Newly arrived Minnesota United midfielder Emanuel Reynoso ended up flattened on the Allianz Field turf at least twice in his first MLS start Sunday, but both he and his new team lifted themselves up after halftime in a needed 4-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
In a game scoreless into the 53rd minute, Reynoso helped create the Loons' first two goals just nine minutes apart. United scored four times in the second half and earned surprise starting goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair a clean sheet in his first MLS start as well.
The shutout ended a four-game losing streak — including their past three in the league's regular-season restart — and boosted what coach Adrian Heath called a team that was "a little bit fragile" until the Loons scored twice as many goals as they had in those past three games.
It was Reynoso who got knocked down when he, the ball and a Salt Lake player converged, but the ball went directly to Kevin Molino 30 yards from the goal. He played the ball to his left in space and left back Chase Gasper completed his long run, winning a race to it before he scored into an open goal.
Nine minutes later, Reynoso turned with the ball and sent winger Robin Lod off on a 30-yard scoring run after Reynoso threaded a perfect pass that split two defenders.
He stood and watched Lod score after he was down on both knees for Gasper's goal, the only one the Loons needed.
"Trust me, the physicality of the MLS is not going to worry him when he has been playing in the Argentinian first division," Heath said."He's going to be fine. I was amazed he got through tonight as long as he did."
Sunday's game was his first start in a competitive game since March and he went 70 minutes before Raheem Edwards subbed in for him.
