October 9, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — With two goals, Minnesota United clinched their spot in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season in its ‘Decision Day’ matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Minnesota offense brought its best at Allianz Field on Sunday afternoon, outshooting and out-defending the Vancouver side that had won three games in-a-row entering the contest. In the 17th minute, Loons midfielder Franco Fragapane dribbled in space atop Vancouver’s 18-yard box before scoring the opening goal of the match and giving Minnesota the 1-0 lead. The goal was Fragapane’s seventh of the regular season. Assisted by midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who notched his 11th assist in regular-season action this year. The second half saw the same heightened level of energy from MNUFC, and in the 78th minute, midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez scored the second and final goal of the game – his first MLS and MNUFC tally – to give the Loons the 2-0 lead and eventual victory over Vancouver. Fellow midfielder Joseph Rosales provided the assist on Gonzalez’s goal. The Loons defended the lead, securing the club’s first clean sheet since July. The shutout was MLS All-Star goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair’s fifth of the season, tying the all-time MNUFC record with 13.
With its fourth-consecutive berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs, MNUFC is now the lone Western Conference club with the longest active playoffs streak at four. The Loons additionally join the New York Red Bulls (13), NYCFC (7), Philadelphia Union (5) as one of the clubs with the top-four longest active playoffs streak. Minnesota Head Coach Adrian Heath also joins Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtain as one of two current MLS managers who have reached the playoffs in the last four seasons in-a-row.
Minnesota United finishes the regular season with a 14-14-6 record and holds the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings. The Loons will compete in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs as the No. 6 seed and is set to travel to face the No. 3 seed FC Dallas in Round One.
ATTENDANCE: 19,941
BELL BANK MAN OF THE MATCH: Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair
LINEUPS:
Minnesota United XI: GK Dayne St. Clair; D Kemar Lawrence, Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, DJ Taylor; M Wil Trapp (c), Robin Lod, Franco Fragapane, Emanuel Reynoso, Mender Garcia; F Luis Amarilla
Bench: GK Tyler Miller, D Alan Benitez, Callum Montgomery, Oniel Fisher, Nabi Kibunguchy; M JOnathan…
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