Loons advance to Open Cup semis after 3-1 win over Chicago Fire

The Loons held a man advantage for over 70 minutes against the Chicago Fire in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup, but it took an extra-time goal from star striker Kelvin Yeboah to put Minnesota United through to the semifinals.

United head coach Eric Ramsay made five changes to the starting 11 from Friday's 2-1 win over FC Dallas in MLS play, most notably Sang Bin Jeong and Bongokuhle Hlongwane lining up behind Tani Oluwaseyi in the Loons' attack.

Despite plenty of early possession, Minnesota couldn't find a goal against a leaky Fire defense. Minnesota's break came in the 25th minute when veteran Chicago defender Omar Gonzalez was given a straight red card for elbowing Loons right back Julian Gressel in the face.

However, that advantage was immediately squandered when, upon the restart, Loons captain Wil Trapp fouled Chicago forward Philip Zinckernagel in the Minnesota box, awarding the Fire a penalty kick. Brian Gutiérrez converted on the ensuing penalty to give the Fire a 1-0 lead.

Minnesota didn't find an equalizer over the final 20 minutes of the first half.

Coming out of the break, Ramsay swapped out Jeong, Trapp and Gressel for an in-form Anthony Markanich, and creative playmakers Robin Lod and Joaquin Pereyra. It took five minutes for the subs to make an impact and level the score.

Oluwaseyi pushed a through ball into the path of Markanich, who found Lod on the far post with a low, dangerous cross. Lod tapped the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1 with 40 minutes to play.

Minnesota would continue to have a majority of the ball throughout the second half, but couldn't find a way to get past Fire keeper Chris Brady, who made several huge stops late in the match to send the game to extra time.

Yeboah, who came on in the second half as a substitute, scored the go-ahead goal just seven minutes into the first half of extra time, slamming home a ball delivered off the head of United defender Carlos Harvey.