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Offline maxg

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #780 on: October 19, 2020, 09:11:58 AM »
Kamara's Sierra Leone was banned by FIFA in 2018, lifted in 2019. Rarely a permanent thing when there is money to be made both ways.

Molino turn. Keep letting ppl know we exist, we'll be back, hopefully on our terms- add 0 and feet , and not on our knees.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2020, 03:31:28 PM by maxg »

Offline Peong

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #781 on: October 20, 2020, 11:26:32 AM »
In the game vs Dallas Minnesota looked tired. They had some covid issues that prevented them from training properly and they missed some games. Molino looked tired and could have driven the offense more. Dallas played all over them in the 2nd half.
I expect more energy from Minn next game.

Offline Tallman

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Molino, St. Clair shortlisted for MLS awards
« Reply #782 on: October 29, 2020, 11:47:29 AM »
Molino, St. Clair shortlisted for MLS awards
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)


T&T midfielder Kevin Molino of Minnesota United and his Canada-born T&T team-mate, goalkeeper Dayne St Clair have both been shortlisted for individual end-of-season 2020 US Major League Soccer (MLS) awards as announced on Wednesday.

The voting for this season's end-of-year awards, including the newly-announced Young Player of the Year Award, will run from October 29 through November 9, with the finalists to be announced on November 11.

The nominees for the awards were submitted by the clubs, and the winners will be determined through voting from three groups inclusive of current players: clubs coaches, technical directors and general managers, and selected media members; representing local and national outlets who consistently covered this year's MLS regular-season.

Molino who has been in good form for Minnesota has been nominated for the 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP award as well as the Comeback Player of the Year while St Clair, has been shortlisted for the Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Minnesota United's Adrian Heath was also nominated for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year.

Additionally, MLS will recognise the top plays of the season with the AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate, with voting for both awards set to run from November 12-18 on MLSsoccer.com. of Minnesota United and his Canada-born T&T team-mate, goalkeeper Dayne St Clair have both been shortlisted for individual end-of-season 2020 US Major League Soccer (MLS) awards as announced yesterday.

The voting for this season's end-of-year awards, including the newly-announced Young Player of the Year Award, will run from October 29 through November 9, with the finalists to be announced on November 11.

The nominees for the awards were submitted by the clubs, and the winners will be determined through voting from three groups inclusive of current players: clubs coaches, technical directors and general managers, and selected media members; representing local and national outlets who consistently covered this year's MLS regular-season.

Molino who has been in good form for Minnesota has been nominated for the 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP award as well as the Comeback Player of the Year while St Clair, has been shortlisted for the Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Minnesota United's Adrian Heath was also nominated for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year.

Additionally, MLS will recognise the top plays of the season with the AT&T MLS Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year presented by Allstate, with voting for both awards set to run from November 12-18 on MLSsoccer.com.
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Offline Tallman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #783 on: November 09, 2020, 11:01:15 AM »
WATCH: Kevin Molino scores twice to help Minnesota United beat FC Dallas 3-0.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/UACVgvWGZj4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/UACVgvWGZj4</a>
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Offline Deeks

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #784 on: November 09, 2020, 02:43:53 PM »
Congrats Kevin. The best TT player at the moment.

Offline Tallman

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Minnesota United FC midfielder Kevin Molino voted MLS Player of the Week
« Reply #785 on: November 09, 2020, 07:00:56 PM »
Minnesota United FC midfielder Kevin Molino voted MLS Player of the Week
MLS Communications


Minnesota United FC midfielder Kevin Molino was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for the final week of the 2020 MLS season.
 
Molino was involved in all three of Minnesota’s goals in a 3-0 victory over FC Dallas at Allianz Field on Decision Day 2020 presented by AT&T, contributing with two goals and an assist in Sunday’s match. The Trinidad and Tobago National Team member finished the regular season with nine goals and four assists. Minnesota finished the year in fourth place in the Western Conference standings with 34 points and 1.62 points per game (9-5-7 overall record), securing home-field advantage in Round One of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. 
 
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when Emmanuel Reynoso sent a ball just inside the top of the box, where Molino finished with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner of goal (watch goal). Molino would then assist on Reynoso’s 47th minute goal to give Minnesota a 2-0 advantage (watch assist).
 
Molino completed his brace in the 79th minute, the sixth multigoal game of his MLS career, when Reynoso found him in the center of the box for an open right footed finish to cap the Loons’ 3-0 win (watch goal).
 
