Your Loons liked winning in California so much that they decided to stick around just a little longer, hopping up the coast to take on Sacramento Republic in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Facing off against a USL Championship side known to be something of a giant-killer in USOC play, Minnesota put forward a starting lineup that, while heavily rotated from the weekend, was still quite strong in its makeup. A handful of tried-and-true defenders and midfielders was fronted by a creative forward trio, including James Rodríguez making his first start for the Black and Blue. 

It was slow-going for the first half, with Sacramento sitting in an effective low block and the two sides maintaining a push and pull but logging very few shots on target. Kieran Chandler excelled in one-on-one duels on the left flank, and midfielders Wil Trapp and Owen Gene executed some smooth combinations with Rodríguez, maintaining 62% possession. The closest Minnesota got to goal came off a Devin Padelford throw-in shortly after the half-hour mark, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane going for the header but finding himself a bit wide. 

Sacramento looked the dominant team at the start of the second half with the bulk of effective ball progression. A number of attempts on both sides got close to breaking the scoreless run, including a skillful Hlongwane left-footer that went high and wide in the 59th, and a handful of close calls as the Quails made repeated runs toward Smir’s net.

Tomás Chancalay and Joaquín Pereyra stepped in for Rodríguez and Hlongwane in the 67th minute, bringing some much-needed energy and precision to the pitch. Alec Smir locked down the goal on Sacramento’s dangerous 70th-minute corner, and from there Minnesota shifted to a higher press, looking more comfortable on the ball. Several consecutive strong combos by Pereyra and Chancalay, including a soaring shot to the far post and a well-serviced corner kick, had Sacramento on edge as tensions rose at Heart Health Park. 

One last Pereyra attempt off a Chancalay free kick gave Minnesota a late chance as the seconds ticked away, but Danny Vitiello scooped it up and sentenced the squads to extra time.

Both halves of additional time were a flurry of runs and shots demonstrating the increasing desperation of both sides, showcasing inarguably more creative play than the 90 minutes of regulation. Sacramento kept compact in the middle, forcing Minnesota to get creative or send long, less-controlled balls to get near goal. A strong run by substitute Mauricio González nearly put the visitors on the board in minute 100, but the angle proved a bit too steep. Sacramento’s Brandon Cambridge returned the favor moments later, followed by a Chancalay-to-Markanich combo thwarted again by Vitiello. 

The most electric moment of the night came in the 115th minute, when a quickly escalating run by the Quails nearly gave Sacramento the game-winner. Smir’s save secured the stalemate. After more fruitless runs and missed shots on both ends, a very late substitution — 45 seconds into the last minute of stoppage time — ensured that Nectarios Triantis would be available for the coming shootout.

Pereyra started off with a smooth penalty shot that Sacramento matched with Dominik Wanner. From there, things kept on staying level — a pair of goals, a pair of saves, and so on. Sacramento had two separate chances to win the game after a saved or missed attempt by Minnesota, but came up short on both occasions. The shootout eventually cycled all the way through the lineup and back to Wanner, whose shot went wide to the right and secured Minnesota’s place in the Round of 16.

Tonight’s performance clearly wasn’t Minnesota’s best, especially from an attacking perspective. Regardless, a win is a win in this tournament, especially against a tough USL side like Sacramento. The challenge will be managing priorities in the busy stretch ahead and learning to break down a low block, figuring out how to operate when the opposition pins Minnesota with the same thing the Loons did so well last season. But if there’s one thing that’s true about your Black and Blue, they love a challenge.