Recap: Loons defeat Colorado in odd USOC clash

In what has to be the most odd match in Minnesota United history, the Loons defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at Allianz Field in St. Paul to advance to the US Open Cup’s Round of 16. The match kicked off on Wednesday night and saw each side score a goal inside the first 18 minutes before being postponed due to lightning. The match resumed on Thursday afternoon in front of a sparse crowd, but the Loons would score a late goal and send the Rapids home from the 2022 USOC.

With four players out due to injury, as well to give players a rest, Adrian Heath would make some massive changes to the Loons lineup and formation. The Loons moved from the typical 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 with Fragapane, Danladi, and Hunou up front. Fisher, Arriaga, Rosales, and Taylor would man the midfield, while Dibassy, Kallman, and Boxall took up the back line in front of Tyler Miller in goal.

On Wednesday night the Loons came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. Just eight minutes in Abu Danladi took the opening goal after slide kicking a pass from Franco Fragapane into the bottom corner of the goal.

That lead did not last long as Colorado’s Nicolás Mezquida finished off a play from inside the box that started on a Diego Rubio free kick from just outside the box

Not long after the Rapids goal the match would go under a weather delay. After just over two hours it was determined the game would not be resumed that night and they would start from the same point the following day at 1 PM.

After an uneventful remainder of the first half and half-time things got interesting not too long into the second half. In the 55th minute, Brent Kallman would be issued the first yellow card of the match. His yellow was followed by Colorado Rapids’ Max being issued one in the 63rd minute. After that card the Loons would make three immediate changes with Trapp, Lod, Reynoso, and Hlongwane on to replace Fisher, Danladi, Fragapane, and Hunou.

Minnesota United had pressured the Rapids the entire second half and consistently had pushed hard forward and gotten a plethora of chances as a result. That momentum swung hard towards Colorado when Kallman was issued his second yellow card, resulting in a red in the 83rd minute. MNUFC would be down a man for the remainder of regulation and any extra time that may happen.

Four minutes later Reynoso would charge into the box and send a laser of a shot into the left side of the net putting MNUFC up 2-1 with four minutes plus stoppage remaining.

The Loons would sub on Kibunguchy for Arriaga at 90+3’ and out last Colorado in the final three minutes and the five minutes of added time to advance to the Round of 16 in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Minnesota United has drawn USL League One side Union Omaha for the Round of 16. The Loons will host the Owls on either May 24th or 25th at Allianz Field in St. Paul.

Minnesota United FC will meet Seattle Sounders this Sunday in Seattle, WA at Lumen Field for their 11th match in MLS play. Kickoff is set for 3 PM CT and can be watched on ESPN and be heard on SKOR North.