Photo: Marjorie Elzey
Who: Minnesota United vs. Philadelphia Union
What: U.S. Open Cup Round of 32
Where: Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minnesota
When: Tuesday, May 9, 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Watch: Youtube (link here) or the Bleacher Report app
Whistle: Not available at time of publication
The games keep coming and they don’t stop coming for Philadelphia Union, who continue their cross-country travels with a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match with Minnesota United on Tuesday evening.
The match is the third of a four-game road swing in which the Union travel nearly 10,000 miles, playing a match in each of America’s four time zones in a span of just 12 days.
Although the Union have always been a side that’s taken the Open Cup seriously, expect manager Jim Curtin to give his squad depth an opportunity in the Twin Cities.
Scouting Report: Minnesota United
The Loons knocked off USL Championship side Detroit City FC in the third round. Although they went behind at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck Michigan after just five minutes, a three-goal outburst in seven second-half minutes secured what was ultimately a comfortable victory for the MLS side.
It’s been a mediocre start in the league for Minnesota, who sit on 12 points through 10 games. They’ve gone five matches without a win since knocking off St. Louis City at the start of April, losing four of those games. Interestingly, the Loons are yet to win a home game this season.
Attack has been a problem, with the Loons averaging one goal per game. DP strikers Luis Amarilla and Mender Garcia lead the club with two goals each. At the back, defender Miguel Tapias has played every minute for Adrian Heath’s side, while Dayne St. Clair has held down the starting keeper job.
Minnesota has suffered in part from the absence of All-Star No. 10 Emanuel Reynoso, who’s been away from the team this season. The Argentine failed to report to the Loons’ preseason camp in February and was suspended without pay. United has missed his production — 18 goals and 35 assists in 76 matches since joining in mid-2020. Just this weekend, Reynoso reported back to Minnesota but don’t expect him to feature against the Union; he remains “unavailable for all team activities until further notice.”
Minnesota last faced the Union in last season’s opener at Subaru Park, a 1-1 draw back on February 26. Philly’s last trip to Allianz Field came the previous October, a wild match that saw a Daniel Gazdag brace give the Union a 2-1 lead before the Loons answered back to win with goals from Robin Lod and Franco Frangapane.
Injury Report (as of May 5, 2023): Bakaye Dibassy (thigh), Mikael Marques (ankle)
Suspension Report: Emanuel Reynoso
Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
The big question for the Boys in Blue is simple: who plays?
Coming down from the emotional roller coaster of Champions League football, the Union picked up a much-needed win in MLS play this weekend, a 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls.
With a quick turnaround and even more travel ahead, manager Jim Curtin faces interesting choices in selection. Last week, he vowed to do a better job utilizing the whole squad, and this would seem like a fixture crying out for some rotation.
At a minimum, expect midfielder Jesus Bueno to get a start. He’s looked sharp in a reserve role and could be used at the base of the diamond against Minnesota.
There doesn’t seem to be any reason to use 36-year-old midfielder Alejandro Bedoya in this game as he’s second on the team in minutes played in the league this season (behind only iron man Jakob Glesnes). Will Andres Perea — who hasn’t featured in weeks — get an opportunity in midfield?
The likes of Quinn Sullivan (215 minutes this season), Chris Donovan (166), Joaquin Torres (162), and Matt Real (224) all seem like possibilities for playing time. And one of the reserve keepers — veteran Joe Bendik and rookie Holden Trent — could come in for Andre Blake.
It will be fascinating to see how Curtin approaches the match — and whether his depth players can produce a result on the road.
Injury Report: Jose Martinez (Questionable, Hamstring)
Matchup to Watch – The Union against themselves
It’s hard to know tactically what either team will do in this match. The biggest test for the Union will be cobbling together a quality performance given the rigors of traveling, fixture congestion, and squad rotation.
Player to Watch – Jesus Bueno
The Venezuelan has been interesting in a reserve role so far this campaign. This is a big opportunity for him to push for a more prominent role as his age (24) and season rolls on.
https://thecup.us/2022/02/05/2022-us-open-cup-rule-changes-since-2019-tournament/
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Previous restrictions on the number of internationals eligible for U. S. Open Cup play have been lifted, as per a paragraph in the article at the URL above.
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Now if your roster is in compliance with your league’s rules, it is in compliance for the Open Cup.
Minnesota’s next three matches scheduled after tonight are as congested as the Union’s. Perhaps Minnesota is equally likely to use squad rotation and/or a changed tactical shape as are the Union.
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Were the Union to advance in the open cup tonight and in the next match to the quarterfinals, it would have games on the third or fourth day consecutively through June 10th.
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And it would run most of this gauntlet without Sullivan, McGlynn, and Craig. (2023 FIA U-20 World Cup in Argentina)
if the Union were to advance to the US Open Cup quarterfinals and those two matches were to be scheduled logically mid-week in the announced windows — yes, I realize a lot more goes into scheduling than merely logic — they will play eleven consecutive matches on either three or four days rest.
Just dont leave the game on the practice field, its not a bad situation to be in opportunity abounds.
I’ve only seen a very little bit of Bueno, but I’d like to see more. I feel like he may be able to get in a game and add a little bit more control in possession. Same with Perea. They might not have the legs or lungs of the other midfield stalwarts, but it would be nice to see them given some quality minutes tonight.