Preview: USOC Third Round - MNUFC at Forward Madison

For the first time since 2019 the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is back and Minnesota United will participate in the tournament. After the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic it has finally come back. In the last tournament the Loons made an improbable run to the US Open Cup Finals, facing and falling to Atlanta United in Atlanta, GA. Minnesota is overall 10-9 in the USOC while being 5-3 under Adrian Heath. Since moving to Major League Soccer the Loons have never lost to a lower division side.

Opposition:

Tonight’s opposition is the only fully professional football club in the State of Wisconsin (the Torrent who play in an amateur league) Forward Madison FC. The Mingos season has been relatively short so far. Forward Madison went 3-1 in the pre-season, with their only loss coming to MNUFC2 and Madison being 0-3-0 with three points in USL League One play. The Mingos got to the third round with a 3-0 victory over Cleveland two weeks ago in Madison.

Manager/Player Thoughts:

“The one thing I do know is that if we don’t treat the opposition with the respect that they deserve, and think that we will just go and cruise through a nice game of football, then it will not be an enjoyable evening for us. I’ve already told the players that,” said Adrian Heath. “As a USL team, as I said, we managed to get to the quarters [quarterfinals] and beat three or four MLS teams along the way, over a couple of year period, and it was all because our attitude was better on the night. We had a decent team. These are professional people, they’re getting paid to play football. They’ve got coaches who are trying to make a name for themselves. I know this is going to be a big scalp for them if they can get a result. We have to be mindful of that.”

Injury Report:

Minnesota United FC

Questionable: None

Out: Romain Métanire (thigh), and Patrick Weah (knee, out for season)

Forward Madison FC

Questionable: None Reported

Out: None Reported