got a magnificent delivery. Not today. Thankfully, he was okay, but it was how good we were in terms of positioning and winning those headers. I thought every one of us digged deep to defend the free kicks from everywhere outside the box.

On how Wayne Rooney's game has changed since he last played against him in England ...

Not much, to be honest. He keeps himself very fit. You always see, he's got something special about him, and great talent. You can find a game changer. And today he tried a few of his class touches. So, it's good we maintained this shutout against a top striker, but against a tough side in general because they've got all these small guys with technique, and they put you under pressure. I thought our shape was incredible, and we limited the chances, as we've done against LA, but LA was a different animal. Today was more technical and sharp players around the box. [Luciano] Acosta and [Paul] Arriola, you know, it's good players, there's a lot of good players, and I thought, to beat them at home, it's great to give the three points to these amazing fans and sing the Wonderwall.

On his first experience of Wonderwall at Allianz Field ...

Fantastic. We waited for a long time. We work hard during the week for it. I thought our mentality has to be the same every time we step out here, because we need to grind wins, as we did today. First of all is defending our way, and then you see where we created more chances in the second half and we really wanted that. I thought we done better chances at the goal, but if it's going in, it's going in. And you deserve your luck by working hard.

On if the Red Bull can sitting behind him is the secret to his success ...

Yeah, well, it's the secret of somebody, a few of the boys. Especially today, when it's 12:30 [p.m. you need one of them, because you need to get going. It's not like a 3:00 [p.m.] or 7:00 [p.m.].

MIDFIELDER OSVALDO ALONSO

On not allowing a goal in the last two games...

"You know when you have a clean sheet you have a chance to win, I think we proved that today. We scored a goal and we won the game, so very proud for the effort and very proud for the win."

On wearing the captain armband...

"I think it's not different, I think its only the band on the arm but I think the way the team performed very well today and that's a very important thing and I'm very happy."

On defense development and growth...

"You can see, we didn't allow a single goal in the last two games, I think we are improving and to work like that every game. If we play like that every game we have a good chance to win and that the goal to keep the clean sheet in the back and try to score."

On three man midfield dynamic...

"It was good, at the beginning we were kind of lost but I think in the second half we played better and we pushed and we did it. "

DC UNITED QUOTE SHEET

D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN

On VAR decision....

"I haven't seen it. They made the call and we have to live with it. Tremendous effort from us but it caught up to us a little bit but a lot of games coming up, we gave what we could but we fell a little short there."

On condition of the playing field...

"All teams have to deal with that. I think once Quintero came off, I think he [Miguel Ibarra] gave them a little bit of dynamic that caused us some trouble. Obviously they can raise their energy, we held on and there was some good stuff, we weren't threatening enough in the second half but credit to them. I think the home field really helped them out in the second the half their energy increased and ours stayed the same, again I blame part of that to some tired legs. We'll regroup, get a day off here and get ready for our home game next weekend."

On Jara substitution at half time...

"He felt a little groin early but he just couldn't do what he needed to do out there. Ulises came on did fine but I think he'll be okay sooner than later but we'll have to check the significance of that injury is."

On Donovan Pines passion and enthusiasm...

"It would've been great for him to be rewarded with a goal, didn't see it [the call], overall it was a really good game for him. But there are some learning moments out for a guy with that much season, that much size that really likes the physicality. Tonight I thought he held up pretty well against one of the most physically imposing forwards in the league but it's a good game to go through with him on film and show which times he needs to not come hind side. He's athletic enough and he comes away with some bad habits at times but its part of the process and him growing. Give them [MNUFC] tonight for finding the way at home to make the difference."

On Lucho barking at players to step up...

"Not really, not if it isn't an issue afterwards. Things like that happen."

STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY

On if he felt it was a game DC could/should have taken something from...

"Three points I think. I feel that we, after games, need to learn from some of our performances, and today we didn't learn. In the game, the second half seems to be a mental thing where we come out and we're hanging on, and although, as I said last game, we showed great resilience today, I thought there was space to play and I think we lost it a bit too much at times. I think everyone watching the game could see the goal coming and could see how the goal was going to come, from a cross from their fullback. It was coming for 15, 20 minutes, and I think we deserved to concede it because we didn't learn and we didn't close the space."

On what his take is on the disallowed DC goal...

"I haven't seen it back. From where I was, it looked fine, but the referee said that Fred [Frederic Brillant] grabbed the goalkeeper's arm. From where I was it looked fine, but I just haven't seen it. That's the issue now. You have VAR now, and you're banking on the referee's decision when he watches it, and what he feels is a big contact or a small contact."

On how he felt about the field...

"I think it is what it is. I'm not going to make excuses about the field. We knew it weren't great before the game, and we had the chance to warm up obviously before the game, so we have to try to adapt. Of course it didn't play great but it's no excuses for the result."

On if he feels that the team has had an issue with getting chances in the open field of play as opposed to their success on set pieces...

"Yeah of course. I think we do well on set pieces, but we're not creating enough chances. I think that's partly because, well a lot because the second half of games we're letting teams almost get the ball to the edge of our box and get crosses into the box, and we're relying too much on someone to defend and clear the ball. It's something of course that we have to address, and we will address that and try to get that right."

DEFENDER DONOVAN PINES

On how he felt about scoring and then finding out it was called back...

"Yeah I was pretty ecstatic and really happy that I scored. I don't know how they called it back, I didn't look at the replay in time. It was kind of unfortunate, but that's the game, so we just kept playing."

On what goes through his mind while waiting to find out if his goal would stand...

"Just please don't call it back, please don't call it back. I thought I deserved that goal, I thought I timed it right, perfect header that lofted in, and they called it back, and I was like, wow. It's unfortunate, but you know just keep playing and then they got another goal."

On if he felt it was a good defensive performance today despite the goal at the end...

"Of course, it's a tough atmosphere to play at, great crowd, great fans, it's an incredible atmosphere. We just really dug deep and played really hard. Defensively we were defending for most of the game, I thought we could dig out at least a point, but I think they got lucky in that last play. They crossed it in, it skipped right through both [Lucas] Rodriguez and my legs, and it's unfortunate how that happened. It's okay, we'll move on and just get another point next Sunday."

On if he looks back at the Minnesota goal and thinks of things he should have done differently...

"As a defender, I always try to make sure that I cut off both angles of the goal, which I was pretty close to doing, and to make sure that if he trapped it I would have a body on him so he would go backwards, but it was unfortunate that the ball just went through both of us. I don't think he did that on purpose, but I think it was just kind of fortunate for him, unfortunate for me, and just an unfortunate scenario all over."

DEFENDER FEDERIC BRILLANT

On result of match

"Yeah, especially in the second half and the transition was not good enough as well, again we concede a goal so yeah disappointed. It's a tough place to play. We have another game to play, we have to keep our head up and we can keep going."

On defense tonight

"They didn't have to many chances to score but we conceded. We work together one week and play two tough games, we were ready to compete and doing something well. And yeah we lost. I think we have to keep going, keep the head up and look forward to the next game."

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 28, 2019


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