Sporting Kansas City began their defense of their US Open Cup championship in the northerly climes of southern Canada Minnesota against NASL side Minnesota United FC in a game that gave everyone some bonus soccer when regulation time ended with the game tied at one goal apiece. A Diego Rubio goal decided matters and eliminated MUFC in a spirited matchup of Midwestern sides.
Deploying mostly regular starters with reserves mixed in at keeper to give Tim Melia a night off and on the wings and at center back to cover for the Copa America-necessitated absences of Graham Zusi and Matt Besler, Sporting was mostly able to dictate play during the first half, but despite forcing several corner kicks and set pieces, they did not challenge MUFC keeper Sammy Ndjock until about twenty minutes in when Ndjock denied Dom Dwyer in a quickfire one-on-one opportunity facilitated by a lofted pass by Jimmy Medranda.