For an hour Tuesday, Minnesota United’s play in the U.S. Open Cup provided deja vu and the dread that can come with it.
The Loons fell behind 1-0 in the fifth minute to Detroit City, harkening to Minnesota’s massive upset loss to Union Omaha in the national tournament last May.
But MNUFC broke free with three goals in six minutes to avoid an upset with a 3-1 win in a third-round Open Cup match at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, Mich. The Loons advance to the Open Cup’s round of 32 on May 9-10; the draw for that matchup is Thursday.
It wasn’t just allowing an early goal Tuesday that rekindled nightmares of when Minnesota gave up a lead and lost 2-1 to third-tier Omaha in St. Paul a year ago, but that there was little tangible response to falling behind in the first half and into the start of the second.
Minnesota didn’t register a shot on goal for the first 53 minutes Tuesday, and already slumping striker Luis Amarilla missed an easy tap-in in the eight minute.
Add in that Detroit City has pulled off a “cupset” a year ago when the second-tier USL Championship side knocked off Columbus Crew in the Open Cup. History was repeating itself Tuesday.
Manager Adrian Heath, who isn’t afraid to criticize in the dressing room when down at halftime, took a measured approach Tuesday. “I thought we had to have a little bit more control and take the cup tie atmosphere out of the game,” he said. “The beginning, it was sort of end to end and there wasn’t a lot of football played. (Message was:) let’s have a bit of composure and let’s have the extra pass.”
That additional pass came when Cam Dunbar gave it back to an open Franco Fragapane for the equalizing goal in the 60th minute.
Emmanuel Iwe of St. Louis Park scored the winning goal three minutes later and Luis Amarilla provided quick insurance with a finish on a recycled corner kick in the 66th minute.
And, boy, did Amarilla need it.
The Paraguyan’s turnover in the Loons’ defensive half went to Yazeed Matthews for his goal in the fifth minute. His hit from outside the 18-yard box bounced off the post and in. Detroit City was in last place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference and had a 462-minute scoreless drought in USL play before their great start against Minnesota.
Amarilla, who hasn’t scored a goal in open play in 360 MLS minutes this season, had a golden chance three minutes later. With a great cross from Cam Dunbar, Amarilla’s was open for a left-footed tap-in but it somehow went wide right.
“With strikers, you have to be very, very careful because the more you talk about it, the more it accentuates the problem at times,” Heath said. “I thought (Tuesday) would be a good night for Lou and off he got a goal, it might help him. Hopefully a goal will give him a little bit of confidence and a little bit of weight off his shoulders.”
In regard to flirting with another upset, Heath opened his postgame news conference with a message to supporters.
“I know people think these games are easy,” he said. “I just wanted to win this game this evening. I don’t think people realize, hostile environment, the pitch is an astroturf from maybe 20 years ago. This was a difficult game and I knew it was going to be.”
Briefly
Loons center back Brent Kallman missed the 1-0 loss to Seattle on Saturday to be in Minnesota for the birth of his second child, a daughter. … The Loons kept only three starters from the Seattle defeat — midfielder Arriaga, center back Micky Tapias and fullback D.J. Taylor. Youngsters Devin Padelford and Emmanuel Iwe made their first starts for Minnesota, but a handful of experienced players also stepped in, including Amarilla, Fragapane, Kallman, Joseph Rosales, D.J. Taylor and Clint Irwin. … Iwe has scored for MNUFC2, but his deflected finish Tuesday was his first goal for the first team. “he’s in the right spot and he’s had the courage to take the opportunity, so he will pleased with that. He is buzzing in the dressing room,” Heath said.
