Match Recap: Minnesota United outlast an unbeaten Louisville City team to advance in the Open Cup

After not participating in the 2024 US Open Cup, with the Twos taking their spot instead, the Loons first team returned to the USOC for the first time since 2023. With a massively rotated squad and bunch of Twos players brought in for the evening, the Loons made their return to the cup successful. While Louisville dominated the pace of play throughout the night it was ultimately the lone goal of the night courtesy of Darius Randell that sent Minnesota United on in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

With three matches in seven days, the Loons made a plethora of changes to the lineup. A few hours before kickoff the team announced they had signed nine players from MNUFC2 to short term contracts for the night. Wessel Speel started in goal while other short term signees Curt Calov, Darius Randell, and Kieran Chandler made the starting eleven. Defenders Britton Fischer and Kisa Kiingi; midfielder Babacar Niang; and forwards Luke Hille, and Muba Nour were available from the bench. None of the eleven players for MNUFC started against Austin FC, though Julian Gressel, Morris Duggan, and Sang Bin Jeong did come on as substitutes.

Louisville City made three changes to their lineup from their 2-0 win last weekend over rival Lexington SC. Phillip Goodrum, Adrien Perez, and Amadou Dia were the started, jumping in for Jansen Wilson, Sam Gleadle, and Sean Totsch.

Match 🧵 | #LOUvMIN major shakeups in the Starting XI for #MNUFC tonight. Wessel Speel starting in goal ahead of Alec Smir.Fellow #MNUFC2 players Curt Calov, Darius Randell, and Kieran Chandler also make the XI.

— Northland Soccer Journal (@northlandsoccer.com) 2025-05-07T23:01:03.890Z

The opening fifteen minutes of the contest were dominated by the hosts. Louisville City was firing on all cylinders while the Loons adjusted to both a heavily rotated squad and the setting sun in their faces. Seven minutes in the Boys in Purple looked to have snapped up the opening goal after Ray Serrano put the ball in the back of the net from just past the six yard box. Ultimately the goal was called back due to offside. As the half went on the Loons started gain composure and the rest of the half went on in a back and forth affair. Neither side managed a shot on target through the opening forty-five.

The second half of play started the exact same way as the first with Louisville dominating and threatening to score early on. Ultimately though it was a goal from the Loons Darius Randell in 65th minute off a cross from Sang Bin Jeong that broke the deadlock.

I shoot my shot and I score every time – (co-owner of Louisville City FC – Jack Harlow)

— Minnesota United FC (@mnufc.com) 2025-05-08T01:16:30.666494Z

After the goal the match pace changed dramatically as the Loons dropped back to play as defensively as possible while Louisville City turned on the burners to do everything possible to score. Unfortunately for Louisville City the 15 shots ended with just two on target and it was not enough to get anything past goalkeeper Wessel Speel and the Loons defence, ending with MNUFC taking home a huge 1-0 win in the Derby City.

With the win Minnesota United advances to the Fifth Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as the club looks to match their 2019 performance where they reached the final in Atlanta, GA. Before that the Loons return to MLS action this weekend with the most looked forward to match of 2025 when Inter Miami CF and maybe Messi visit Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN. Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is set for 3:30pm CT airing on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.