Loons tie Nashville 1-1 in home opener in St. Paul

Minnesota United FC welcomed fans back to Allianz Field for the first time in their 2022 campaign. A crowd of 18,107 was on hand to watch the Loons take the field in their brand new Minnesota Night Kits and take on Nashville Soccer Club, one of the best defensive clubs in Major League Soccer fresh off a 1-0 win in their season-opening trip to Seattle.

A night that saw gallons and gallons of late winter rain poured onto Allianz Field ended with the sides splitting the points in the form of a 1-1 draw. It’s the second home-opening draw at Allianz Field for the Loons. The first match in the stadium’s history ended in a 3-3 draw with New York City FC. Minnesota’s record in home openers at Allianz Field now stands at 0-2-2.

Wil Trapp returned to the lineup after missing the season-opening match in Philadelphia with a hip injury. The captain started alongside Hassani Dotson in Minnesota’s defensive midfield, where Kervin Arriaga played last week against the Union. Arriaga missed tonight’s match with an injured thorax.

Nashville SC manager Gary Smith started his same 11 from their season-opening match in Seattle.

The visitors got on the board first, finding the back of the net in the 5th minute. Midfielder Dax McCarty looped a dangerous ball into the box from about 40 yards out towards a crowd of bodies in gold on the left side of the box. His pass found the always dangerous Hany Mukhtar, who sent the ball back across Tyler Miller, to CJ Sapong right in front of goal for an easy tap-in.

The Loons found their first decent attacking opportunity in the 12th minute. Luis Amarilla won the ball in the attacking third and played one off centerback Walker Zimmerman to earn MNUFC’s first corner of the evening.

Minnesota threatened again a few minutes later. Fullback Oneil Fisher drew a foul on Daniel Lovitz and earned a free kick on the right side. Reynoso dropped a high-arching shot into dangerous territory, but goalkeeper Joe Willis was able to tip it over the crossbar.

The attacking flurry by MNUFC continued with a run by Amarailla sprung by a nice through ball by Dibassy. Amarilla’s touch deflected to the feet of Franco Fragapane, who got a good shot off, but sent it over the crossbar.

The Loons’ best chance of the first 30 minutes came after Reynoso drew a foul from Sean Davis just past midfield in the 27th minute. Referee Armando Villarreal issued a yellow card to Davis Reynoso’s ensuing kick found Brent Kallman for a free header in the middle of the 18-yard-box, but Kallman’s attempt flew wide of the post.

Nashville got back on the attack and Randall Leal almost made it 2-0 for Nashville on a couple of chances just before the half. The Costa Rican international took a nice pass from Sapong and blasted a right-footed shot from outside the box, beating the outstretched arms of Miller, but not the left post, which fired the ball right back into the teeth of the Minnesota defense.

Leal nearly struck paydirt again moments later from the center of the top of the box, but his right-footed shot missed just to the left.

The Loons found their best chance for a first half equalizer in the final seconds. Fisher pushed the ball up the right flank and sent a big, looping cross through the edge of the area. A closely-marked Amarilla left the ball to find a wide open Bakaye Dibassy storming up the left side. Dibassy’s left-footed smash beat goalkeeper Joe Willis but found just enough of the woodwork to deflect out of play.

Heath made two second-half changes immediately out of the dressing room. Fullback DJ Taylor came on for Kallman and moved into the right back position, moving Fisher over to the left allowing Dibassy to move over to centerback. Bongokuhle Hlongwane came on as a second-half substitute for the second consecutive match and took Fragapane’s place on the left side.

Mukhtar came close to breaking the game open on a Nashville counter attack in the opening minutes of the second half. Nashville’s always dangerous DP got past the MNUFC backline and was in a dangerous

Hlongwane made his attacking presence felt in the 53rd, collecting a loose ball in the midfield and quickly got the ball to Reynoso in space. Reynoso took a couple of beautiful touches to the edge of the area and uncorked a left-footed strike that missed to the right.

