Sorry I thought the guy who scored Minny II's 2nd goal was 16. In fact he was only 14!!
Anyway Putt as a striker in that last game, against Codey Phoenix. Mr Versatile, after being mostly a RB in this same comp last season.
Niche Cache
Troy Putt was an unknown quantity when he turned up in the Minnesota United system last year, Arrived from Auckland’s North Shore and had to make a name for himself from scratch. The U20 World Cup would have helped his cause although apparently not that much because he was mostly used as a right-back by the MNUFC2 squad in the Next Pro league that season. So this year he came in ready and motivated and trained the house down during preseason, earning an MLS debut in the opening round before settling back into the Next Pro stuff... a very different perspective to be bringing to the party. Year one he was a stranger. Year two he’s a senior professional.
He’s still occasionally filled in at right-back or right wing-back when required, however Putt has been used much more often as an attacker for the reserves in 2026. Usually on the wing which is probably where he forecasts at the higher levels (at least that’s how Minnesota United used him in his brief cameo on debut)... though this week they unleashed him as a striker in a match-up with Codey Phoenix and Tacoma Defiance. Lone man up top, there to run around and hustle the defence. Meanwhile, Phoenix had his usual spot at left-back for Tacoma... Phoenix captained the Auckland FC Reserves last year and Putt was due to join him in that team until this Minnesota United offer trumped the AFC one and he headed Stateside instead.
One thing about Putt is that he’s lightning fast. Another thing is that if you play him at striker, he’s not just going to hang off the last man. He’s going to press hard, he’s going to drop deep looking for touches, he’s going to get wide if the space is there. But apparently he’s also got striker’s instincts for hunting down goals because would you look at this...
Deceptively sharp finish, that. Two goals in his last three games. Almost set up another one moments later but his bro’s shot came back off the post. Tacoma Defiance fought back from a goal down to be leading 2-1 down the stretch when Minnesota chucked on a 14-year-old local (he turns 15 in two weeks), Jose Orta Ruiz, who scored on debut in the 88th min for a 2-2 draw. MLS Next Pro is allergic to draws so they had the usual bonus point penalty shootout afterwards and Troy Putt scored his attempt as the Mini-Loons won the pens 4-1. Phoenix also played a full game but he didn’t take a penalty.
