SA Star Achieves Historic Milestone in MLS
South African winger Bongokuhle Hlongwane netted two goals, marking his name in Minnesota United’s history as his team secured a 3-1 triumph over Houston in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Thursday morning.
With his mother and younger brother in attendance, the former Maritzburg United (now Durban City) star initiated the scoring for Minnesota just after the hour mark, racing over to the stands to celebrate with his family.
Hlongwane quickly found the back of the net again, adding a second goal just two minutes later, followed by Robin Lod, who increased the lead to 3-0. The visitors managed to find the net in stoppage time, thanks to on-loan Fluminense player Felipe Andrade.
With an exceptional performance that earned him the man of the match accolade, the 25-year-old forward played a pivotal role in elevating his team within the 15-team Western Conference of the MLS, enhancing their playoff possibilities.
In sharp contrast to Njabulo Blom’s Saint Louis City, which currently finds itself in 14th place in the same conference, Minnesota holds a solid third position with 33 points from 19 matches, comprising nine wins, six draws, and four losses.
Meanwhile, Hlongwane, who had only scored once in his initial 18 appearances this season while positioned as a right wingback, has now transitioned to a wide forward role in former Manchester United assistant coach Eric Ramsay’s 5-4-1 setup.
This season, the Bafana international has tallied three goals and two assists in 20 appearances across all competitions, starting in 16 of those matches. His recent accomplishments signify a significant milestone for Minnesota.
With his brace, Hlongwane has moved past Emmanuel Reynoso for the second-most regular-season goals in the club’s history, bringing his total to 24 since his arrival in the United States.
The KZN-born player joined Minnesota in January 2022, signing a three-year contract upon his arrival.
Recently, he extended his contract until December 2027, with an optional additional year following his renewal in November 2024.
