Sports stats



MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Lose to NYCFC 1-0

May 29, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- With the international break looming, Minnesota United came into Saturday night's game looking to end May on a high note. A win against the reigning MLS Cup champions would qualify as some beautiful noise to make before the break. That's not to say that setting the tone was going to be easy by any means.

The first half saw the squad come out looking agile and mobile on the pitch, showing the kind of passing accuracy that afforded the boys some looks at the opposing goalkeeper, if only a passing glance. New York's attack was equally active, trading runs with the Loons. That is, until the 29th minute, when NYCFC defender Alexander Callens' header from the center of the box to the top left corner came by way of a Santiago Rodríguez cross off a corner.

The Loons nearly had themselves a first half equalizer in the 35th minute when defender Brent Kallman's header from the center of the box hit the post. The latter part of the first half would end with aggressive back and forth between the squads, which ended up having the referees seeing yellow, especially for your boys in black and blue, with Wil Trapp, DJ Taylor and Joseph Rosales all getting a card for their troubles.

While his speed was definitely on display throughout the first half, Bongokuhle Hlongwane's ball control wasn't as sharp as it normally is, and also missed the mark on a couple of passes. Loons fans know how talented a young player Bongi is, but there's no doubt he needs to step up his play.

After the half, Coach Adrian Heath decided to make a like-for-like attacking sub, bringing in Luis Amarilla for Bongi at the start of the second half. Again, Minnesota's attack once again came out of the gates hot, making a series of runs with Amarilla, Reynoso and Lod in tow.

Unfortunately, Amarilla, at times just simply tried to do too much, holding the ball for a touch too long when facing an opportunity to put a shot on goal. Franco Fragapane had a quality look in the 67th minute that ultimately went wide left of the goal. In the 69th minute, Franco's night was over, as Heath sent in Adrien Hunou in to see if he could be the difference-maker for a Loons attack that had been starving for some scoring.

Unfortunately, as has been the case over the last few games, MNUFC just couldn't get one to go, with Reynoso, Lod and Amarilla each getting a shot on goal at the end of regulation, but none were to be, giving NYCFC the win.

While nobody would accuse the Loons of playing anything but hard in this game, they just couldn't hit that high note going into the international break. Here's hoping that post-break, the squad comes back to the pitch with answers to their scoring woes as they look toward the rest of the MLS regular season where that scoring will be crucial to the Loons success.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Defender Kemar Lawrence

ATTENDANCE: 19,695

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Dayne St. Clair; Kemar Lawrence, Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman, DJ Taylor; M Wil Trapp (c), Joseph Rosales, Franco Fragapane, Emanuel Reynoso, Bongokuhle Hlongwane; F Robin Lod

New York City FC: GK Sean Johnson; F Chris Gloster, Thiago Martins, Alexander Callens; M Alfredo Morales, Maxi Moralez, Santiago Rodriguez, Nicolas Acevedo, Keaton Parks, Valentin Castellanos; F Taller Magno

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Massachusetts

06.19,.2022 | MLS 2022 Regular Season | Week 15

7:00 pm CT (BSN/CW Twin Cities/1500 ESPN)

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

MNUFC HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On his assessment of the game versus New York City FC

"We had at first a couple of real good opportunities. I thought we started the game quite well and then as the game wore on in the first half, they started to get their spare man on the ball. They are, as I've said before, I said it to you yesterday, I think they're probably the best team in the MLS at this moment. When you have them opportunities against a team like this, you have to take them, especially when it's the first goal. Obviously, I knew it was going to be difficult once they got their goal, got out in front. I thought with the changes we made at halftime, we certainly made a different game of it and stopped them getting as much possession or as much controlled possession at least."

On the course of the game after chances come early in the game...

"It's, I've said it a million times and I'm sure most coaches will tell you, goals change games depending where they are. I thought we started quite lively, there's Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] or Fraga [Franco Fragapane] take them opportunities and then obviously Brent [Kallman] hits the crossbar with a header. They're all ifs and buts, I know, but they do make a difference against a quality team. We didn't think we'd have an awful lot of opportunities tonight, but we had three or four really good looks, the second half as well, three golden opportunities to get on the scoresheet."

On the formation shift and it's impact on the game...

