MLS Minnesota United FC

MNUFC Secure First Win of 2022 with a 1-0 Victory at Red Bull Arena

Published on March 13, 2022 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


HARRISON, New Jersey -- Mounting injuries and illness forced Minnesota United FC and head coach Adrian Heath to play a different lineup in a third consecutive match, this time facing off against the high-powered New York Red Bulls, a feisty crowd, and a dash of New Jersey snow in the 2022 home opener at Red Bull Arena.

Both Bakaye Dibassy (ankle) and Oniel Fisher (thigh) were absent from the MNUFC backline after playing all 180 minutes of the club's first two matches. DJ Taylor got his first start of the season at right back, while Hassani Dotson dropped back to the left back position after spending the previous two matches in the midfield. Goalkeeper Tyler Miller came down with the flu and wasn't well enough to play, so backup Dayne St. Clair started in net for the Loons. Honduran International Kervin Arriaga returned to the midfield after missing the home opener with an injured thorax and started alongside captain Wil Trapp.

St. Clair needs to be the first player mentioned, as the backup keep for Minnesota made his mark on the game in the early-going and played brilliantly all night. Seeking their first 3-0 start in franchise history, the Red Bulls came out on the front foot and unleashed a barrage of offense from the opening whistle on the Minnesota defense.

Lewis Morgan, the always-dangerous Scotsman who punished Toronto FC to the tune of three first-half goals in Week Two, nearly continued his first-half scoring heroics in the eighth minute. Red Bulls midfielder Frankie Amaya fed the ball to Morgan, who uncorked a shot destined for the Upper 90 from outside the box, but St. Clair deflected the ball out of play to concede a corner.

New York's best chance in the opening minutes came after Dotson was whistled for a handball in the box after a VAR review in the 13th minute. Polish DP Patryk Klimala lined up at the penalty spot for the Red Bulls seeking his second goal of the season. Klimala sent a hopeful right-footed shot to St. Clair's left, but found his shot denied by the Canadian wunderkind in goal.

St. Clair made a decisive dive to his left and got low immediately as Klimala struck the ball. It may not have been the most unsavable penalty attempt, but St. Clair did a solid job to get two gloves on the ball and prevent any chance at a rebound.

Gerhard Stuber's men smelled blood after the saved penalty and remained on the attack for most of the evening, often sending all 10 outfield players into the attacking third. New York controlled the scoring opportunities in the first half, outshooting Minnesota by a count of 8-1.

The second half opened with a few more scary moments for the Loons. Klimala again found himself inches away from putting the home team up 1-0, this time as the setup man, as he sent a dangerous cross to Omir Fernandez only to be denied by another fantastic save by St. Clair. Fernandez put another opportunity on goal with his head not even a minute later, but St. Clair was up to the task.

The Loons broke the tie in the 51st minute. Hassani Dotson, fresh off providing the point-saving goal in the home-opener for MNUFC, collected the ball off a long corner kick from Emanuel Reynoso on the right side of the box and sent a looping cross back in towards goal. Dotson's ball found the dangerous right foot of Luis Amarilla, who one-timed a half-volley and beat goalkeeper Carlos Coronel near-post to give Minnesota the lead.

Momentum shifted to the side of the visitors after the goal, and the Loons were able to find the opportunity and crisp possession that felt so elusive in the first half.

Minnesota had a golden opportunity to double their lead in the 75th minute. Robin Lod made a great take-away on the defensive end and got the ball to Arriaga in midfield, who turned and spurred a dangerous counter-attack. Arriaga found Amarilla in plenty of space, who took a clever touch and delivered a gorgeous pass to Reynoso in the center of the box for what surely looked to be the back-breaker for the Red Bulls, but Reynoso couldn't beat Coronel.

New York had its fair share of chances to equalize as well, with the most dangerous chance coming courtesy of midfielder Dru Yearwood in the 84th minute. Amaya, who had been dynamic in the Red Bull attacking third all night, fed the ball to the Englishman with plenty of space in the center of the field. Yearwood took a couple of crafty touches and blasted a left-footed shot from just outside the box. The ball was destined for the lower-corner, but St. Clair flew in at the last second to punch it out of bounds with both fists.

The Red Bulls continued to make things juicy as time wore on, bringing on their newly-arrived Brazilian DP Luquinhas in the 81st minute, who stimulated the attack immediately. The remaining nine minutes, plus four of added time were anything but comfortable for the Loons, but St. Clair and company held firm and kept an away clean sheet against a team coming off two wins and a total of seven goals on the road.

