MLS Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United vs Houston Dynamo Open Cup Preview

Published on May 23, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC News Release


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - The Loons go marching on. Minnesota United enters the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match against Houston Dynamo on the back of a thrilling stoppage-time away win at the Portland Timbers. Bongokuhle Hlwongwane was once again the man of the hour as his right-footed strike edged past Timbers' keeper Aljaž Ivačič to seal the Loons' second straight win in MLS. Minnesota looks to continue this form against the Houston Dynamo tonight, a club it defeated in MLS play less than a week earlier, once again, thanks to a game-winning goal from Bongokuhle Hlwongwane. Minnesota is in the midst of a busy month of May and will likely rotate some of its squad to accommodate the busy schedule, but make no mistake, as Head Coach Adrian Heath says, "it's a big opportunity for us ... to go into this stage and a step closer to hopefully getting into where we could play Champions League football. That would be ideal.". Minnesota will look to make it four straight wins in all competitions and ride the momentum into the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals with a win at Shell Energy Stadium Tuesday night.

ADRIAN HEATH ON FACING HOUSTON FOR A SECOND TIME IN A WEEK...

"They've been through the same run [of games] as we have - physically, it's pretty demanding. We leave Portland, four hour flight, two hour time difference, you get here late afternoon and it's not ideal. But, we're all on the same boat. Maybe the bench changes, I don't know. But, the fact that [Amine] Bassi's played really well for them and Hector Herrera - everybody knows his pedigree - if they come back in, they will bring issues for us. We have to cope with that. I honestly don't know what their team's going to be looking like tomorrow. I would expect, like us, that they'll make some changes, and then we'll have to cope with what comes our way."

ADRIAN HEATH ON PLAYING U.S. OPEN CUP FOOTBALL AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE TEAM...

"In terms of the Cup competitions, it's always an opportunity. Opportunity for people to come in and play who are not getting enough minutes, opportunity for us to advance, opportunity for us to maybe get to the [Concacaf] Champions League. We're three or four games away from that. So, as much as ideally you would like longer preparation, it's a big opportunity for us tomorrow evening to go into this stage and a step closer to hopefully getting into where we could play Champions League football. That would be ideal."

INJURY REPORT:

Minnesota United

OUT:

D - B. Dibassy - Thigh

D - R. Jiba - Knee

M - R. Lod - Knee

D - M. Marques - Ankle

QUESTIONABLE:

None

MINNESOTA UNITED @ HOUSTON DYNAMO FC

SHELL ENERGY STADIUM | HOUSTON, TEXAS

05.23.2023 | U.S. Open Cup | Round of 16

7:30 p.m. CT (B/R App, B/R Football YouTube)

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