Lightning in the area suspended the match at the 54:07 mark. Lightning struck again near the vicinity of the stadium minutes after the match had been suspended, pushing the delay to a total of nearly 75 minutes.

Hlongwane got into the mix again shortly after the game resumed. Finding the ball and a big patch of rain-soaked grass, the South African took off on a blazing run down the left flank, but his left-footed shot went straight into the arms of the sure-handed Willis.

Hlongwane was on the business end of Minnesota’s next chance, too. He and Taylor had a nice exchange and Hlongwane found a decent angle for a shot on the right side of the box, but Willis was up to the task.

Minnesota controlled possession and was on the front foot for most of the second half and finally broke through with an equalizer in the 72nd minute.

Hassani Dotson opened his 2022 account with a gutsy goal that leveled the score. It was Dotson who created the chance for the Loons by drawing a foul on Alex Muyl and earning a free kick deep on the left flank. Reynoso’s ensuing free kick found the right foot of Amarilla, who struck it on a half-volley from just outside the box. The shot took multiple deflections before striking the right post and then trickled to the relentless left foot of Dotson, who poked into the back of the net.

Mukhtar nearly took the lead back for the Coyotes in the 75th minute. Mukhtar took advantage of Dibassy slipping on the turf and flew up the right flank. As Mukhtar closed in on Miller’s goal, Fisher closed in and looked to disrupt the shot as Mukhtar spilled to the turf. Mukhtar and the entire Nashville side appealed to Villarreal to point to the spot, but no penalty was given.

Nashville had another chance to retake the lead after Mukhtar won a corner on Fisher in the 87th minute. Mukhtar’s corner found the head of Walker Zimmerman, who put the ball on frame, but couldn’t beat Miller.

The final result marks two points in two games for MNUFC. It won’t get any easier for the Loons, who travel back east for a date with the New York Red Bulls, a side currently tied for tops in the league in goals scored (seven) and goal differential (+5). Winger Lewis Morgan tallied a hat trick in the first half in RBNY’s 4-1 victory today in Toronto.

Nashville now heads on leg three of their eight-game road trip to start their season and will face FC Dallas next week in Frisco.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Midfielder Hassani Dotson

LINEUPS:
Minnesota United: GK Tyler Miller; D Bakaye Dibassy, Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, Oniel Fisher; M Hassani Dotson, Wil Trapp (c), Franco Fragapane, Emanuel Reynoso, Robin Lod; F Luis Amarilla

Nashville SC: GK Joe Willis; D Daniel Lovitz, Dave Romney, Eric Miller, Walker Zimmerman; M Dax McCarty (c), Hany Mukhtar, Anibal Godoy, Sean Davis; F Randall Leal, C.J. Sapong

UP NEXT:

MINNESOTA UNITED FC @ NEW YORK RED BULLS
Red Bull Arena | Harrison, New Jersey
03.13.2022 | MLS Week No. 3 | MLS Game No. 3
6:00 p.m. CT (Bally Sports North EXTRA, The CW Twin Cities, MLS Live on ESPN+, SKOR North)

MINNESOTA UNITED QUOTE SHEET

MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH

On how he views the result overall…
“I felt we just about deserved to get something out of it. I thought we started really slowly, gave them the initiative. We spoke about it. Can we start like we did last week in Philly where we had a really good start and dictated the rest of the game for us. I thought we were too slow from the half and I don’t think we moved the ball quick enough. Conceded a really poor goal. They didn’t have to work very hard for the goal and then we gradually worked our way back into the game. I thought the last 20, 25 minutes of the first half, we were better and I thought we were the better team in the second half.”

On how Nashville played…
“Well they are a good team. They always look dangerous on the break, when you’re in the ascendancy that we are and we’re pushing that many men forward you’re always vulnerable on the counter-attack and all evening I thought they were dangerous on the break.”

