The U.S. Open Cup final has been eagerly anticipated by Loons fans. It’s the team’s first chance at a title since the NASL days, a glamour fixture that can set a marker for the team for years to come. But aside from the standard existential dread when Minnesota sports heroes come remotely close to providing good things, there’s the issue of needing to face Atlanta United.
Yes, the same Atlanta United that, in their history, have beaten Minnesota United three times in their four meetings, including the infamous 6-1 Snowpener beatdown. The same Atlanta side behind a 3-0 win that, while punctuated by two stoppage-time goals in the second half from Josef Martinez, probably was a fair result.