Emanuel Reynoso: Adrian Heath again calls on Minnesota United star to score more goals

Emanuel Reynoso sent Minnesota United into the US Open Cup round-of-16 on Thursday with a gorgeous goal against the Colorado Rapids.

Picking up at 1-1 from a day before following bad weather, the Loons had to wait until the 87th minute for the deciding goal. But despite it coming late, Reynoso showed incredible composure to beat a couple of defenders and curl the ball into the far corner.

“It was a quality goal from Rey [Emanuel Reynoso].  As we know he can do, as only he can do in those moments," head coach Adrian Heath said after the match.

But although Heath was delighted with Reynoso's contribution, and the quality of the strike, it once again left the Englishman scratching his head about his star player.

Reynoso is a clear talent and on his day, is the best playmaker in Major League Soccer. But all too often, the Argentine is more interested in providing for his teammates when a more selfish player would be able to find a goal himself. During his time at Allianz Field, Reynoso has provided 18 assists in 57 games but managed just 10 goals.

As he has done in the past, Heath once again called on Reynoso to become more ruthless in search of more goals of his own.

“The frustration for me is that he’s a really good finisher and he can get himself in those spots and we have said this before, he takes as much satisfaction in beating a player, bringing people towards him and sliding somebody else in to score a goal," the former Everton winger said.

Heath continued: "Now that’s all well and good because we know he can do that. I know he can get 10 goals a season as well. That’s a little cameo of what he can do. We need to see it more often and we need to see him in those positions.

"The irony for me is he’s in the penalty area when he is doing it. Too many times he wants to come and receive the ball too far away from goal. We have to get him in those spots and we will keep nudging him in that direction and keep showing him video of where he is when he scores those goals. Invariably he is 10 or 15 yards higher when he receives the ball. It’s something that we have spoken to him about in the past.”

Minnesota United have been drawn against Union Omaha in the round-of-16 while in MLS play, they travel to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.