On adapting without the teams starting fullbacks…
“We decided to make a change at halftime because we thought that we started to get the ball out in wide areas and we started to get the fullbacks up, so we thought we’d maybe get D.J. [Taylor] on who’s more natural in that half of the field and [Bakaye] Dibassy might give us a little bit of quality down the sides. Hopefully, the two starting fullbacks who are out, hopefully next week maybe. I was pleased with the efforts after about 15, 20 minutes.”

On the weather conditions…
“It used to be the cold nights of Stoke-on-Trent where I was born. It was one of them nights for sure. We had a bit of everything tonight with the conditions. I thought it was a lot of good football from both teams considering the conditions.”

On the play following the seventy plus minute break…
“Yeah, I thought we were in the ascendency when we went off the field and I just wanted to get us back and let them settle again. But we picked up where we left off and as I said I thought we took the game to them in the second half. Some good play. I thought Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] came on and gave us a lift. Luis [Amarilla] was working as hard as he can, and we just needed to get him a break and get him some service. He did great for the one he rolled to the center back. I thought he’d be disappointed with that. But overall where we were at one stage to come away with a point, you know you’re disappointed at home but it’s a point gained rather than two lost.”

On how the delay factored into the game…
“I don’t think so, I thought we were in the ascendancy before we went off the field. We came out and took off where we left because that was one thing I said to the players, we can’t start slowly again. We just got the initiative, let’s keep that going and I felt we did. We took the game to them in the second half.”

On what Hlongwane brings to the team…
“Well if Fraga’s [Franco Fragapane] got a tweak in his hamstring, that’s what made the substitution for us. I think he’s [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] come on and he’s affected the game which is what you want from substitutes. Normally when you’re as athletic as him, people are very individual. But this kid has got a bit of both. He can play with people, he’s got a good turn of speed. We’ve been really pleased with what we’ve seen out of him in a very short period of time.”

On what went into the free kick…
“That’s Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] and Luis [Amarilla] special. It’s a good job we scored from it because I wouldn’t have been best pleased. It’s great Rey sees things. I knew that when Luis was out there and not in the box, he was probably gonna try and find him. Luis is a goal scorer and wants to be in the thick of it. I knew they probably worked on something.”

On Dax [McCarthy] shadowing [Emanuel Reynoso at times…
“A little bit. You know, they way they play, Dax is the deeper of all the midfield players, but they have so many bodies in the middle of the park and they’re really good at possession. [Randall] Leal comes in there and then [Hany] Mukhtar comes in there, plus the other two midfield players. It was a difficult evening for Hassani [Dotson] and Will [Trapp] because they were outnumbered in there, but I didn’t want to change the shape. Eventually, we had come to terms with it and started to switch the point of attack. Getting out wide and start to work down the sides. As I say, it was a difficult evening for us. They are a good team.”

On the players enduring the 70 minutes…
“That’s just resting. Looking at little bits of video and see if there’s anything we can take from what has gone on beforehand. It’s basically just staying mentally focused and not letting what’s going on affect you, which I think we did a good job of.”

On how to change and improve after recording two straight draws…
“Well, I think if I look at both games, I feel that we did enough to have maybe won the first one. And today, I think [Nashville] probably think they deserved something out of the game. We haven’t been beaten. We’ve played well in large parts of games. First half in Philly [Philadelphia], we were very good. I thought the second half here we were the better team. We have to keep working on being consistent and putting 90 minutes together. It doesn’t get any easier. We go to Red Bulls next week and you see their result today. It’s been a tough start for us, like we knew it was going to be. Going to Philly, and then going to New York up against the Red Bulls and playing these at home. We knew it was going to be a difficult start and that’s how it’s proved.”

On player involvement and creating chances…
“As we are at this moment in time, the team is picking itself. When we get to Friday, I feel as though this is our best group at this moment in time. Obviously we don’t know how Fraga [Franco Fragapane] is going to be. Is it going to be a week or two weeks we don’t know. If that’s the case then Bongi [Bongokuhle Holongwane] will play and we will see how he is like from the start.”

