Minnesota United FC and the Chicago Fire FC opened up the Quarterfinals of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn. An early red card to Chicago followed by an immediate goal for the Fire on a penalty had the visitors on the front foot despite being down a man.
An early second half goal for the Loons changed the entire tone of the match. The Fire held out through 90 minutes, forcing extra-time, but it was not to be for the visitors. Kelvin Yeboah scored the go ahead goal for Minnesota five minutes into extra-time, before getting the dagger on a penalty kick in the dying seconds to push the Loons through the Fire and into the Semifinals for the second time in club history.
With fixture congestion being an issue at this point in the season, both teams went with a similar construction of their starting eleven and matchday eighteen. The Loons playing their third game in four days, put together a mixture of regular starters and players looking for more minutes. Chicago, while only playing their second match in the same span, used the same philosophy choosing their squad for the trip to the North Star State.
The opening quarter hour of play was relatively mundane as both teams started off extremely slowly in a feeling out process. Minnesota dominated possession in the first 15 minutes and came close to getting a good chance, but Chicago was able to push the ball on the cross out of touch. Bongokuhle Hlongwane got the only shot off in what would be nearly the first 30 minutes of play.
The match turned on its head in the 25th minute, when Chicago’s Omar González was issued his first-ever straight red card and the first card of any kind in his Open Cup career. While trying to create some space between himself and Julian Gressel, Gonzalez struck the US international in the face while making a run across the penalty box. The call was made after a video review.
“It’s a little bit tricky when the opponent has a red card, because you kind of feel some kind of false security that the game’s going to be easy,” said Minnesota midfielder Robin Lod. “I think we could have been a little bit more patient with the ball, because we had the whole 45 minutes to chase it and score, but lucky to get another 30 minutes and we sealed the deal.”
Just two minutes after the red, Minnesota’s Wil Trapp fouled Philip Zinckernagel inside the box, handing the Fire an opportunity on a silver platter. Brian Gutierrez took that opportunity and used it, scoring a low shot into the bottom left corner while goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair went the other way.
After handing out two cards in two minutes, referee Ekaterina Koroleva continued to issue cards like candy, issuing a total of four in 12 minutes. MNUFC’s Carlos Harvey was handed one after fouling Tom Barlow from behind, while Chicago’s Jack Elliott was also given one, putting a stifle to a potential Tani Oluwaseyi breakout attack.
“The coach initially wanted me to play on the right-hand side as a ten, and that was the formation,” said Minnesota’s Kelvin Yeboah. “And that information was from Cam (Assistant Coach Cameron Knowles) was to score a goal, so I did what he asked me to do.”
Each side made some changes to start the second half. Chicago Fire with a one goal lead and down a man, brought on just one player. Eric Ramsey, on the other hand, brought on the troops with a triple sub at the half. That triple substitution paid off quickly for Ramsey’s Loons with Robin Lod scoring in the 47th minute on a play starting with a Tani Oluwaseyi ball to Anthony Markanich, who sent a low cross to Lod.
Drawn level at 1-1, the play began to resemble the opening 15 minutes, constant passes but with a slow-crawling attack. Minnesota dominated possession and did get a few good shots off that forced Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady to make a couple fantastic saves to send the match into extra time and one step closer to the Fire overcoming that early red card.
In extra time each team is provided a sixth sub, something Eric Ramsey took advantage of immediately. That sub paid off quickly as Joaquín Pereyra sent a pass into the box that Carlos Harvey headed over to Yeboah, who finished the play with one touch goal putting the hosts in the lead just minutes into extra time. Minnesota continuously tried to put the dagger in, but up until the dying moments just could not find the back of goal.
“I think he did great. And if there is a silver lining to there being an extra half an hour, it’s that he gets a chance to get another goal, a couple of really good moments on top of the moments that he had,” Minnesota United Eric Ramsey said about Kelvin Yeboah.
As the seconds ticked away, Kelvin Yeboah broke out on a solo run down the pitch and after a 50+ yard run was fouled inside the box by Leonardo Barroso, handing Minnesota a penalty. Yeboah scored on the penalty goal and immediately following the PK, Ekaterina Koroleva blew her whistle ending the match and sending Minnesota to the Semifinals.
With the victory, Minnesota United will head back to the US Open Cup Semifinals for the first time since the 2019 season. They will host Austin FC the week of Sept. 16-17.