May 25, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On paper, the matchup may have appeared to be more of a mismatch than a matchup, but last season’s USL League One champions, Union Omaha, weren’t about to roll over for the Loons. Especially with such a golden opportunity to play spoiler to a bigger, faster MLS opponent and move on to the next round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
At first, it didn’t look like MNUFC was going to let Omaha create any kind of underdog narrative. Right away, in the 6th minute, the Loons drew first blood off of three quick passes from Arriaga to Fragapane to Adrien Hunou’s right foot and onto its final destination, the net.
However, the Horned Owls wouldn’t allow MNUFC to grab the momentum from them. Late in stoppage time before the half, Union Omaha midfielder John Scearce headed a pass to forward Hugo Kametani, who put the shot past Loons goalkeeper Eric Dick’s diving save attempt. That tied things up at 1-1. Not exactly a comforting way to head into the locker room.
Union Omaha forward Joe Brito came into the second half ready for his moment. His goal in the early stages of the second half was a beauty. For the home team, things felt like they were getting ugly in a hurry. Not long after that, Coach Adrian Heath went to his short-staffed bench to add some fresh legs to the pitch with midfielders Aziel Jackson and Niko Hansen subbing in for Fragapane and Hlongwane.
The switch did give the Loons a bit more energy in their attack, but the physicality that the Owls had shown throughout the contest never relented. In the 78th minute it looked like there might be an equalizer in our midst but, cross bar.
Niko Hansen and D.J. Taylor worked the right side of the field much of the latter parts of the second half which afforded the team some very good opportunities to stave off the upset. Unfortunately, the Loons attack just could not make a solid connection from boot to ball.
And so, the…
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