On the home crowd even after the delay…
“Yeah, I thought the crowd were great this evening when you consider the conditions. The amount of people that stayed behind and tried to get the lads going and it makes a big difference for us. I think they saw the effort the players were putting in as well. It would have been nice to have won it, but it was nice to give them a goal to cheer anyway.”

What he accounts to the slow start this season…
“I don’t know, I thought [Nashville] started quite brightly. But like we did last week against Philly, but we didn’t come out, we didn’t move the ball quick enough. I thought we were too passive with our play, we were too passive in our movements. And when they got the goal, I knew it would be a long evening because they were so well organized, and dangerous on the break. But the lads kept going. I was really pleased with the determination and the effort that they gave”.

On Emmanuel Reynoso importance to the team…
“For us to do what we want to do this year, we need a big year out of Rey [Emanuel Reynoso].
As I’ve said all along, I think he should be getting towards double figures. We know he will create opportunities because that’s what he’s got. But if we’re going do what we want to do this year, we’re going to need a big season out of Rey for sure.”

MINNESOTA UNITED DEFENDER D.J. TAYLOR

On his thoughts on the game today…
“Yeah, I think it obviously went well. Main message from Gaf [Adrian Heath] was ‘We got this. Make a difference. Have a lot of energy.’ I think I definitely bring that. Being a little younger on the team, it went well. We wanted to win but as long as at home, we’re not losing points, that’s good too.”

On the mood in the locker room after the inclement weather and coming away with a point…
“It’s a good feeling, honestly, with the delay and other factors like that. I think still at the end of the day, though, we want to win. We started a little slow. I think you guys could notice that at the first 15 minutes, we were kind of a little slow. But, I think it’s good comradery wise that we were able to come together and really get a result back. Like I said, one point, as long as we keep moving forward and don’t lose, we’re doing good.”

On the field conditions, especially after the delay…
“I think it made it a little worse. I wouldn’t say too much worse. There were little patches of water and stuff like that. It was already like that, being pouring down rain since we even got there, before we even warmed up. It didn’t make a big difference. After we were able to mentally lock in and still stay in the game, it allowed us to get this result.”

On how the team stayed occupied during the delay…
“We just sat there and tried to warm up with blankets. I think I had a double blanket, one over my head, one on my waist. We were just sitting there talking about the game and making sure that we were all ready mentally to get ready to go again because we knew we were going to play again.”

On the home crowd after the delay…
“Yeah, it felt like no one left, to be honest. I think that’s one of the best things about playing here at this club, is the fans. Their support, after the delay, we really needed it. It helped us get our result today.”

On the team starting games off slow…
“To be honest, it could be a number of things. Coming back home, freezing cold, maybe that adds to it. Trying to get into gear, trying to warm up and getting your rhythm. It’s a tough thing as well but it is still not an excuse for us. We still need to be pushing the gas, especially if we’re at home. The best way to get over that is looking at ourselves in training and just making sure, from minute one we start training, we’re going at it and that’ll translate it into the game.”

On if the delay mentally affected the team…
“I’m not really sure if it affected us in any way negatively. I think maybe positively. We could show, through anything, whether it’s a delay, whatever it is, we’re down 1-0 at home, that we’re going to get through it and we’re going to come together and make sure we finish this job. Maybe it brought us together a little bit at the same time.”

On knowledge of the plan on the set piece…
“I don’t think anybody had an idea. I did, just because I was behind Luis [Amarilla]. I could tell from Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] the way he looks, kind of with my spanish culture, playing in Spain, I could tell it could be on if they wanted to do it and with Rey’s quality, he can do whatever he wants. I think it was great. It was a great strike by Luis. It’s really a blessing for Hassani [Dotson] to have been ready to get it off the post, in case it didn’t go in and he tapped it in. So I’m happy for him.”