Minnesota continues its season when hosting the Colorado Rapids in Round One of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs at a date and time to be announced in the coming days.
 
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
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Offline soccerman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #786 on: November 10, 2020, 02:45:36 PM »
Congrats Kevin. The best TT player at the moment.
You mean for a while.

Offline Deeks

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #787 on: November 10, 2020, 07:40:52 PM »
Congrats Kevin. The best TT player at the moment.
You mean for a while.

That too!!

Offline Tallman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #788 on: November 22, 2020, 09:35:47 PM »
WATCH: Kevin Molino scores two against Colorado Rapids

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/M3Z2usvDotQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/M3Z2usvDotQ</a>

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Molino leads Loons to first MLS playoff win.
T&T Guardian Reports.


T&T international Kevin Molino scored a brace and Canada-born T&T goalkeeper Dayne St Clair kept a clean sheet as Minnesota United FC secured their first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs win in club history, convincingly knocking off the visiting Colorado Rapids 3-0 Sunday night in Round One to book a spot in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The 30-year-old Carenage-born Molino’s first goal came in the 22nd minute when the attacking midfielder sent a low, left-footed shot past Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Emanuel Reynoso was fouled in the buildup, but the referee played the advantage and Minnesota capitalised for a 1-0 lead.

The Loons then made it 2-0 in the 54th minute through Robin Lod, who collected a Reynoso through ball and curled a left-footer perfectly into the far corner. Lod patiently set up Colorado’s Danny Wilson atop the 18-yard box, then made no mistake with the delicate finish.

Molino got his brace in the 79th minute, his 11th goal of the season, collecting a defence-splitting pass from Jan Gregus before sinking his finish over Yarbrough to put the game out of reach at 3-0.

Colorado generated several quality chances, but couldn’t get one past Minnesota goalkeeper St Clair in their first playoff appearance since 2016. Loons’ centre back Bakaye Dibassy blocked a Cole Bassett effort from close range in the 48th minute and Gregus denied Nicolas Benezet a tap-in at the 52-minute mark with a last-ditch, goal-line tackle.

The scoreline could’ve been more lopsided, though Reynoso hit the post in the 31st minute, the Argentine gathered Lod’s layoff, then couldn’t finish into the open net.

Tonight (November 24), Molino's close friend and fellow Carenage-resident, Joevin Jones and defending champions Seattle Sounders will start their title defence with a blockbuster Round One showdown with LAFC at Lumen Field, a year after both teams met in the Western Conference Final.

The two MLS heavyweights have met three times in the regular season in 2020, with Seattle winning both matches at home and LAFC taking the lone matchup at the Banc of California Stadium.

The teams also met in the Round of 16 at the MLS is Back Tournament when LAFC were the emphatic 4-1 victor.

Last year, the Sounders booked a ticket to MLS Cup for the third time in four years with a 3-1 win in the Western Conference Final at Banc of California Stadium.

« Last Edit: November 24, 2020, 01:53:55 AM by Flex »
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Offline Deeks

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #789 on: November 22, 2020, 11:18:41 PM »
Yes, I saw the first goal. It was great. His striker's intuition has evolved. He could have scored a second goal after that. But he pass the ball to his left and the player in turn passed it back to the incoming mid-fielder whose shot hit the post. It is a real joy to watch Kevin play. Now I have to find a way to get him to Old Trafford  ;D.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2020, 10:16:09 AM by Deeks »

Offline Deeks

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #790 on: November 22, 2020, 11:24:42 PM »
But Minnesota defense needs some work. At one time in the second half, Colorado was shredding them to pieces, and the ball would not go in the net.

Offline chelsealife

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #791 on: November 23, 2020, 04:17:45 PM »
Anyone thinks he'll move to a European team? Maybe Belgium or Holland ,even Germany?

Offline Tallman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #792 on: November 23, 2020, 09:16:55 PM »
Anyone thinks he'll move to a European team? Maybe Belgium or Holland ,even Germany?

At 30 years old, with two ACL injuries? I highly doubt it. In any event, Minnesota currently trying to extend his contract.
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Offline maxg

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #793 on: November 24, 2020, 09:50:56 AM »
Anyone thinks he'll move to a European team? Maybe Belgium or Holland ,even Germany?

At 30 years old, with two ACL injuries? I highly doubt it. In any event, Minnesota currently trying to extend his contract.
Agree, but he most certainly deserve a substantial raise, as I beleive his contract expires this year.

