Michigan Stars head coach Enis Dokovic said that he predicted his team’s win over Minnesota United 2.
“You can ask my players,” he said, beaming.
Seer though he may be, he likely didn’t forecast the manner of his side’s win. It took extra time at Allianz Field, and a Stars goal in each half of the extra 30 minutes, to push the NISA heavyweights past the home MLS NEXT Pro side in a 2-0 Round 2 victory in the 2024 US Open Cup Tuesday in St. Paul.
Sacko Konate headed home a corner in the 99th minute, and Hunter Olson contributed a solo goal in the 106th minute, to lift the visitors into the third round for the first time in club history. The Stars put just three shots on target for the game, and none in regulation after the ninth minute, but were able to beat MLS veteran keeper Clint Irwin twice in extra time.
Michigan also benefited from the surprise inclusion of their own MLS veteran, the recently retired Justin Meram, who’d just finished a 13-year MLS career. Meram entered the game with a lot of US Open Cup experience with the Columbus Crew, Orlando City SC and assisting on the game-winning goal in the 2019 Final for Atlanta United FC.
Dokovic said that it all came down to a bit of back-fence convincing.
“Justin is my neighbor,” he said. “When he retired, we as a club were trying to bring him in for months. Having his calm on the ball for the first 60 minutes, that was huge for us.”
Minnesota had the better of the chances during regulation, and dominated possession, eventually attempting 23 shots. None was a better chance than one that came from a Michigan defensive error, in the 58th minute.
Stars goalkeeper Talenda Mkuruva, out of his goal and attempting to play the ball more than 20 yards to the right of his net, saw his pass go wayward into the middle of the field. MNUFC2 midfielder Moses Nyeman played it to a wide-open Molik Jesse Khan, standing on the penalty spot, but Mkuruva — at a dead sprint — managed to get back into position just in time to stifle the shot.
Despite the possession and chances, though, Minnesota never found a breakthrough, and when regulation was up, it was Michigan that was the stronger team — even though the Stars had played just one game so far this season.
“The field was amazing, and the environment – for us coming from the Third Division it was something amazing,” Dokovic said of playing at the MLS Loons’ home. “I told my players , we’ve had an amazing 90 minutes in this environment — it’s up to you if you want to go for another 90 minutes.”