On the perspective of the goal, mishap or a good strike.
“I think it definitely was warranted off Luis’ [Amarillo] strike. It obviously starts with the quality of service because if Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] misplaces that a yard or two, then Luis can’t really strike it well and it could lead to problems. Just both sides of it, Rey’s pass and Luis’s execution and then Hassani’s [Dotson] follow-up, was a perfect play for us.”

On the message from Adrien Heath on the change after coming on…
“The message for him was to just be energetic and drive forward. Play with Nashville and their formation, where the outside-backs were having a little bit more space and time to really exploit. I think that’s what we were struggling to do in the first half, like the first 15 minutes. When we got it wide, we weren’t really penetrating, so that was my main focus. As soon as I get it: go for it, play for it, and have a lot of energy. If I bring the energy to the game, that’s going to affect my teammates and I can lead them in that way.”

MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER HASSANI DOTSON

On the goal he scored…
“Yeah, it was on the spur of the moment, but there was a play before that it kind of bobbled around the box. Me and Bakaye [Dibassy] we’re like ‘Hey, Come on!’ So there’s already a bit of energy there. So, I just tried to make sure that I was on my toes, give the role that I was in.”

On where he saw the ball…
“It was weird. Luis [Amarilla] made a nice strike on the ball and then Bakaye [Dibassy] was in front of me. He tried to deflect it, missed it, and I missed it, hit Michael [Boxall], and I turned and I thought it was going in. I saw Walker [Zimmerman] there, and it just hit off the post nicely. And I was able to be there to follow it up.”

On the team’s general mood on the point, the weather conditions, and Nashville’s quality…
“I think we didn’t come out as strong as we wanted to. Especially after that, we were pushing to get a win. So for me it’s disappointing that we did not come away with three points but they showed their quality and they were all over us for 20 minutes or so. I think it was a good game and we’re very appreciative to the fans that stayed around and were there for the weather delay.”

On weather conditions and reminding him of Oregon…
“Yeah, I was actually telling one of the guys that it’s not as cold as the Pacific Northwest, but it’s really wet and it’s kind of similar.”

On goal from three yards compared to thirty…
“I’ll take any goal that I can get. Robin [Lod] helped me out with a nice tap-in goal last year so I don’t turn away any goals.”

On what it’s like playing with two different midfield pairings the past two weeks…
“Yeah, I think last game was a different shape, it was me playing as a lone six, and [Emanuel] Reynoso, and [Kervin] Arriaga in front of me. That was a new shape we worked on briefly that week, against a Philly side that played way more narrow. I think Arriaga did really well immersing himself in the team and playing the way he did on that short notice. Wil [Trapp] our captain brings in a lot of experience to the side and he’s a fighter as well. We’re obviously all different players but I’ve enjoyed playing with both of them so far.”

On Nashville having a little too much time and space…
“They played much more of a diamond or tight midfield than we expected. [Dax] McCarty was following in and out, almost like a false-9 coming into midfield. It took a little longer than we’d like to adjust to that. Once we got everyone in the right position we were able to put pressure on them a lot sooner.”

On midfielders being “the thermometer” of the team…
“We have a similar saying, ‘they’re the engine room or the heartbeat of the team’. I try to do my best and do all the dirty work I can, giving the ball to the playmakers, they have great creative minds. I’m just there to try to connect both pieces win second balls.”

On what Bongokuhle Hlongwane has provided the team…
“Since the first training when he came in, I noticed he was extremely quick. You saw today, he can turn and run into really tight spaces. He’s a little twinkle-toes. We have a couple jokes about that. It’s not easy coming into a new country and adapting so well. I think he’s done really well. He’s a really really nice kid. Anything you say to him, he’s open to it, and excited about the whole experience and answers are always with a smile. I think he’s got really good potential, and I’m happy with what he’s done so far.”

On pronouncing Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s name
“When I asked him for his name, I wanted to try to pronounce it but he said ‘Bongi” so he let me off the hook.”

On his new shoes…
“They’re a gift from my girl. She got them for my birthday so I decided to wear them today.”

Courtesy: Minnesota United FC