"Well it changed the dynamic of the game because it stopped letting their two central midfield players get in on the ball and we managed to get closer to Maxi Moralez, who in the first half, was just popping up in them little spots, which he can, and then he influences the game. He influences the pace of the game because he's such a smart player so that helped us. We started to play more in their half and we started to get the ball switched and I thought that we would score. When I look back at the amount of opportunities we've had, then maybe that's the disappointment."

On NYCFC having six straight shutouts...

"They're a good team, that's what I've said to you. It's a very difficult team to play against because they way they've set up, they've got really good players in key positions. They've got some really good technicians, they've got some pace. There are some real brains in the middle of the park with Maxi Moralez. They've got likes of [Talles] Magno, Santiago Rodriguez, [Valentin] Castellanos, who will probably go on from here and go to Europe to play for some big clubs. They're quality young players."

On NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson...

"He's come up big with some saves when he's had to. I think the disappointment would be, the opportunities we had were golden opportunities and we should score."

On the possibility of lingering effects from Wednesday's match...

"Not really, no, I don't. No, I think it's a different team and half the team was new. Wednesday obviously doesn't help. It turned the mood within the group and the mood within the camp but no I don't think that had a lasting effect. We've got three weeks now to sort of evaluate where we think we are, what we need to do. Do we need to do anything when this window opens? I think there's going to have to be some tough decisions made, for sure."

On the tough decisions that may be made in the future...

"We have a couple of spots open on the roster, with Hassani [Dotson] going down now, that's opened one up. And with Chase [Gasper] leaving. We've got an opportunity to freshen things up if we want to and we've got some big decisions to make."

On the timing of the upcoming break...

"No, no, no it's a great time for a break. We've been running on empty for a couple of weeks now, a lot of tired bodies, as most of the players will be. It gives us a chance to regroup and refocus maybe. That will help us as a coaching staff sit down and decide what we think is going to be best moving forward. We've had a difficult start to the season with the teams that we've played but there's still a long, long way to go in this league."

On the time off given to the players...

"Well most of them will be off from Wednesday."

On the possibility of some players struggling...

"It's never ever, as a striker, it's never easy when you're making opportunities and you're not scoring and people talk about it all the time. It does play on your mind. We've all been there. They guys are trying and we'll give them the opportunity to break out of this little slump that we're in in front of goal."

On his aspiration to finish top 4 and if it is still a possibility...

"There's still an awful lot of games to go. If anybody puts, the way the league is, if anybody puts three or four results together, the league looks an awful lot different. We have to make sure that we're capable of doing that. We'll have a good meeting with the staff and reassess and see where we are and what we need to do to maybe help the group."

GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR

On his initial thoughts following the game...

"It's a tough one, conceding off a set piece and I think they never really had any real clear cut chances. So to concede off a set piece and lose one nil. Especially with the chances we had early on in the game. It's a difficult one to swallow. Fortunately enough we have this little break coming up so guys are gonna be able to regroup and then come again to start the second half of the season strong."

On finishing strong the rest of the season...

"I think we know that we haven't been playing as good as we can, especially attacking wise. I think just moving towards that and being in the offensive end will help us moving forward."

On getting a hand on that first goal...

"I thought it was close. With this pitch, it's really fast so any ball that goes in the ground almost picks up speed a lot of times. I tried to get a hand to it, but from that distance it's real tough from where he put it."

On whether it's a good time for a break...

"I'm playing well but I'm not getting a break. I'm going to the national team and to be playing well going into that is beneficial for me with the World Cup coming up, being in that environment and trying to solidify my spot in that roster. I think it's a good break for a team with a long amount of games that we've had in the last few days. I think we've played eight games in twenty one days. The guys need a rest and the past few games haven't been going well so this will be a nice mental reset, and for me going to the national team is always beneficial for me as well."

On NYCFC getting six straight shutouts...

"They are a good team, you saw that we had some opportunities to score that we didn't capitalize on. They're top in the east for a reason and they're the MLS champions for a reason."

On NYCFC sustaining possession for portions of the game...

"We know that they're a possession based team and going into it that they want to play out of everything. We thought that might be something that we could capitalize if we picked up the ball in the offensive end and I think we had that a few times and unfortunately we weren't able to capitalize on those chances. Going into the game the defenders, we knew they were a good attacking team, good possession based team and we knew we were going to have to defend."

