MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Lose 1-0 to Austin FC

Published on May 1, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota United came into their second home game of the season with several demons to exercise. First there was their season opening loss on the road to the Seattle Sounders and then there was their home opening loss to Real Salt Lake. Facing expansion side Austin FC, the Loons were hoping to make some adjustments and get their season on the right track. But finding themselves down after just 17 minutes, the home side could never bully their way into the game and fell once again at Allianz Field.

MNUFC came out with a slightly different look than the last game, with Ramon Abila healthy enough to start up top and Osvaldo Alonso joining Wil Trapp in the midfield pivot. Hassani Dotson got the nod once again at the left wing as he did against Seattle. Alonso's presence was felt immediately as he kept the middle of the park organized and Dotson as well provided quality out wide and especially down the stretch.

But early on, Minnesota couldn't grab hold of the game as Austin stayed organized and looked to slice open the Loons' defense whenever they committed too many men up the pitch. In the 17th minute, midfielder Jared Stroud found himself with acres of space down the wing. He bombed forward and sent in a perfectly weighted cross that was just out of defender Romain Metanire's reach but right on the foot of midfielder Diego Fagundez who finished it cleanly for a 1-0 lead.

Falling behind early took some of the wind out of the home side's sails and while they did their best to manufacture opportunities from the wings, it was all for naught. The energy ticked up late in the second half as 17-year-old Patrick Weah - the club's second homegrown signing - found his way onto the pitch in the 81st minute. He then very nearly scored with his first touch for MNUFC as fellow rookie Justin McMaster floated a short cross into the box and Weah dove in front of defender Jhohan Romana to send a hard shot right at goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

The moment seemed to energize the side, with Metanire sending in a beautiful low through ball to forward Foster Langsdorf minutes later that only went awry when Langsdorf's first touch let him down. An excellent save from Dayne St. Clair on Jon Gallagher and a fortunate bounce on a shot from Rodney Redes that found the post kept the game within reach through stoppage time, but Minnesota could not find the breakthrough. The Loons now find themselves pointless through three games for the first time in their MLS history.

BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Midfielder Hassani Dotson

GOAL BREAKDOWN

17' | Stroud attacks down the right wing and his service into the box is just out of Metanire's reach but on target for Fagundez. 1-0

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Chase Gasper, Jukka Raitala, Michael Boxall, Romain Metanire; M Ozzie Alonso (c), Wil Trapp, Emanuel Reynoso, Ethan Finlay, Hassani Dotson; F Ramon Abila

Austin FC: GK Brad Stuver; D Jhohan Romana, Matt Besler, Å1/2an Kolmanič, Nick Lima; M Tomas Pochettino, Alex Ring (c), Diego Fagundez, Jared Stroud; F Danny Hoesen, Cecilio Dominguez

UP NEXT

MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ COLORADO RAPIDS

Dick's Sporting Goods Park | Commerce City, Colorado

5.8.2021 | MLS Week No. 4 | MLS Game No. 4

7:00 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 the game opening up a little more in the attacking third and what changed that ...

"I think the biggest thing, I said after the game, we're certainly not controlling any part of the game for long enough periods. We certainly haven't had enough of a threat in the attacking third. And that's put everybody else under pressure in terms of, that one goal either way at the moment, is going to prove very costly for us. And, that proved again today. I can't put my finger on it, why we can't have as much control of the ball as we have in the past. That's something that we'll have to keep looking at and keep working hard and, hopefully, keep everybody fit and healthy, which will help us, and we'll get better."

On if there was anything left to try at the end of the game, more so than what he already threw out there ...

"Not really. We, obviously, sometimes you put the kids on and they just do something out of instinct. Patrick [Weah] came on and nearly nicked us a goal. I thought Justin McMaster showed some nice touches as well. But, you know, it's pretty evident that we've got a few people who obviously are not playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] has been struggling all week with his calf muscle. He was tight. So, all that showed again today. When you're playing with your so-called best players who are not playing at 100 percent, because, we need them people to give us that little bit of quality, that little bit of spark. We missed Robin Lod today. Putting the kids on in the end was just trying to do something different. See if it was a different look for their defenders. I thought one or two of them did okay when they came on."

On coming into this game 0-2, given the stakes why the team didn't come out in the second half with high energy ...

"Well when you're not playing with a lot of confidence, it's difficult. I can't fault the guys for their effort. I think they're trying. They want to do well. At the moment, we've got to catch a break somewhere, and we've got to play better. That's the bottom line. We've got to play better."

On if things seemed to stall out a little bit in the attacking third ...

"I don't think the front people - I don't know if they had a lot to work with - I don't think they created enough from our point of view. It's generally, we spoke about it just the last 10, 15 minutes, that's more like we play. Our fullbacks become a really important part of the game in the attacking third and then we keep recycling it, we get men in the box and, certainly, until the last 15, 20 minutes, I thought we were a little bit better second half. But, my overriding thoughts are that we haven't done enough to win this game."

