Emanuel Reynoso’s brace helped Minnesota United to a 4-1 win against the visiting Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
The Minnesota United (6-7-6, 24 points) snapped a five-match winless skid, picking up their first win since defeating the host Timbers back on May 20. Minnesota is 6-0-1 all-time at home against Portland.
The Timbers (5-9-7, 22 points) are winless in their past four matches and have scored only three goals in that stretch.
Minnesota controlled the ball in the opening half, recording 60 percent of the touches while attempting eight shots to the Timbers’ three. Despite their advantage, the Loons struggled to generate much by way of sustained attack, and when they could they were denied by the efforts of goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic.
In the 27th minute, he dived to deflect a Mender Garcia header out of play and in the 40th minute he snared a long shot by Hassani Dotson.
United benefited from a Portland own goal to take a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute. Bongokuhle Hlongwane aimed a cross toward Garcia racing to the top of the 6-yard box but Timbers midfielder Diego Chara got his foot on the ball first, directing it into his own net.
Reynoso took a corner and curled the ball inside the near post to make it 2-0 in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
The Timbers got on the board in the 60th minute. Franck Boli hustled up the pitch in the attacking third and fired a shot that was just out of the reach of goalkeeper Clint Irwin to cut it to 2-1.
Hlongwane put Minnesota back up by a pair in the 74th minute. The forward raced to a bouncing ball, catching up with it at the right side of the 6-yard box. With Ivacic off his line, Hlongwane directed it through the goalkeeper’s legs into the far side for a 3-1 lead.
Reynoso tallied his second of the match to put the Loons ahead 4-1 in the 77th minute. Hlongwane sent a cross through the goal area to the Argentine, who was uncovered for an easy tap-in.
–Field Level Media