Minnesota United FC scored two goals in 90 seconds in the first half en route to a 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, securing a berth in the tournament’s semi-final in the process. of the MLS.
The Quakes started the second half with a knife between their teeth in the hopes of making a comeback.
The video review went in their favor when Jacori Hayes caught an accidental hand in the 48th minute with Magnus Erikkson cutting the lead in half on the penalty shot two minutes later.
Destabilized, Minnesota faltered but came to their senses when Luis Amarilla received a ball in midfield and scampered off to beat Daniel Vega just six minutes later to reduce the lead to two goals.
Marlon Hairston added to the mark in the 86th.
Insistent
Minnesota dominated the start of the game as they were insistent around the net for Daniel Vega, who was injured coming into contact with Michael Boxall, but stayed in the game.
History doesn’t say if he retained any discomfort from his injury, but poor Vega suffered two close assaults when the Loons scored twice in under two minutes.
They opened the scoring from a corner kick when Robin Lod only had to push the ball into the net after a header came in his direction in the 20th minute.
Jacori Hayes then jumped on a loose ball after a return granted by Vega to score in the 22nd. On this streak, Vega didn’t seem to be completely at ease.
Minnesota will face Orlando City SC in the semifinals next Thursday. Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath will be returning to his former team as he was Orlando’s first MLS coach in history.
Head held high
Despite the loss, the Quakes can leave Orlando with their heads held high since they surprised everyone for three weeks.
They certainly had a hard time countering Minnesota, which was methodical defensively while being dynamic in attack, a side of this team that we know less.
Moreover, the Loons have still not lost since the start of 2020.
As for the Quakes, no one expected to see them finish at the top of their group.
We especially remember the very exciting style of play recommended by Matias Almeyda who offers very dynamic football where the pressure on the opponent is constant.
This is the kind of soccer that is very interesting to watch for fans who always have the right to an offensive show.
In touch
Fatigue has bothered LAFC
Los Angeles FC coach Bob Bradley was very blunt in explaining his side’s loss and spoke of the fatigue that plagued his players.
The Black and Gold waited an hour before getting a first shot. He suffered from a rest period of just four days between the first playoff game and the quarter-final on Friday night.
“I think we could see from the start of the game that we weren’t at our best. That’s a lot of games in a short time. At half-time we talked about raising the level a bit, which we did, but it was certainly not our best football. “
The Wright-Phillips rebirth
We do not know if we can speak of rebirth, but Bradley Wright-Phillips knew how to seize the opportunity that offered to him when Bob Bradley asked him to take over from Carlos Vela, who remained in Los Angeles with his pregnant wife. .
Wright-Phillips had some good years with the New York Red Bulls, with whom he scored 111 goals in 198 games over a span of seven seasons.
But last year, he became a substitute.
And at 35, LAFC hired him as a depth player.
But Vela’s absence was a game-changer and Wright-Phillips was the go-to man on offense.
He has proven he still has a sense of goal as he scored four in five games in Orlando. This is called having a lot of depth.
Like a championship
According to the footage from the Orlando City SC locker room that circulated after the win against Los Angeles FC on Friday, it was as if the Floridians had just won a championship.
The supporters were not left out.
They too partied in a parking lot where they had watched the game outdoors.
It must be said that all the reasons are good to celebrate for the Lions and their fans since they have never made the playoffs yet, they who are in their sixth season in MLS.
What is more, they were far from the favorites and few observers saw them go this far.
Torrent in Brazil
Former New York City FC head coach Domènec Torrent has just been hired by legendary Brazilian club Flamengo.
The 58-year-old Spaniard signed an agreement valid until December 31, 2021.
Torrent went to Pep Guardiola’s school where he was assistant at FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
It is also through the City sector, which owns 50% of the NYCFC, that Torrent ended up in New York. He led the Cityzens for just over a season, from June 2018 to November 2019.
He left despite a record-breaking 64-point season in 2019.
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