Offline Flex

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #794 on: November 27, 2020, 07:25:38 AM »
Molino threatens to hang up T&T boots.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


IF the TT Football Association (TTFA) is unable to get its house in order before the start of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in March 2021, talismanic midfielder Kevin Molino plans to omit himself from national senior team selection.

The US-based Minnesota United footballer believes T&T’s players have “suffered” for the past decade, under several administrations, and is considering watching the upcoming World Cup qualifiers from the stands, if the local fraternity does not improve its business affairs. Molino returned to the US in January but carefully followed the legal dilemma between the TTFA and FIFA which resulted in the former being indefinitely suspended, on September 24, by the sport’s global governing body.

The eight-month feud between the two organisations saw much division within the ranks of the local association. The dispute climaxed with the TTFA membership voting in favour of the normalisation committee and agreeing to revoke all legal claims against FIFA.

In the end, FIFA’s removal of the William Wallace-led administration and appointment of a normalisation committee, in March, to run T&T’s football affairs was made official and the FIFA-ban lifted, on November 19.

Molino, however, is cautious of his next step. His future, as arguably T&T’s most decorated midfielder of this era, hangs in the balance of the TTFA’s dawning decisions.

With an impressive 11 goals and four assists to his name from the 2020 Major League Soccer (MLS) season thus far, his potential absence in the red, white and black for the upcoming qualifiers would be a devastating blow to T&T’s chances.

“The people at the top have to do things right. If they don’t do things right, I don’t see myself being a part of the team (for the qualifiers) and that’s my honest opinion. I’m not going to say this now and do something else later on. I would like to continue playing but only if things are done the right way,” he said.

Molino continued, “As players, we suffer a lot. We’ve been struggling for over a decade and now we need to do things right for the betterment for the game. Once they make the right decisions and look after the most important asset of the team, the players, I’m open to be a part of the team.”

The creative attacker thinks players should not have to worry about financial and administrative transparency while on national duty. According to him, national representatives must enter tournaments with a clear competitive mindset to increase player efficiency.

Internal off-field issues can only bring harm to an individual player, and by extension the team. He also believes once these distractions are removed, T&T can easily regain its position as one of Concacaf’s top-ranked teams.

“It would be great to just be able to come into a game and think about performing and coming to train and not thinking about the things outside. Once we can do that, and be professional about everything, I don’t see why we can’t compete against the top teams once more,” he added.

Molino said he was deeply hurt when T&T was banned by FIFA. At 30, Molino accepts his professional career may soon be over in the next couple years.

While adamant to exclude himself from national team selection if no real change comes to the TTFA’s operations, he still expressed desire to drape himself in national colours once more, more so, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Previously, Molino represented T&T at the World Cup qualifiers in 2011 and in 2015/2016. Throughout his international career, he helped T&T lift the Caribbean Cup in 2012 and 2014, was ousted in the quarter-finals of the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup, competed at the Concacaf Nations League in 2019 and played an array of friendlies.

To ensure continuity for himself and other seniors, especially the youths, he wants all administrative issues ironed out for the overall development of this nation’s future stars.

“This is about preparing the younger generation of national players. I’m almost on my way out. These changes need to be made, not for the seniors, but for the youngsters who are coming up. It’s important that we put things place now as it’s crucial for our progress,” he said.

Although stern with his words, Molino anticipates a return to national duty and the possibility of achieving his dream World Cup debut.

“My dream to play at the senior World Cup will never change. There’s no other feeling like walking out to your national anthem and seeing your people in the stands cheering you on. It’s almost unexplainable. The emotion, the passion.

“I was happy when I heard the ban was lifted. I saw this as an opportunity for all of us to come back and expose our talent and put T&T back on the map. I will try to do what it takes to get there. Now, it’s just the beginning. But I need to keep going and get everybody on the same page. Once we work hard together we can produce for the national team,” Molino concluded.

Molino and his Minnesota United outfit will square off against Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference semi-finals of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup playoffs on either December 1 or 2 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.

This is the first time that Minnesota United have progressed to this stage of the competition. Molino, however, is intent on going all the way to capture the coveted crown and create club history. This is his fourth year at the club.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Thomo

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #795 on: November 30, 2020, 04:59:13 PM »
Fair enough by Molino. However, if we get our house in order and he's satisfied, is called up for a crucial game he should not be sneaking out to boat rides!

