Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath traveled to Ecuador in late November to scout someone in a playoff game between LDU Quito and Universidad Catolica del Ecuador. Instead, he found Paraguayan striker Luis Amarilla.
Two months later United acquired the 6-foot attacker, who could be one of three young, talented South Americans on the team's roster when its regular season begins March 1 in Portland.
The team announced Amarilla's signing on Wednesday. He joins the team on a 12-month loan from Vélez Sarsfield in Argentina's Primera Division, with the Loons using targeted allocation money with an option to buy.
He'll join 21-year-old Mason Toye out front on a team that needs scoring punch. The Loons lost 2017 No. 1 overall pick Abu Danladi to Nashville in the expansion draft. And last week it bought out the guaranteed contract of former designated player Angelo Rodriguez.
That buyout created salary-cap space United can use to make other moves, including Amarilla's acquisition. He will join the Loons pending a physical and receipt of his P1 Visa and international transfer certificate, and occupy an international roster spot.
Heath came away impressed that November night with Amarilla, who scored the game's first three goals in a 3-2 victory.
Heath called himself more impressed with Amarilla's anticipation, instincts and runs inside the 18-yard penalty box than with his hat trick.
"I went to look at somebody else," Heath said, "and while I was in the stadium, I rang people here and said, 'There's a kid here I really like.' The more we worked on it, the more we've had a chance to look long and hard about it."
