ST. PAUL -- A red card can be a death knell for a soccer team, especially when issued in the first half. But on Sunday, Minnesota grew stronger and stronger after one of their players was ejected early in the new Leagues Cup.
MNUFC led 1-0 when Michael Boxall received a red card for violent conduct in the 30th minute. Instead of sustaining heavy pressure from Puebla and the probability of giving up an equalizer or more, the Loons poured in three more goals in the second half for a 4-0 blowout over the Mexican Liga MX team at Allianz Field.
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Bongi Hlongwane scored in the 24th and 51st minutes, while Emanuel Reynoso notched goals in the 59th and 65th.
Reynoso鈥檚 second goal was a stupendous strike on a free kick from the outside corner of the box. It was a highlight rivaled only by fellow Argentine Lionel Messi鈥檚 free kick to jolt the tournament in Miami on Friday.
The Loons will next play the Chicago Fire in a Central Group 2 tilt on Thursday in St. Paul. If MNUFC doesn鈥檛 win, they will likely have to wait to see which two of the three teams advance to the knockout rounds; Puebla and Fire meet in the final group match next Monday in Bridgeview, Ill.
In a pause of MLS play, the Loons dispatched the 17th place team in the Liga MX to start a month鈥檚 long tournament.
The first half was defined by two massive moments. On a long dribble, Hlongwane fought through a near dispossession from a Puebla defender to rip a shot past goalkeeper Jesus Rodriguez in the 24th minute.
Five minutes later, referee Selvin Brown consulted video assistant review and determined Loons defender Michael Boxall had violent conduct toward Guillermo Martinez鈥檚 back.
Boxall was issued a red card 鈥� the first of his career 鈥� and the Loons were down to 10 men for the final hour of the match. Boxall will be suspended, barring a successful appeal, for Thursday鈥檚 match vs. Chicago.
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Without its right-sided center back, midfielder Kervin Arriaga took over for Boxall, and Hassani Dotson went from left wing to midfield.
Even down a man, the Loons produced a few scoring chances, including Reynoso cutting back on a Puebla defender and nearly chipping Rodriguez, but the shot hit the crossbar. Teemu Pukki鈥檚 hand went to his head in disbelief at the near goal.
Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made a massive save of a long-range rocket from Angel Robles just before halftime. It was a big moment that didn鈥檛 seem so large when MNUFC poured in three more goals.
Briefly
Loons winger Sang Bin Jeong suffered an ankle injury during Saturday鈥檚 training session and missed Sunday鈥檚 match. The South Korean had just returned from a two-game absence due to a groin injury to be a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Los Angeles last weekend. 鈥� There were six other MLS vs. Liga MX matchups over the weekend. It was 3-3 before the Loons鈥� win.
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