All-Star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso could make his first start of the season Saturday night when Minnesota United face Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah.
Reynoso, who had 10 goals and 11 assists in 29 starts in 2022, has yet to score in two matches as a substitute this season. He missed the first four months of the season on a MLS suspension after failing to report for training camp.
Reynoso, who apologized to his teammates for missing the first half of the season, told reporters this week that his absence was due to a personal problem dealing with his four-year old daughter back home in Argentina.
“Thankful to God that I was able to solve it and be here in Minnesota which is what I wanted most,” Reynoso said.
The Loons (5-7-5, 20 points), who enter Saturday’s contest two points below the Western Conference playoff line, certainly missed Reynoso’s creative playmaking skills. Minnesota United has scored just 15 goals in 17 games, third worst in the MLS.
Reynoso, who returned to Minnesota on May 6, has been busy boosting his endurance during training sessions. The Loons, who are 0-2-2 in their last four MLS contests, have been off since a 4-0 loss at CF Montreal on June 10.
“He’s into the sixth week now, so we feel as though he’s probably ready to start (a match), if we decide that this weekend,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said.
Seventh-place Real Salt Lake (7-7-5, 26 points) enters the contest on a four-match unbeaten streak (3-0-1) and comes in off back-to-back road wins at D.C. United (2-1) and Wednesday at second-place St. Louis City (3-1).
Veteran midfielder Damir Kreilach had a brace in the win at St. Louis to give him 47 regular-season goals for RSL, third most in team history and just two behind second-place Javier Morales (49). It was the sixth multi-goal MLS match of Kreilach’s career — including playoffs — and earned him MLS Player of the Matchday for Week 20.
Real Salt Lake is 5-2-5 over its last 12 matches but has struggled at home where it is just 2-4-3 this season.
“We have to play the way we play on the road,” Kreilach said. “To be patient, to use our chances to score the goals and to fight for one another. I think lately we are playing great and we are looking forward to getting three points against Minnesota.”
RSL is 2-0-3 all-time at home against the Loons including a 3-0 victory last August. The two teams tied, 1-1, on May 27 in a match in Saint Paul, Minn.
–Field Level Media