Offline maxg

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #796 on: November 30, 2020, 09:57:37 PM »
Fair enough by Molino. However, if we get our house in order and he's satisfied, is called up for a crucial game he should not be sneaking out to boat rides!
https://youtu.be/CcH6ZliaHWo

Offline Tallman

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Molino aiming for MLS crown
« Reply #797 on: December 01, 2020, 08:13:10 PM »
Molino aiming for MLS crown
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)


AN IN-FORM Kevin Molino plays an integral role in Minnesota United’s historic Audi 2020 Major League Soccer (MLS) Playoffs Western Conference semi-finals against Sporting Kansas City (SKC) on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old midfielder scored 11 goals and four assists in 18 games this season and, like the club, will make his first appearance at this stage of the competition.

Molino has consistently improved and worked his way back into the team, coming off the second ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear of his career, which kept him out of action from March 2018 to April 2019.

He finished second to Los Angeles FC’s Bradley Wright-Phillips for the 2020 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

This is, however, the T&T player’s final leg of his four-year contract with Minnesota. He is intent on finishing this season with his best performance ever.

“I need to bring intensity and the Caribbean flavor. Work hard, make and score a goal, show my quality on the field, work together for my teammates and we’ll see what God has in store for the team,” he said.

Molino joined Minnesota United in 2017 and has 14 goals and nine assists overall in 37 games. The fourth seeded 'Loons' are expected to face a competitive clash against SKC, the conference’s top seed.

Molino, though, believes his squad has the depth and determination to pull off a victory against a formidable SKU unit.

“The (team) mindset is good with the guys in the locker room. We just need to keep our heads and feet down and let our boots do the talking. It’s going to be a tough game but once we prepare, we have a chance,” he added.

Having already achieved a historic club feat by reaching this far in the MLS Playoffs, Molino is not satisfied and wants to climax a “challenging” year by lifting the coveted 2020 title. Last year, Minnesota United lost the quarter-finals against LA Galaxy.

“The vibes is good but the guys are humble about it. We always want more. We want the Championship crown. I think what I’ve been doing is not good enough, I need to do more. I need to always put in my mind that I can do better.

“Sometimes players misunderstand my passion and think that I argue but that’s my mentality, I want more, for everybody. This semi-final is not enough, it’s for an average player. You cannot compare yourself with average, you have to always think you are the best in whatever you do,” he added.

If Minnesota emerges victorious on Wednesday, Molino may lock horns with close friend and T&T midfielder Joevin Jones in the conference final. Jones plays for Seattle Sounders and contests the other Western Conference semi-final against FC Dallas on Tuesday.

During the downtime, the T&T pair linked up on a few occasions to train together and support each other through the coronavirus pandemic. Molino hasn’t returned home in over a year and as inspired as he is to play in Wednesday’s semi-final, the T&T player is also excited to return home.

He expressed pleasure in having the opportunity to fly the red, white and black in the US and hopes to be an inspiration to younger nationals seeking pro careers.

He continued, “Just like the Championship, it’s my dream to return to my country. However, I want to be an example to show the world that T&T still has a lot of talent. I want to represent T&T and serve as a model to the young ones. Like back in the days, when Dwight Yorke was a hero.”

Having been injured for over a year, Molino described this season as his best one yet. Owing to his ACL injury, the experienced midfielder admitted there were many trying times during his journey to recovery.

Being unable to play was the most hurtful part for Molino. He, however, was inspirited by the three-month recovery of Kieron Pollard from a similar ACL injury back in 2016. According to Molino, Pollard’s speedy comeback served as added motivation for him to mentally and physically get through his downtime.

“I was out almost for a year and a half, I didn’t play. Sometimes the meniscus acts up and irritates the hamstring a lot. Thank God I sacrificed and put in the work to strengthen my hamstring and do what is necessary to help my team.

“I’m also a big fan of cricket and of Kieron Pollard. He tore an ACL just like me and came back to become one of the best T20 cricketers. This is what we have to do as sportsmen, take a page out of our fellow athlete’s books and he’s a player I look up to,” said Molino.

The Eastern Conference semi-finals kicked off with Orlando City versus New England Revolution and Columbus Crew versus Nashville SC on Sunday.

Molino concluded, “It’s about the bunch of players (at Minnesota) and we work for each other. We just want to continue doing this, enjoying the team’s success and see where it takes us. But we’re not going to do it without pushing each other and a lot of hard work.”
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Offline Cocorite

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #798 on: December 03, 2020, 08:30:33 PM »
Molino gettin' on bad again

Half Time

Minn 3  SKC 0

Two clinical finishes by the man on fire
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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #799 on: December 03, 2020, 11:05:34 PM »
 :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #800 on: December 04, 2020, 03:35:04 AM »
He reads the game well. :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The difference between the possible and
the impossible lies in a person determination.

