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.

Two MLS mainstays look to lock in a spot in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals, as Minnesota United takes on the Chicago Fire in the first of four quarterfinals on Tuesday night.

Minnesota United could gaze at a charmed path in U.S. Open Cup — with the chance to host the final two matches in St. Paul, if the Loons kept winning in the national tournament. That lineal route