Teemu Puki’s first goals in this season’s MLS. Robin Lod also featured strongly in the Orlando evening.
North American soccer league in MLS Teemu Pukin and By Robin Lodi represented by Minnesota United went on a robbery trip in Florida by beating Orlando City 3–2.
The Finnish striker Pukki, who was chosen as the first star of the match, completed two goals in the match. The goals were the first of the Finnish season in MLS.
Puki’s first goal was seen at four minutes by the Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallensen groping.
In the situation, the Finn ran towards Gallese, who had the ball in his possession. Gallese ended up shooting when Puki pressed the ball directly to the Finn’s leg, after which the Huuhkajat striker confidently moved the ball into the back corner of the goal.
In the second goal, at the 37th minute of the game, Puki’s Finnish teammate Lod provided a tool for Puki to the edge of the penalty area, from where the Finn sent the ball past Gallese for the second time.
Pukki was also close to the third full hit of the evening before the end of the first half, when the ball was passed to the Finn, but the game tool found its way into the stands.
The match was decided in the fourth minute of overtime, when the 23-year-old forward of the away team Minnesota Bongokuhle Hlongwane Gallensen placed the ball past Orlando’s goal with his guards. The right pass to the goal was served by a Nigerian Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi.
The South African went to celebrate the winning goal of the match together with his teammates in front of the Orlando fans. However, a cold reception awaited there.
In a video on Minnesota’s website (in time 3:38) shows how the Orlando supporter shows both middle fingers to the players of the away team from close range.
Norwich supporters in the stands
Supporters from Puki’s former team, the British Norwich City FC, had also arrived for the match.
Pukki even ran after the match to share group photos with the supporters in question.
In a Minnesota social media video, an older supporter says he misses Pukki.
– I miss you!
Pukki is well remembered for the British club, which the Finn represented for a total of five years from 2018 to 2023. The Finn moved to Minnesota in the summer of 2023.
Puk and Lodi’s Minnesota United will donate $1,000 in the name of the MVP to a destination of his choice. Thanks to Puki, who was chosen as the best player of the match, Minnesota now donated its money to the Finn’s chosen charity, which this time was a children’s cancer research institute.
Puki’s choice as the number one star of the match was overwhelming. The Finn received almost 88 percent of all votes, while his teammate Hassani Dotson got less than five percent and the goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair a good eight percent.
Minnesota has three matches behind them in MLS, of which the team has won two. The opponent of the night, Orlando, on the other hand, has not yet managed to win any of their three matches.
Minnesota will next face Los Angeles FC on March 17.