Quote Sheet:
MBFC (4) 2-2 (5) LAFC FT/PEN
Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Sporting Director & Head Coach Frank Yallop
On the result:
“For us, it’s about performance. I thought we performed well. We moved the ball quite well and created a ton of chances. I felt that we weren’t as sharp in the final third as we normally are and that’s what hurt us. I think we got in some really good spots, wide and centrally, and the final pass wasn’t there. Another night we probably could have scored three or four, but we didn’t do that. You have to tip your hat to LAFC. They hung in there and did well. Towards the end of the game they were coming on and I think we kind of hit a wall and got a little tired. 120 minutes of football is never easy on anyone, and some of the guys we put on hadn’t played for a while. Again, no excuses, but it was an even game. Losing on penalties is never easy, but it is what it is.”
On Chuy Enríquez, Jesse Maldonado and Simon Dawkins:
“I thought all three did really well. Chuy did well in the game against Pittsburgh as well. Simon, who has not played all season, I thought he made a difference in the game. Great goal, great combination play, and gets a great finish off. And then Jesse comes alive. That suited Jesse, that game. When we are on top and pushing, he is very good around the goal, like he showed. He had three or four really good chances, scored one goal, which was great to get the lead in extra time. It’s a shame we couldn’t hold on to that and maybe get the win so that he gets the winning goal. But I’m really happy with all three guys, I think they did well.
Forward Jesse Maldonado
On the environment tonight:
“It’s always a beautiful atmosphere when all of our fans show out – we do it for them. It was a very beautiful thing to play against an MLS side, especially LAFC, since they are the defending champs. It was great. Great to be out here, great to see all the fans that came out, just a great experience.”
On Frank Yallop’s message when subbing on:
“He just told me to go out, express myself and have fun. I feel like that’s exactly what I did and I was able to help the team a bit. We couldn’t keep the lead unfortunately, but I feel like I did what was asked of me and I had fun out there.”
On his preseason goal to make an impact when called upon:
“Of course, as soon as I came in and started getting a feel for the ball and getting some shots on, I felt like it was going to come. My teammates told me it was coming, my coach told me it was coming – I believed it and it came true.”
On what this means for the team moving forward:
“We’re going to keep moving forward regardless of the result from tonight. We are for sure a playoff team and we can even win the league, in my opinion. The whole team believes it, I believe it, the coaches believe it. So I think we are going to be a winning team overall.”
Forward Simon Dawkins
On his 90th minute equalizer to push the match to extra time:
“It was great for us. I knew we needed something from the bench and I’m glad I was that person to come on and get that spark going. It was great to get that goal and put us into extra time, it was just disappointing that we didn’t get the win.”
On the result:
“For us as a team, we are very disappointed in that. We felt like we could have advanced to the next round, but it wasn’t meant to be. We will look at video and see where we went wrong. We’ve got a big game on Saturday now, so we have to regroup and get ourselves ready. It’s disappointing, but for me personally, it was great to be back out there. It’s been a few months I think, so it’s good to get some minutes in. Again, just disappointed overall.”
