The Loons of Minnesota United FC – and their legions of adoring fans – have settled comfortably into a distinct brand of so-called “sicko” ball that has a tendency to infuriate opponents.
The long throw-ins of MLS All-Star defender and veteran captain Michael Boxall. The lack of interest in cosmetic possession. The sanded-down and cared-for – and often-times elaborate – set pieces. “We don’t have to pass the ball 50 times side to side – and we still create a ton of chances,” said Julian Gressel who, along with Anthony Markanich, has seen MNUFC through several stern tests.
The Loons beat Division II powers Louisville City, fellow MLS side St. Louis CITY SC and are now into only their second-ever U.S. Open Cup Semifinal after a 3-1 come-from-behind win over four-time Champs the Chicago Fire.
While they’re the first MLS team from the Gopher State to reach this far, they’re not the first Minnesota side to hit our Semifinal stage. “There’s an amazing history here – and it goes to well before MLS,” said Gressel, a recent arrival, but already well-schooled in the lore and history of the Minnesota Thunder, who, as members of the Division II USL A-League, beat four MLS teams in the 2004 and 2005 Open Cup and reached as far as the Last Four under the tutelage of legendary coach Buzz Lagos.
It’s worth noting that these new Minnesotans, now under wunderkind Welsh boss Eric Ramsay, are spiritual descendants of those Thunder teams of old and a previous iteration of MNUFC that played in the NASL before becoming a top-flight club in MLS. And now, in the 110th edition of our U.S. Open Cup, they have the inside-track on a first-ever title (for themselves and for the state of Minnesota).
They’ll host the Semifinal against Austin FC on Wednesday, September 17th at their boisterous home of Allianz Field (LIVE on Paramount+ and on air at CBS Sports Network). Should they win that, they’ll host the Final there too.
“The fans here, they are the heart of the club, and they deserve a night like that,” said Gressel, who, having moved on from the flash-bang opulence of Inter Miami, is learning to love life in the lap of an underappreciated soccer heartland.
Fontela is editor-in-chief of ussoccer.com/us-open-cup. Follow him at @jonahfontela on X/Twitter.