On paper, this looked more like 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.
Surely the boys would come out to the pitch ready to snuff out any ideas that this was an upset in the making, right?
As one esteemed, yet evil medical doctor once declared: "How 'bout NO?!"
Union Omaha forward Joe Brito did not get the memo. 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…well…\clank\...top 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 underdogs had their day. To be fair, Union Omaha stood toe-to toe with the Loons and didn’t allow the moment to be too big for them to handle. And, they will be moving on to the next round. Boo.
UP NEXT
Minnesota United FC vs. NYCFC
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, MN
05.28.22 | MLS regular season game no. 14
7:00 p.m. CT (MLS Live on ESPN+, Bally Sports North, The CW-Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)
