New striker Teemu Pukki is expected to make his MLS debut on Saturday night when Minnesota United host Austin FC in Saint Paul, Minn.
Pukki, who starred the past five seasons in England for Norwich City in the Premier League and English Championship, signed a contract as a designated player contract with the Loons through June 2025. He practiced with the team on Friday and also received his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), making him eligible to play Saturday.
The 33-year-old Pukki scored 88 goals, including 22 in two Premier League seasons, and had 29 assists in 210 games with the Canaries. He had a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Newcastle United en route to Premier League Player of the Month honors in August 2019.
“He’s a gold standard, proven goal-scorer,” Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath said of the Finnish forward.
Heath and defender Michael Boxall both will not be on the touchline for the Loons (6-7-6, 24 points) because of suspensions for yellow card accumulations in Minnesota’s 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on July 1. Assistant coach Sean McAuley will take over head coaching duties for the Loons.
Emanuel Reynoso had a brace to lead Minnesota to the win over Portland. It was his first multi-goal game of the season and fifth of his career.
Austin FC (7-8-5, 26 points) brings a three-match unbeaten streak with them into the contest and comes in off a 1-1 draw at Inter Miami on July 1. Prior to that, Austin scored back-to-back 3-0 home wins over FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo.
Goalkeeper Brad Stuver had seven saves against Miami, including a highlight-reel kick save on a breakaway by Josef Martinez just before intermission. Stuver is third in MLS with 73 saves and has allowed one goal on 13 shots on target over the last three games while amassing two clean sheets.
“For me I just want to put myself in the best position to help my team get a result,” Stuver said. “I’m happy I was able to make the saves that I did so we could walk away with a point.”
–Field Level Media