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Offline Tallman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #801 on: December 04, 2020, 07:27:27 AM »
WATCH: Kevin Molino scores two goals against Sporting Kansas City to lead Minnesota United to the MLS Western Conference Final.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/g6M3kR4l3KI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/g6M3kR4l3KI</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/pi9QZ4AB7ME" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/pi9QZ4AB7ME</a>
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Offline soccerman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #802 on: December 04, 2020, 09:36:59 AM »
Yea two excellent goals. He sees the space and the #10 was on his wavelength and had the vision to provide him with quality assists. I was hoping they interviewed him after the game since he was man of the match but FOX dropped the ball. Seattle in the conference final on Monday night, should be another good one.

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Molino vs Jones for MLS Western crown
« Reply #803 on: December 05, 2020, 10:12:13 AM »
Molino vs Jones for MLS Western crown
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)


FORMER MUCURAPO Secondary School teammates Kevin Molino (Minnesota United) and Joevin Jones (Seattle Sounders) will meet in the Audi 2020 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup Playoffs Western Conference final on Monday.

A brace from Molino in the opening half of Thursday’s conference semi-final spearheaded Minnesota’s 3-0 triumph over top seed Sporting Kansas City.

One day earlier, Jones helped defending MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders into their second straight conference final, courtesy a 1-0 victory over FC Dallas.

Seattle are one win away from making their fourth final in the last five years while Minnesota are into their first Western Conference final in only their fourth year as an MLS club. In 2019, Minnesota exited the MLS Playoffs in round one.

Molino is a contender for the MLS Playoffs MVP, having bagged two goals against the Colorado Rapids in a similar 3-0 round one rout two weeks ago. The 30-year-old midfielder has now tallied 13 goals and four assists in 19 games this season.

National men’s coach Terry Fenwick has been closely following the pair’s competitive exploits on the US circuit and is eager to witness Monday’s conference final. He dubbed the pair “a breath of fresh air” to climax an unsettling year for TT football.

“After all of the issues regarding football, these two guys are flying the flag high for T&T. They alone, and without the national team, are putting TT on the map because of their professionalism, energies and positivity moving football forward,” said Fenwick.

The English coach considers Molino and Jones role models for the younger generation of national footballers.

He is in constant contact with the pair, among other foreign-based senior nationals, via WhatsApp. Fenwick rues the fact that Molino and Jones will be going up against each other and will not be able to share the title as teammates.

He added, “The goals Molino have scored have been fantastic. They were great goals with good buildups that he was also involved in. He’s done a remarkable job and it’s absolutely a good look for him.

"It’s a shame they’re not on the same team so they can both win.”

On September 24, FIFA suspended the T&T Football Association (TTFA) after ex-president William Wallace and his former executive challenged the global governing body’s decision at the local courts, instead of the Switzerland-based CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) to remove them, on March 17, and implement a normalisation committee, headed by Robert Hadad.

FIFA’s decision to remove the TTFA executive was due to the $50 million debt accumulated by the local body.

The suspension was lifted on November 19 after an October 23 decision by the Court of Appeal for all legal claims brought against FIFA by Wallace, former vice-presidents Clynt Taylor and Joseph Sam Phillip) to be terminated.

In a recent interview with Newsday, Molino threatened the TTFA that he would hang up his boots if the fraternity does not get its house in order before the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in March 2021.

Because of the eight-month legal wrangling between the sports’ global governing body and TTFA, Molino said the players have suffered the most.

Arguably T&T’s most talismanic striker of this period, Molino serves as a key asset to T&T’s chances of securing qualification for both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Fenwick understands the player’s frustration and called on the powers that be to observe the short- and long-term repercussions of TTFA’s power struggle.

“It’s a big statement from a big player. His sentiments are right, because we all want to move the game on positively in T&T. We’re all hoping he returns to the national team.

“Football is not a corner-shop business any more. It’s a huge conglomerate. World football is huge today. We’ve got to take it seriously.

“Unfortunately the warring factions on the ground here in T&T are not seeing it for the magnitude of how the game’s being played around the world and how it’s affecting players,” Fenwick said.

The national coach acknowledged T&T football is going through a difficult time. He believes the squad will approach the coming competitive season with enthusiasm and clear intent to return the national team to a competitive standard in Concacaf.