On what he thoughts of Roman Abila's first start ...

"Well, it was difficult for him. As I said, we didn't give him an awful lot in the box because we didn't have enough sustained attacks in there. Obviously, he'll be better for having some minutes. But, at this moment in time going forward, we're certainly not what we have been and not what we'd like to be."

On Michael Boxall and Jukka Raitala's positioning on Austin's goal ...

"I'll have to see it again, really, to tell you exactly what I think. I think I said at halftime on the TV that they were trying to stretch the pitch and make use of their extra man, and they did. Very well. And, I don't think we've come to terms with it as much as we could have done. Second half, we took a few more chances and pushed men forward and we started to turn the ball over a little more in their half of the field. And, we needed a break and we didn't get one. But, in terms of the goal conceded, it's another thing we'll have to have a look at because it's one of them again that's gone across the 6-yard box and somebody has put it in the back of the net which is not ideal."

On who says something - himself, one of the players - when the squad sits at 0-3 in the league at this moment in time ...

"You look at the game and you analyze what you think you've done okay at and what we need to get better at. But, you know, as I said to the players, there's no magic wand for this, because if there was, we'd all have one. It's gonna take us working really hard on the training ground, getting a really good defensive shape and then hopefully catching a break in the attacking half. And I know that sounds really, really simple, but sometimes that's what it needs. And we need to go and get a clean sheet and hopefully we can get a goal and go from there."

On Jan Gregus starting on the bench ...

"Well, that's the job that the manager has to do. I have to pick the team that wants to win the game. I thought that Ozzie's [Alonso] experience would give us a little bit more in there. I actually thought Hassani [Dotson] was outstanding. I thought he was the best player on the field, to be honest. But, hey, it's not been a great night and we have to regroup. Which we will do next week and work hard and hopefully go and turn it around in Colorado."

MINNESOTA UNITED HASSANI DOTSON MIDFIELDER

On what's missing ...

"I think just for us you know... we're trying. The results would be different if we got the first goal. I think in the second half we brought a lot more energy and you could tell we were really close to equalizing and possibly winning the game."

On the way the game started ...

"Obviously like that's not the way we want to start the game. I think, maybe, they started in good shape and it took us a little bit to figure out how they're possessing from the back to the front. And like I said, I think second half we did a much better job just with overall energy and willingness to press."

On playing on the left side of the field...

"I'm still working to get better there each day. I think the main difference is the type of running. It's more high speed running. So, I'm just trying to get used to that. Like I've always said you know I just want to play and help the team win and be on the field. That's my most important objective."

On who speaks up in the locker room during challenging times...

"I mean I think we got a lot of personality here. We got a lot of veteran leadership. So I think so far it's coming from a lot of guys. From [Osvaldo Alonso], [Michael Boxall], Ethan [Finlay]. I think it's more like a team voice and I think everyone knows that the results aren't where we want them to be but we're also not too far away than standings say. So we're now trying to focus on our next game and hopefully we start to turn things around."

On shot opportunities (opportunities vs. bad luck) ...

"I mean yeah you see these types of games start to go either way. I mean if we don't concede in the first half, maybe we come out with a win. That's just kinda how the game goes sometimes. I think you know we're just missing just a little bit of sharpness, but like you said it's a little bit unlucky but we know we can do better, so we're not looking for any excuses."

On level of concern with current run of form...

"I mean I've said it before, we know we need to start to turn results around but it's a long season and we've got what, 31 games left, so I mean it's a long season ahead of us, but we know that we need to start getting results soon."

On the attention Emanuel Reynoso gets...

"I mean of course, when you're as creative as a player as he is I think it's knowing the other teams scouting . So, I think that's pretty normal. I think I answered your question but yeah."

On attacking and moving through midfield...

"I mean I just think overall we were a little bit static. I mean you can look at my movement as well. If I made a more decisive run when he got the ball I think they'd be able to find me. I think it's more of a team issue. I mean like we said earlier we came out a little flat and if we were to just pick up energy levels and play with more intensity like we did in the second half, I think we would've created a lot more chances in the first half."

On Justin McMaster and Patrick Weah's playing ...

"Yeah I mean since I came back from Tampa I think Justin is a really talented midfielder... winger. I watched a little bit of his clips back when I was in college. He's a good guy, and I think he's really good. Patrick is... has the physical attributes. He played well when he came on. I'm pleased with how they performed today and hopefully they keep working hard and keep getting better."

On the Olympic Qualifying tournament...

"Yeah I mean for me personally it's been pretty disappointing. You know the last couple of years we've been really close to winning titles and achieving some of my goals and team goals. But, I think the most important is how quickly you get back up and how quickly you can move on to the next, the next result, the next moment. So, I think that's more what I'm focused on, but the overall experience was wonderful to represent my country, and I'm pleased to have had the opportunity."

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