Minnesota United has secured a quarterfinal spot in the 2025 US Open Cup. The team welcomed St. Louis CITY SC on a drizzly gray evening at Allianz Field and won 3-2 on two goals from Anthony Markanich in the later stages of the match. The comeback effort when hope seemed lost proved the attacking prowess of the team and timely substitute action. The turnaround secured the win and pushed the Loons through to the eighth final of the event.
Early lead by first half
They began with a better lineup of their regular starters compared to last round. The only regular starter who did not make it in the starting line-up in this match was goalkeeper Wessel Speel of MNUFC2, who started the game. Julian Gressel placed a well-timed cross in the 10th minute of the match to Yeboah, who kicked the ball in the goal. The move came early and without obstruction and gave the team an early lead.
The dynamic Jeong and Hlongwane pressed the opposition build-up and sought to speed up transitions. With that strategy, Minnesota maintained the advantage throughout the half without quite controlling possession.
St. Louis creates space and turns the game around
Both clubs made substitutions in the second half. Ramsay brought on Romero and Harvey and replaced them with DJ Taylor and Michael Boxall. St. Louis replaced Horn with Akil Watts as well. The away side started better in the second half. The equalizer came when Speel half-cleared the ball and it came at the feet of Baumgartl, who passed it back for Hartel to deflect off the goalkeeper and into the goal. The midfielder's touch leveled the match.
Shortly thereafter Hartel crossed a second time. This time Klauss rose and headed it in to finish the comeback. The two scores in a ten-minute window put Minnesota in a tough spot.
Ramsay brought on Pereyra and Robin Lod in a double substitution for Gressel and Hlongwane.
Pereyra enters and changes the rhythm
Pereyra’s entry coincided with a general uplift in Minnesota’s attack which soon became very evident. At the 85th minute, he passed a ball down the flank to Markanich and ran on and shot straight at goal. The ball found the net and equalized scores. Three minutes later, Pereyra’s impact began showing itself once more. He put in a left-wing corner and Markanich jumped for the cross at the perfect time and nodded in Minnesota’s third goal.
The two-play comeback came about with precision and did not give any room for error. The team wisely ran out the final couple of minutes and maintained it right until the final whistle.