In total, St. Clair made eight saves and earned clear Man of the Match Honors. Tonight marked the 18th regular season start of his career, and his seventh clean sheet.

The Loons fly back home for a date with the San Jose Earthquakes and former Minnesota United players Francisco Calvo and Jan Gregus next Saturday at Allianz Field.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair

LINEUPS:

Minnesota United: GK Dayne St. Clair; D DJ Taylor, Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, Hassani Dotson; M Wil Trapp (c), Kervin Arriaga, Franco Fragapane, Emanuel Reynoso, Robin Lod; F Luis Amarrila

New York Red Bulls: GK Carlos Coronel; D Thomas Edwards, Dylan Nealis, Sean Nealis, Aaron Long(c), John Tolkin; M Frankie Amaya, Lewis Morgan, Dru Yearwood, Omir Fernandez; F Patryk Klimala

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota

03.19.2022 | MLS Week No. 4 | MLS Game No. 4

7:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW Twin Cities, MLS Live on ESPN+, SKOR North)

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On the last minute decision to start Dayne St. Clair in goal due to Tyler Miller's illness...

"Tyler, he hasn't been feeling very well the last couple of days. We thought we'd give him as long as possible. But I spoke to him this morning and he didn't feel 100 percent and that's the reason we've got two quality goalkeepers. Now, what can you say about Dayne [St. Clair]? Talking about it, it was five penalty saves, now it's six. Obviously, with having the penalty so early it was a big for him in the game. I thought two or three of his saves were outstanding. Really pleased for him."

On if Tyler Miller traveled with the team...

"Yeah."

On Dayne St. Clair's record against penalty kicks...

"Well you've got to give Stuart Kerr, the goalkeeping coach, a lot of credit. He does homework on players, goes back a couple years watching back where players take the penalties and he did say 'he'll [Patryk Kimala] go to the keeper's left and Dayne [St. Clair] will have a chance of saving it,' and that's what happened. The good thing about Dayne with penalties is that he doesn't let the run up affect him. He leaves it as late as possible, and he's such a big kid, he's got so much range, that if you don't put it in the corner and don't hit it with a lot of force, he has a great opportunity of saving it, which he proved tonight."

On the conversations he's had with St. Clair as Tyler Miller started the first two games...

"It's another example that we always say to the players: you never know when it's going to turn for you. You never know. Sometimes people can feel unwell and you get the opportunity. What he has done is he's got his down, he's trained really, really well. [Stuart Kerr] has done a really great job keeping him focused on what's about. Obviously, he's very frustrated at the minute, and I get that. The World Cup around the corner, it's looking like Canada are going to go there so he's desperate to be playing. But the one thing, as he proved, I said to him, you know what happens in football, it can change like a flick of the switch, and suddenly he's got an opportunity and he's taken it today."

On the performance and win for the group in tonight's game...

"I thought we could have taken the three points in Philly, maybe [Red Bulls] will feel a bit disappointed tonight. Dayne's [St. Clair] has come up with some big saves. But if you were to look at it, we had the three or four best chances of the night. [Emanuel Reynoso] had two unbelievable looks. There were one or two opportunities where I don't think we pulled the trigger and we've looked for the extra pass. Overall, with the points total that we've got from the three games, I'm quite pleased because I knew going to Philly, coming here and playing Nashville is a very difficult start for us. But it sets us up nicely for next week. If we were to go and get a result, that would be eight points in four games, and that would be a really good start."

On only two goals conceded in three games, despite all the changes to the backline in that time...

"Well, we have. We've dug in when we've needed to, we've defended very resolutely. The two center-halves [Michael Boxall and Brent Kallman] were immense tonight when the ball was going in the box. [Red Bulls] have got so many big players in there. Aaron Long was up there, then Tom Barlow, [Patryk] Klimala, it was difficult. But as I said, the two fullbacks [Hassani Dotson and DJ Taylor] have done really, really well. It's not an easy place to come and play. It's very unusual these days that people want to play forward all the time, want to play in behind you, and [Red Bulls] make it extremely difficult for you. I was pleased with the back four and obviously Dayne [St. Clair], but even the guys in front of them. I thought Kervin [Arriaga] was immense at times this evening. It looks like we might have a proper player on our hands there because it's a bit of everything he can do."

On Luis Amarilla tonight...

"He's a good finisher, full stop. I said when we signed him first time around, and I've said the same thing again now, if we provide the ammunition for him, he will score goals. He's a really good finisher, he's technically very, very good. He's very smart about where he positions himself and his body position. He's nearly always ready to strike at the ball. Just like the goal tonight, he's got his body in the position really early and it's a terrific finish from him."

