HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
General thoughts on the match ...
“I thought we started a little bit slow. Our ball retention wasn’t the best first 10-15 minutes and we weathered a couple of opportunities from them. But after I thought, once we weathered the storm, I thought we were more than capable of catching them on the break, on the counter-attack, and I did say to them if we don’t concede any more, we can win this game.”
On his expectations of Kevin Molino and Ethan Finlay ...
"It was a great ball from Ethan, a really good header down, you know heading it down makes it difficult for the keeper. Pleased for Kev [Kevin Molino] because he’s worked real hard in preseason, trying to get him back into thinking about scoring goals. Trust me, it’s never an easy place to come and play football, especially on the opening day when everybody’s full of everything because it’s the opening day of the season. So, delighted for the players, all the hard work they put in preseason actually showed with our defensive shape at times. I thought they were excellent.”
On his first win here at Providence Park in four years ...
“I think it is, is it? Just as I said, I’m pleased for about, what do you have, a couple of hundred people up in the corner there of Minnesota fans so it was great to give them something to cheer. I thank them for the support and now we dust ourselves down, go again on Monday and let’s see where we are next week at San Jose.”
On Ethan Finlay’s performance ...
“His energy levels were terrific but that’s what we know we got with Ethan. He’s put a bit of quality in for a great bit of movement from Luis [Amarilla], he looks to run in near post, balls off the back shoulder, all the stuff that we were talking about, his movement, and as I say, pleased for him, pleased for Kev [Kevin Molino] and no I’m just pleased for the group.”
On Luis Amarilla’s missed opportunity in the first half ...
“He’ll be disappointed with the one from the corner in the first half. And if you look we had two or three really other good opportunities as well. Keeper made a great save from Robin Lod, which would’ve took us to 2-1 back up again. But overall, delighted with everything. Delighted with the application of the guys to stick to the game plan and work really hard. So a good start.”
On coming back from Portland’s equalizer ...
“The shape was really good all night you know, they got really quality players, they spent an awful lot of money putting together this group of players together, Portland. So we knew we were going to have to withstand 10-15 at a time of defending in our box and when we did, when we needed it, Boxy [Michael Boxall], Ike [Opara], Romain [Metanire] and Chase [Gasper], they stood up and I thought we were worthy winners in the end actually.”
On Tyler Miller’s performance ...
“Great presence coming in between bodies to come and take crosses. As I say, delighted for everyone.”
ETHAN FINLAY
General thoughts on the match ...
“Great team win tonight. We were able to weather the storm the first 15 minutes, settle down I think and we knew what this game was going to be about. It’s early in the season, things aren’t always the prettiest sometimes and I think we had some sloppy moments maybe in the first half and then we kind of figured it out and started to really settle in and really took advantage on the counter-attack and we’re very clinical so really happy with the start from all phases.”
On if this is what Adrian Heath expects from he and Kevin Molino …
“I mean yeah, two and two, two assists for me and two goals for him, a great start to our 2020 campaign. So yeah we’re just getting going. Luis [Amarilla] one of 25 in the books here so a really nice night for all the guys along the front line.”
KEVIN MOLINO
On the team’s second-half performance ...
“After a difficult first half, all credit to them, I think we fought hard and stuck together as a team. You know Portland is a very good team at home, they have a lot of quality, the fans get involved in the game and of course [it was] difficult the first 15 minutes but we weathered the storm and we got a goal and we rallied together as a team.”
On if this is what Adrian Heath wants from him and Ethan Finlay …
“I felt good all preseason, I put in a lot of work and now it’s the result of the work that I put in through preseason and you know all credit to the team, not just me and Ethan, it was a team performance defensively, midfield and attacking and we’re happy for the win.”
On his first goal …
“It was anticipation thinking that the ball was going to come back to me and I followed up and take my time and scored for the team.”
On his second goal of the match …
“Good combination with the team and I take my time and score a goal.”
