Bongokuhle Hlongwane
MIN
Right Wingback
Right Winger
Balanced Full Back
Jun 20, 2000 (26)
Right
6'0"
172 lb
Bags assist
Hlongwane assisted once to go with three crosses (one accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 3-1 loss against Seattle Sounders FC.
Analysis: Hlongwane was the lone player to earn an assist for the Loons on Saturday as they only scored one goal, with the forward finding Anthony Markanich in the 57th minute. This is the forward's first assist of the season, coming after 16 appearances (five starts). It is also his first goal contribution of the season.
On bench against Galaxy
Hlongwane (knee) is among the substitute options for Saturday's matchup against Los Angeles Galaxy.
Analysis: Hlongwane is a versatile contributor for Minnesota, so having him back available increases the team's ability to rotate in both wide and central spots, with Kyle Duncan and Joaquin Pereyra possibly seeing their involvement reduced. Still, the South African has been limited to a second-unit role for most of this year and has yet to score or assist over 570 minutes of MLS play.
Out with knee injury
Hlongwane will miss at least the next game against San Jose Earthquakes while he recovers from a knee issue.
Analysis: Hlongwane is one of Minnesota's most dangerous wide attackers, a South African international whose pace, direct running, and ability to score from the left flank make him one of the Loons' most impactful individual players, and his knee injury comes after he made his return to the starting lineup following a run of substitute appearances. The severity of the problem and his recovery progress will determine whether this is a short-term scare or a longer absence, and there's little clarity on that for the time being. Kyle Duncan appears set to operate on the right flank while the injured player is out.
On bench Wednesday
Hlongwane (personal) is among the substitutes in Wednesday's game versus Colorado Rapids.
Analysis: Hlongwane will aim to bounce back, even though his playing time will be limited in the midweek clash. The versatile player was sidelined for two games due to family reasons after losing his starting spot over the previous few matches. He'll offer an alternative to Kyle Duncan on the right flank and to Owen Gene in midfield in upcoming fixtures.
Out for personal reasons
Hlongwane will miss the weekend's meeting with Columbus Crew because of a "family emergency", as coach Cameron Knowles confirmed Friday, Andy Greder of Pioneer Press reports.
Analysis: Hlongwane is now unavailable, and it's unclear when he'll return to work with the team, so Kyle Duncan should feature at right wing-back for now. The versatile player has recently struggled to find the consistency he enjoyed last season, and his participation might remain limited even if he returns to contention in the short term.
Select Player
Search and select a player to compare