“We’ve come to a very difficult time in T&T football and we’re trying to move it ahead. The best we can do at the moment is take it step by step. We’re still looking at resources and finances coming from the normalisation committee and remain optimistic.”
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Offline Peong

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #804 on: December 05, 2020, 11:16:36 AM »
"Molino is the undisputed playoffs MVP"




It was the Bebelo Reynoso and Kevin Molino show as Minnesota United brushed Sporting Kansas City aside to book a Western Conference Final date with the Seattle Sounders. Here are my takeaways.
Molino is the undisputed playoffs MVP

The first half of this game was one of the weirdest 3-0 games I’ve ever seen. It’s not that Minnesota didn’t deserve it, they did — it’s that Sporting had enough chances to put the game to bed long before the Loons got going. The first 25 minutes of this game left me wondering how on earth Minnesota were still in the game. And then Molino woke up and continued to make his case for MLS Playoffs MVP, and just like that, Minnesota punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final.

Molino is a player I’ve always liked but at times he has flattered to deceive. The talent is there, but he can be great one game and then anonymous the next. For one reason or another, he’s found a zone right now that very few athletes reach. He’s in a place where everything he tries is coming of, things that take years to perfect look effortless for him, and he is putting the ball in the back of the next with an efficiency that any fox in the box would be proud of.

He’s been the best player in the playoffs — bar none. Minnesota as a whole look incredibly deadly going forward and it’s not just Molino, it’s their entire attacking quartet of Robin Lod, Ethan Finlay, Reynoso and of course Molino. I absolutely love the way they get out on the break — they attack with pace and purpose and look like they have a clear plan for what they want to do. Sporting didn’t help themselves defensively, but this was more about how well Minnesota took their chances when they arrived.

The first goal was exceptional. The quick passing and off the ball movement was top notch as was the timing of both Molino’s run and the pass from the ever-impressive Reynoso. That was Adrian Heath’s team at their attacking best — fast, precise, purposeful and deadly.
Watch: Reynoso and Molino combine for first two Minnesota goals

The Reynoso-Molino combination is eerily similar to the Lodeiro-Morris one that has worked wonders for the Sounders. You can know what they want to do, but it’s very difficult, if not outright impossible to stop it when it’s in full flow. They are not quite at the level of the Sounders duo yet because those two have produced performances that have translated into silverware. But, given time, and the current trajectory they’re on, this is a duo that can dominate for a while.

They are the perfect pair because their skill sets complement each other so well. One likes to run off the ball and get in behind, while the other seemingly has eyes at the back of his head and can pick a pass through any defense. Again, very similar to the Sounders duo. Reynoso has been a revelation. I judge players based on how good they make those around them and he is top-notch when it comes to that. Molino is a similar player to what I was: good on the dribble, can go left or right, but he is more than just a winger — he is goal dangerous and also able to come inside and play-make at times. There aren’t many tandems I’d take over Molino and Reynoso right now, they are absolutely flying.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2020, 11:20:25 AM by Peong »

Offline Tallman

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #805 on: December 05, 2020, 07:21:40 PM »
WATCH: Catching up with Minnesota United's Kevin Molino and Seattle Sounders FC's Joevin Jones ahead of Monday's MLS Cup Western Conference Final.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/6dF6myIM5a8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/6dF6myIM5a8</a>
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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #806 on: December 07, 2020, 09:35:54 PM »
There have been a couple tackles during this first half that made me grimace in concern for Molino.

Offline Cocorite

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #807 on: December 07, 2020, 09:48:42 PM »
There have been a couple tackles during this first half that made me grimace in concern for Molino.

Yep, especially knowing his history.

But he is a very intelligent player. . .he has learned a lot from them.

I'm wondering what is Jones' role. I mean what did the coach tell him. Where is his creativity? Several times it seemed beter to take on his man instead of forcing a pass,
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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #808 on: December 07, 2020, 10:39:14 PM »
There have been a couple tackles during this first half that made me grimace in concern for Molino.

Yep, especially knowing his history.

But he is a very intelligent player. . .he has learned a lot from them.

I'm wondering what is Jones' role. I mean what did the coach tell him. Where is his creativity? Several times it seemed beter to take on his man instead of forcing a pass,

Seems they were looking to generate the opportunity from outside.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Kevin Molino Thread.
« Reply #809 on: December 07, 2020, 11:02:37 PM »
 Tough!

 

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