Some postmatch notes for you after Minnesota United's 1-0 victory against Orlando City SC on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
First of all, coach Adrian Heath confirmed that both midfielder Kevin Molino and midfielder Bashkim Kadrii are sick. The pair started feeling under the weather late on Thursday, and Heath said he kept them out of practice on Friday so as not to infect the rest of the group. Both were left out of the squad on Saturday, though Kadrii hasn't made the team in recent weeks anyway. But Molino likely would have started against his former team.
"I knew we were going to need a lot of energy today, so I didn't want to take any risks," Heath said. "But hopefully, it's only a 48-hour thing, and they'll be back into work Monday or Tuesday."
Also, team captain Francisco Calvo and midfielder Johan Venegas will both be on national team duty with Costa Rica for the next few weeks. The pair leave Sunday and will not return until June 14. Costa Rica has World Cup Qualifiers June 8 against Panama and June 13 against Trinidad and Tobago, where they will likely face-off with teammate Molino.
They will both miss the June 3 match at Sporting Kansas City and likely the June 14 U.S. Open Cup match also at Kansas City.
And here's a few quotes from Orlando's former No. 1 draft pick Cyle Larin and his relationship with former coach Heath.
Larin said before the match that Heath taught him a lot in his year-and-a-half as his coach.
"I was very close to him," Larin said. "He used to be a striker … being able to have a knack for goal, I think he taught me that very well.
"He wants to be on the field when you play for him. He's a player's coach," Larin said. "He was a great coach when he was there."
Heath said after the match that his son, Harrison Heath, who used to play under his dad at Orlando and is now on Atlanta United FC, is good friends with Larin. Larin has even spent Christmas and New Year with the Heaths.
Click here for my gamer and here for an update on United's stadium from team owner Bill McGuire.
Check out my postmatch Facebook Live below (or click here) and see what questions I answered for y'all. Also, I do a special guest interview/cameo with the Orlando Sentinel's Alicia DelGallo! Check out her stuff on Orlando City. She's pretty rad.
Also, click here for a video from Adrian Heath's postmatch presser.