On Dayne's confidence between the posts...

"He's got a lot of inner belief and he's a confident boy in general. He's got a belief in his own ability. He's not happy being second fiddle all season and he's let me know that. But that's part of my job. I have to pick one goalkeeper. It's not like an outfield player when you can play with positions. It's tough for him. But as I say, he's got tremendous upside, we really liked him, that's why we drafted him in the first place. He's still really young for a goalkeeper. We feel as though we've got, with Eric Dick and Fred Emmings, we feel as though we've got a quartet of really good goalkeepers."

On if there's a point where he has to make a decision on keeping both goalkeepers...

"Not really, no. We've got four goalkeepers and we're not giving them away. We will make decisions as and when we feel fit. But trust me, you can't have enough good goalkeepers. So if we keep them, we keep them. If somebody offers us enough money, then maybe we'd have to think about it. But at this moment in time, I've got no thoughts of trading any of em or selling."

On what Emanuel Reynoso should have done on his two scoring chances...

"Well the first one, he should have pulled the trigger. He likes that one way, so he cuts back. And then the second one, I think he could have had another touch. He didn't realize how much time he got. The fact that he's getting in there, that gives me a little bit of satisfaction because that's one of the areas we keep telling him he's got to get in the box and take these opportunities. The fact that he's had a couple tonight, a couple of good looks, I think will bode well for us."

On what he likes the most about Kervin Arriaga...

"At this moment in time, everything. Great size. Athletically very, very gifted. He's good on the ball, great range of passing off both good feet. And obviously, his physical presence. Late on, when they're putting quality balls in the box, and it's nice to have another big body in there to defend in the goal. So far, he's had a great start, we're really pleased with him and as I've said to you, I think we might unearthed one in him, I really do."

GOALKEEPER DAYNE ST. CLAIR

On the key to his confidence after the last minute decision to start...

"Opportunities like this don't come often. I want to be a starter for this team, in this league. I know that when I get an opportunity like this I got to take it, similar to how I did it two years ago."

On if he knew Tyler Miller was sick...

"Yeah, I knew he wasn't feeling well but wasn't sure to what extent, if he'd be OK by game time. So I was staying ready and hoping my name was going to be called. I hope he gets better but I had to focus on my performance today."

On when he found out he was starting...

"Pre-game. When we announced the lineup at the pre-game meeting."

On the trust he has for his backline, given all the changes...

"Brent [Kallman] Boxy [Michael Boxall], two veterans, two leaders in the locker room. Then DJ [Taylor], Hassani [Dotson], two of my closer friends on the team. Hassani has played every position for this team, it feels like, I knew that him switching to outside back would be no problem. We came in at the same year, and when you think about it, me Brent, Boxy and Hassani have all been here at the same time. And DJ has come along, and he's come in with the guys that I'm friends with so I had all the confidence in him and we put on a good performance from all of us, not just myself."

On if he felt rusty starting the game...

"No. I think, fortunately enough, preseason ended just two weeks ago and I was fortunate enough to play quite a few games and I thought I had a really good preseason. Was pushing for the starting job and was hoping my name was going to get called week one. Unfortunately it wasn't called until tonight. I just wanted to prove that I should be out there."

On Dayne St. Clair's record against penalty kicks...

"It's a mental battle. The bigger the moment, all eyes on me. Those are the moments I like to shine in."

On the conversations he's had with Adrian Heath as Tyler Miller started the first two games...

"First of all, I expressed my frustration because, like I said, I thought I had a really good preseason. Obviously, it's a World Cup year for me with Canada doing so well and wanting to get my name back in that fold and be a part of those camps. Of course, club football is big but on a bigger scale, being a part of that World Cup roster is definitely one of my goals and I know in order to do that, I need to be playing games."

On the homework from Stuart Kerr for the penalty kicks and his size and range...

"I think both of them are beneficial. When the players can see my size in the net, hopefully the goal feels a little bit smaller. I think my reaction time is great so I can kind of wait for the striker to go instead of having to guess earlier. The work that [Stuart Kerr] does behind the scene is obviously incredible as well."

On if he felt like he had to work his way into the game tonight...

"No. We knew that they were going to high press and it came down to more that the pitch was quite sticky tonight so we found out very quickly that our short passes weren't going to reach the guys. So we played a little bit more direct than we would have wanted to but just adapting to what the game gave us and going from there."

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 13, 2022


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