Minnesota News Network

  • Home
  • MNN Reporter Team
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Crime & Court
    • Health
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Weather & Natural Disaster
  • Sports
    • Gophers
    • Twins
    • Wild
    • Timberwolves & Lynx
    • Vikings
  • Minnesota Matters
  • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support
You are here: Home / Sports / Minnesota United advance to conference finals

Minnesota United advance to conference finals

December 4, 2020 By Minnesota News Network

Minnesota United came into their Western Conference Semifinal matchup with Sporting Kansas City having already bettered their playoff performance from 2019 by winning in the first round. But facing the top seed in the conference, on the road, in a stadium where they had never gotten so much as a point and had only scored one goal in the last four years? Nothing to do but go get a clean sheet, three-goal win, it seems. After weathering a strong opening salvo by the home side, the Loons took off with an opening goal by Kevin Molino in the 27th minute and never looked back, pushing it to 3-0 by the half and shutting it down in the second to book a trip to Seattle for the Western Conference Final.

The game began with the home side grabbing the initiative. Sporting Kansas City put pressure on Minnesota United’s defense right off the whistle, even without Designated Player Alan Pulido, and pressed high to win the ball back when they gave it up. Just two minutes in, winger Johnny Russell cut behind the backline and picked up the ball with space to take on Dayne St. Clair one on one. The Scotsman chipped it over an onrushing St. Clair, but defender Michael Boxall was there to clean it up with a header over the endline for a corner kick.

Early on, when MNUFC were able to control the ball, they found space on the wings to send in crosses, but were unable to find targets in the box. On the defensive end, they continued to rely on St. Clair to keep the game scoreless as they worked out the kinks on the offensive side. In the 14th minute, forward Khiry Shelton got Boxall to commit and then turned him before putting on a burst of speed to get past Bakaye Dibassy. The move opened up a lane for Russell, who challenged St. Clair again but the Canadian was up for it again, going to ground to frustrate SKC’s attack.

Only moment later, St. Clair had to come up big again. Defender Jaylin Lindsey pushed up onto the right wing and launched a pinpoint cross onto the head of defender Roberto Puncec. Puncec drilled it from point blank range but somehow, St. Clair got a hand on it and kept it out right on the goal line. The sequence came in a stretch that found the Loons bending but not breaking, spending most of their time pinned in their own half and absorbing body blows from SKC.

Minnesota United came into their Western Conference Semifinal matchup with Sporting Kansas City having already bettered their playoff performance from 2019 by winning in the first round. But facing the top seed in the conference, on the road, in a stadium where they had never gotten so much as a point and had only scored one goal in the last four years? Nothing to do but go get a clean sheet, three-goal win, it seems. After weathering a strong opening salvo by the home side, the Loons took off with an opening goal by Kevin Molino in the 27th minute and never looked back, pushing it to 3-0 by the half and shutting it down in the second to book a trip to Seattle for the Western Conference Final.

The game began with the home side grabbing the initiative. Sporting Kansas City put pressure on Minnesota United’s defense right off the whistle, even without Designated Player Alan Pulido, and pressed high to win the ball back when they gave it up. Just two minutes in, winger Johnny Russell cut behind the backline and picked up the ball with space to take on Dayne St. Clair one on one. The Scotsman chipped it over an onrushing St. Clair, but defender Michael Boxall was there to clean it up with a header over the endline for a corner kick.

Early on, when MNUFC were able to control the ball, they found space on the wings to send in crosses, but were unable to find targets in the box. On the defensive end, they continued to rely on St. Clair to keep the game scoreless as they worked out the kinks on the offensive side. In the 14th minute, forward Khiry Shelton got Boxall to commit and then turned him before putting on a burst of speed to get past Bakaye Dibassy. The move opened up a lane for Russell, who challenged St. Clair again but the Canadian was up for it again, going to ground to frustrate SKC’s attack.

Only moment later, St. Clair had to come up big again. Defender Jaylin Lindsey pushed up onto the right wing and launched a pinpoint cross onto the head of defender Roberto Puncec. Puncec drilled it from point blank range but somehow, St. Clair got a hand on it and kept it out right on the goal line. The sequence came in a stretch that found the Loons bending but not breaking, spending most of their time pinned in their own half and absorbing body blows from SKC.

Once MNUFC could get some time and space on the ball, however, they began putting together strings of possession as they started to get the ball up to their attacking midfield. Over the last several games, the chemistry between Emanuel Reynoso and Kevin Molino has only grown and it was on full display in the 27th minute. Molino on the left side dropped the ball in to Reynoso and then continued his run. The Argentine tracked him and delivered an inch-perfect ball to Molino in space and the winger curled a right-footed shot around goalkeeper Tim Melia to open the scoring and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, the home side once again found themselves in trouble at the hands of the Loons’ dynamic duo. Having once again worked their way into the final third, Reynoso held the ball 30 yards out and spied Molino loitering in the midst of an uneven backline and just onside. Reynoso lofted the ball over the defense and Molino stretched his right foot way out to tap the ball past a bamboozled Melia and onto the far post to double the lead to 2-0 in the 35th minute.

