Loons Defeat Orlando City SC on the Road with Bongokuhle Hlongwane Game-Winner

March 9, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release

ORLANDO, Fla. — Minnesota United FC continues its undefeated start to the 2024 Major League Soccer season with a 3-2 win against Orlando City SC at Inter&Co Stadium following a late game-winning goal from Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Forward Teemu Pukki also scored his first MLS brace in the victory.

0:14: Orlando scored the first goal of the night after defender Rafael Santos intercepted a pass from Loons’ midfielder Hassani Dotson, placing a through ball to forward Duncan McGuire allowing him to place a left shot on goal past MNUFC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

3′: MNUFC forward Teemu Pukki responded for the Loons after pressing Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese inside the box, who was trying to clear the ball. Pukki slotted his shot in the bottom left corner of the goal.

37′: Teemu Pukki scored the second goal for MNUFC after a five-pass sequence ending with Robin Lod passing to Pukki near the 18-yard line. Pukki turned and fired a shot, finding the back of the net to score his first MLS brace.

45’+5′: St. Clair was alert and made his third save before the end of the first half after Martin Ojeda connected with a pass from McGuire in the center of the box and fired a right-footed shot from close range.

49′: Orlando City started the second half looking to equalize, but Orlando’s Iván Angulo was unable to put his left-footed shot past St. Clair, who made his fourth save of the night.

52′: Nicolás Lodeiro fired a shot from outside the box through the Loons defense, but St. Clair made his fifth save of the night to keep the game in MNUFC’s favor.

72′: Santos made a run up the left side of the pitch, while Enrique slipped the ball to Santos, allowing him to fire a shot off but St. Clair swatted it away keeping the score 2-1 Minnesota.

79′: Bongokuhle Hlongwane beat his defender near the goal line and dribbled inside the six-yard box before firing a close-range shot that was saved by Gallese.

83′: Ojeda took his space in the middle third, dribbling up the pitch, laying it off to McGuire just outside the 18. McGuire set up for a shot and placed the ball in the left corner of the goal past St. Clair.

90’+6′: Bongi scored the game-winning goal for MNUFC with a double assist from Tani Oluwaseyi and Jordan Adebayo-Smith. The Loons’ gained possession from St. Clair’s goal kick when Adebayo-Smith headed the ball up the pitch and connected with Oluwaseyi who then laid it off to Bongi for a 1v1 with…