On having two chances early in the game...

"I think it can go one of two ways, where you're saying alright there's gonna be one coming and then there's the other thing of frustration a little bit. I think the past few games frustration set in but on a different day maybe one of those goes in or we keep pushing and it gives us the confidence to go again."

On bouncing back from the loss on Wednesday...

"I think it's more so schedule congestion. If you looked at today, guys are exhausted. We've played eight games in twenty one days. That's definitely probably one of the toughest wins on our schedule, going into Dallas and getting a result away from home that was a huge result for us. Winning away in this league isn't always the easiest thing, especially when you go to a place like Dallas who's unbeaten at home on the season. That game took a lot out of us because we defended a lot in that game as well. Just going forward, I think this is a long awaited break for us. Looking forward to mentally reset, get the bodies going and then push forward to the next two-thirds of the season."

On getting the opportunity to play games with Canada this upcoming window...

"I've talked to the goalie coach a little bit. We decided that it would be best to talk when I first got to camp with how busy our schedule is because we've basically had no break here. Personally I too want to focus on the games that are at hand because I know I need to perform well. Especially with the team not doing well, I want to play my part and get some points for this team."

On having more to prove...

"Of course I think every day is an opportunity for me to prove myself not only within this league but without. Pushing for things and the World Cup a lot could happen six months from now. I think just getting that consistency is important for me."

MIDFIELDER WIL TRAPP

On his thoughts of the match...

"It seems to be a trend for this week. We start fast, right? The first three minutes, four minutes, it was like an onslaught. They made some good saves. Probably should have hit the target on a couple of them. Really, I mean, they had a couple of half chances, but not much other than the [Alexander Callens] goal. So, I think it's a little frustrating for us in that sense where we concede on something that we know they're good at, which is set pieces. Then the rest of the game we're fighting. I think the second half change of shape really helped us press the ball better and create opportunities."

On not converting the early chances...

"It's part of the game, right? You can say it's frustrating, you can say we lose confidence, but at the end of the day I think we just need to continue to try to get shots on target. Make their goalkeeper, Sean [Johnson] had a great game, made some good saves, but continuing to test him and eventually those start to go in. But if you never hit the target, it's difficult."

On the long stretch of defending before the conceded goal...

"We know that they're a good team. The best parts of their team is keeping possession and pulling you out of shape, so we knew that was going to be a part of it at some point. Like I just said, we didn't concede anything through the run of play, it was the set piece, which I think is frustrating."

On how the change of shape aided the team...

"I think it just allowed us to match up more. Picking up free players in the midfield in the first half and then come the second half it was Robin [Lod] was on somebody, Joseph [Rosales] was on somebody, I was on somebody and that just really helped us kind of win the ball and then play forward."

On NYCFC recording six-straight clean sheets...

"It takes a lot of things. It takes a collective attitude. It takes a lot of great defending, goalkeepers making saves and then ultimately it's a mentality of just not giving up anything. It's something that we should look at. Look ourselves in the mirror and understand that that's something we can inspire to go on."

On taking a look at the season big picture wise...

"We know that in this league you win two or three games in a row and things change pretty quick. We would have liked to have, obviously last week against Dallas a win ,and then stepping into this break with another win. That didn't happen, so we can rest up and get guys healthy. Get guys back who've been suspended and be ready to kickoff as we go into a busy June."

On what he said to the team pregame...

"Really what I was saying is this team wants a pleasant soccer game for themselves and for us it's not allowing that. I think, again, we started brightly and it's just carrying that for 95 minutes."

On if the team is in need of a break...

"I don't know if we needed it, but we got one. Guys are excited to go with the national team. There's obviously a lot of other things going on with Dayne [St. Clair] potentially going to the World Cup and those sorts of things. I think for guys it's nice to get a little bit of a break, but we'd be feeling better if we'd won the game."

On how much his ribs are bothering him...

"The rib's not displaced so we can just roll with it. It was a risk, of course, but thankfully nothing happened. It happened in the Dallas game. There's a little crack in there. I'm a hockey player now, you know it's going tough. There's a little bit of risk there, but I think we were a little shorthanded tonight and that's just part of the game."

Check out the Minnesota United FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from May 29, 2022


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