It was a tale of two halves in the Mitten State tonight, as Minnesota United waited until the second half to blow past Detroit City FC with a final score of 3-1. The spirit of Detroit was on full display, but the visitors ultimately proved to be too much for Motor City to handle.
The opening minutes were anything but comfortable, with the home side bringing the pressure right away. The Black and Blue’s uninspiring start to the game got even worse in the fifth minute, when a careless giveaway in their own half put the Loons on their heels.
Le Rouge took advantage of the opportunity, calmly working the ball to Yazeed Matthews at the top of the box. His pinpoint strike from distance bounced off the inside of the post and in, giving the home side the dream start they were looking for and ending a scoreless streak that had lasted more than 460 minutes.
Following the goal, Detroit continued to grow in confidence, never looking like the underdog in this cross-league matchup. They played with commendable grit and passion, sprinting to every ball and playing to every whistle. With their collective feet firmly on the gas, DCFC used the momentum of the game to put Minnesota United under increasing pressure.
It wasn’t until a quarter of an hour that the Loons seemed to wake up, though it took longer still for them to reach anything resembling their usual selves. A lack of creativity in possession was exacerbated by Detroit’s tireless defense, forcing awkward shots and rushed passes.
The bright play of wingers Emmanuel Iwe and Cameron Dunbar turned out to be the only positive sparks for the Loons moving forward, though they couldn’t find a way through Le Rouge. The visitors didn’t manage a single shot on target in the first 45, giving Adrian Heath plenty to talk about in the locker room at halftime.
The second half started right where the first left off, but it didn’t stay that way for long.
After 15 minutes of the same old pattern, Minnesota United blew the game wide open. In the 59th minute, the Loons were down 0-1. By the 66th minute, they found themselves on the right side of a comfortable 3-1 lead.
The goals from Franco Fragapane, Iwe and Luis Amarilla, emphatically showed that the visitors simply had more quality and stamina in their tank. The relief that came with Fragapane’s leveler pushed the team into a more comfortable rhythm, allowing them to take complete control of proceedings and safely see the remainder of the game out.
DCFC fought valiantly for the first hour, but they fell flat when faced with their first real test of the game. While two of their goals came via fortunate deflections, the total shift in momentum at the hour mark suggested that no matter how they came, the Loons were going to score at least a few times.
The standout performer on the night was St. Louis Park native Emmanuel Iwe, whose energy and desire gave his teammates something to feed off of when they looked a bit uninspired. His go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute was his first for the club, and certainly well-deserved.
It wasn’t always pretty, but the result ultimately went MNUFC’s way. Rowdy fans and US Open Cup magic gave this match a unique atmosphere, forcing Heath’s men to dig deep and find an extra gear to come out on top.
With this victory, the Loons advanced to the next round of the Cup. The Round of 32 Draw will take place this Thursday, revealing MNUFC’s next opponent. For now, though, the focus shifts back to MLS league play, as FC Dallas are coming to town this Sunday, April 30.
UP NEXT
Minnesota United FC vs. FC Dallas
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
04.30.22 | MLS Game 9
8:00 pm CT (Watch on Fox Sports 1 or free on AppleTV’s MLS Season Pass)
