Minnesota United roughs up Everton 4-0 in international friendly

It was just an international friendly match, but Minnesota United put a beating down on its prestigious visitors from across the ocean.

The Loons poured on the offense against Everton FC in a 4-0 rout Wednesday at Allianz Field in a tune-up match before MLS play resumes on Saturday.

The “international friendly” definition may not have been descriptive enough, as it meant just a bit more to Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath, who played six seasons with Everton in the 1980s. Even though it must have been a special game for Heath, his team still has important MLS games coming and needs to be sharp.

The Loons starters played the first half, and that’s all they needed to pad a large lead that held to the final whistle.

Minnesota United’s leading goal scorer Emmanuel Reynoso got the first-half scoring party started. He made a few nifty moves to force a handball in the box, which gave him a penalty kick on the Everton goalkeeper and captain Jordan Pickford. Reynoso made the shot count to give the Loons a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute.

Four minutes after an own goal by an Everton defender made it 2-0 for Minnesota United, Luis Amarilla knocked in a short-range goal off a rebound from Pickford to make it 3-0. Late in the second half, Abu Danladi scored off a centering pass from Alan Benitez, who was making his Loons debut.

Though the starters came out after the first half, Reynoso’s night ended sooner than the rest. Shortly after his goal, he was down on the field with an injury. Heath made the decision to get his star out of the game after Reynoso got up.