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Ugly upset: Minnesota United loses to third-tier Union Omaha in U.S. Open Cup

andy greder, pioneer press
·4 min read

When Minnesota United scored an easy sixth-minute goal against Union Omaha on Wednesday, it looked like the top-flight MLS side would make quick work of the third-tier USL outfit in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday at Allianz Field.

It had shades of when the Loons trounced New Mexico United 6-1 in the 2019 quarterfinals of the national tournament.

Instead, Omaha scored an equalizing goal just before halftime, took the lead just after the break and pulled off a massive 2-1 upset.

This is clearly in contention for Minnesota’s worst loss in club history. Manager Adrian Heath called the defeat “embarrassing,” with a “comic (first) goal” and stressed they had enough talent on field to win. He also said, “It’s my responsibility to make sure they don’t play like that.”

Heath said Tuesday Union Omaha would be treated with the respect they deserve. Union Omaha, the defending USL League One champion, was the first third-tier side to upset an MLS foe when it took down Chicago Fire in penalty kicks in the third round on April 19.

But Heath did not treat them with the utmost respect. With eye toward a key MLS home match against New York City on Saturday, star Emanuel Reynoso was rested after subbed on and carried them to a late winner in the Round of 32 against Colorado Rapids. Leading scorer Robin Lod wasn’t pushed with an ailing groin. Minnesota also didn’t play No. 1 goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, key center back Bakaye Dibassy, captain midfielder Wil Trapp and left back Kemar Lawrence.

“We had a 16-man squad (Wednesday),” captain Michael Boxall said. “Probably half the players sitting in the stands who could have helped us (Wednesday). I mean 30-40 minutes isn’t going to kill anyone for the weekend.”

Heath still started two Designated Players in Luis Amarilla and Adrien Hunou. Hunou scored, but Amarilla’s drought without a goal reached nine games played. Amarilla and others couldn’t capitalize on first half-scoring chances, and it came back to bite.

Omaha will play on the road against Houston Dynamo or Sporting Kansas City in the quarterfinals on June 21-22.

The Loons were unbeaten in three Open Cup games against lower-level competition since 2017, with a victory in penalty kicks over FC Cincinnati in 2018 before they joined MLS and New Mexico United in 2019, when they advanced to the championship match, losing 2-1 to Atlanta United.

The Round of 16 had 13 MLS sides, two from the second-division USL Championship and one, Omaha, from the third-tier USL League One.

Minnesota broke down Omaha’s defense in the sixth minute with a nifty combo of Kervin Arriaga to Franco Fragapane feeding Hunou for a 1-0 lead.

The Loons gave up the lead in first-half stoppage time. A long ball from goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu was headed on by John Scearce, and Hugo Kemetani got behind Minnesota’s back line and beat goalkeeper Eric Dick near post.

Captain Michael Boxall made an appeal for Kemetani being offside, but to no avail.

Boxall’s failed header clearance in the 51st minute went backward and straight to Joseph Brito, who roofed a shot past Dick in the 51st minute.

Arriaga had blood coming from his nose after a collision with Omaha’s Noe Meza in the 27th minute. He exited with fellow Honduran Joseph Rosales subbing in.

The Loons had a very short bench with only four field players that went even thinner after Rosales’ first-half sub. Niko Hansen and homegrown players Aziel Jackson and Devin Padelford were the only reserves.

With an eye on the MLS game against New York City on Saturday, Heath said he wouldn’t risk any player, and that’s why leading scorer Lod was out with a groin injury. But star Reynoso, captain Wil Trapp, key center back Bakaye Dibassy and left back Kemar Lawrence were also left off without known injury.

BRIEFLY

Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was called into the Canadian men’s national team on Wednesday for a June 5 friendly against Iran and CONCACAF Nations League matches versus Curacao (June 9) and Honduras (June 13). … Arriaga is expected to be called up for Honduras. He and Boxall (New Zealand) might leave for national team duties before Saturday’s MLS game against New York City because they are suspended from that match due to yellow-card accumulation. … Lod will be headed to the Finland national team after Saturday. … MNUFC2 midfielder Molik Khan, 18, will join Trinidad and Tobago’s national team.

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