Manotas lands team in U.S. Open Cup quarters

The rain might have scared away many fans from BBVA Compass Stadium on Monday, but the 1,930 in attendance provided enough of a home-field advantage for the Dynamo to top Minnesota United FC 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.

“We had a lot of desire to perform today,” coach Wilmer Cabera said. “It took us a little bit of time to get adjusted, but when we had the ball and when we were sharp with the ball, we were creating very good options. In the second half, I think we improved. We came out much better and more energetic; sharper. We created some options, but the last 10 to 15 minutes, I think, we kind of stopped trying to play a little bit more possession.”

The Dynamo broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when Swedish fullback Adam Lundkvist whipped a corner kick Mauro Manotas directed into the back of the net past an outstretched Bobby Shuttleworth. It gave Manotas his fifth career Open Cup goal in seven tournament appearances.

The first real chance for the Dynamo came with a skidding 25th-minute shot from Manotas that swerved wide. He unleashed another from outside the penalty box a minute later that floated high.

Darwin Quintero provided the early opportunities for Minnesota, but his teammates couldn’t convert. On one play, he danced around a defender on the flank, finding space to cross a pass just past Dynamo keeper Chris Seitz’s nose, but it descended before a teammate could finish.

But hope wasn’t lost for Minnesota; it was playing a Dynamo team that’s established a habit of giving up leads late. With less than 10 minutes left, Dynamo midfielder Tomas Martinez was called for a foul in the box when Miguel Ibarra elevated for, then missed, a cross, then fell hard.

“They got a PK which, for me, wasn’t a penalty kick,” Cabrera said.

Quintero took the ensuing penalty kick, but his shot hit the post as he tried to curl it inside.

The win ensures an extra date with Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City. The Dynamo return to MLS play against them Saturday. They’ll also play in the mid-July quarterfinals of the Cup.

“From here to July 18, a lot of things are going to happen,” Cabrera said. “We have to be better for the next round if we want to be able to continue in this competition.”