Minnesota United came into their Western Conference Semifinal matchup with Sporting Kansas City having already bettered their playoff performance from 2019 by winning in the first round. But facing the top seed in the conference, on the road, in a stadium where they had never gotten so much as a point and had only scored one goal in the last four years? Nothing to do but go get a clean sheet, three-goal win, it seems. After weathering a strong opening salvo by the home side, the Loons took off with an opening goal by Kevin Molino in the 27th minute and never looked back, pushing it to 3-0 by the half and shutting it down in the second to book a trip to Seattle for the Western Conference Final.

The game began with the home side grabbing the initiative. Sporting Kansas City put pressure on Minnesota United’s defense right off the whistle, even without Designated Player Alan Pulido, and pressed high to win the ball back when they gave it up. Just two minutes in, winger Johnny Russell cut behind the backline and picked up the ball with space to take on Dayne St. Clair one on one. The Scotsman chipped it over an onrushing St. Clair, but defender Michael Boxall was there to clean it up with a header over the endline for a corner kick.

Early on, when MNUFC were able to control the ball, they found space on the wings to send in crosses, but were unable to find targets in the box. On the defensive end, they continued to rely on St. Clair to keep the game scoreless as they worked out the kinks on the offensive side. In the 14th minute, forward Khiry Shelton got Boxall to commit and then turned him before putting on a burst of speed to get past Bakaye Dibassy. The move opened up a lane for Russell, who challenged St. Clair again but the Canadian was up for it again, going to ground to frustrate SKC’s attack.

Only moment later, St. Clair had to come up big again. Defender Jaylin Lindsey pushed up onto the right wing and launched a pinpoint cross onto the head of defender Roberto Puncec. Puncec drilled it from point blank range but somehow, St. Clair got a hand on it and kept it out right on the goal line. The sequence came in a stretch that found the Loons bending but not breaking, spending most of their time pinned in their own half and absorbing body blows from SKC.

Once MNUFC could get some time and space on the ball, however, they began putting together strings of possession as they started to get the ball up to their attacking midfield. Over the last several games, the chemistry between Emanuel Reynoso and Kevin Molino has only grown and it was on full display in the 27th minute. Molino on the left side dropped the ball in to Reynoso and then continued his run. The Argentine tracked him and delivered an inch-perfect ball to Molino in space and the winger curled a right-footed shot around goalkeeper Tim Melia to open the scoring and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, the home side once again found themselves in trouble at the hands of the Loons’ dynamic duo. Having once again worked their way into the final third, Reynoso held the ball 30 yards out and spied Molino loitering in the midst of an uneven backline and just onside. Reynoso lofted the ball over the defense and Molino stretched his right foot way out to tap the ball past a bamboozled Melia and onto the far post to double the lead to 2-0 in the 35th minute.

With the floodgates open, MNUFC added to their lead moments later. It was once again Reynoso setting the table as he stood over a corner kick from the right side. His inswinging corner found Dibassy, who hammered home the header in the 38th minute for his first MLS goal to make it 3-0. The play also have Reynoso his third assist of the night for the gentleman’s hat trick. It also gave him a stunning 10 assists in his last five games.

Despite the desperate straits for Sporting Kansas City as they stared down the possibility of being eliminated, Head Coach Peter Vermes kept his cards close to his chest and made no changes to start the second half. MNUFC also kept the same lineup on the pitch and set about doing their best to control the tempo and not let SKC back into the game.

Although Johnny Russell did his best to take the game by the scruff of the neck and Vermes would eventually bring in Gadi Kinda and Erik Hurtado to change the feel of the contest, there simply wasn’t much going in the second half, which was just the way Minnesota wanted it. While each team had a handful of chances, neither truly challenged the other’s keeper through the second 45 and when the final whistle blew, Minnesota United stood victorious. Now unbeaten in 10 games, the Loons will head to Seattle to face the reigning champion Sounders on Monday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

(info courtesy of Minnesota United)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Sports

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Gustavus Adolphus wins D-III Women’s Hockey National Title in triple OT

For the first time in program history, the Golden Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus College are women’s hockey national champions. Gustavus’ run to the title did not come easily, as the Gusties endured the longest weekend in NCAA Division III Women’s Frozen Four history. The Gusties outlasted Plattsburgh State in two overtimes in the national semifinals […]

Plitzuweit is new Gopher women’s basketball coach

University of Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced today that Dawn Plitzuweit has been named head women’s basketball coach. The University and Plitzuweit have agreed to a six-year term, which is pending Board of Regents approval and the completion of a background check.  She will be formally introduced on Monday on campus. Plitzuweit will […]

#2 Gopher women lose in Frozen Four semifinals to #6 Badgers

The No. 2 Gopher Women’s hockey team saw its season come to an end, 3-2, in an overtime thriller in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers. Just over three minutes into the opening period, Taylor Heise buried a wrist shot for her 30th goal of the season to open […]

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Facebook

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC