By Daniel Feuerstein | San Jose, CA | April 28th, 2026
At PayPal Park, the San Jose Earthquakes hosted Minnesota United FC for the chance to advance to the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup. The Quakes have a six-match losing streak in all competitions against Minnesota United, and they were looking to break that in this fourth-round matchup. After taking an early lead, then falling behind, the Quakes retook the reins and took down their opponents from the twin cities as they defeated Minnesota United FC by a final score of four goals to two.
Beau Leroux earned a brace
The big goalscorer in this match for the Quakes was Beau Leroux, as he earned a two-goal night, putting the Quakes into a good position to take the victory and advance to the Quarterfinals. He opened the scoring in the 15th minute, when Minnesota tried to get out of their own area and restart an attacking run. Leroux found a way to steal the ball off the feet of the defender, went inside the area, and lashed a big shot to the upper 90 inside the back post. He earned his second goal of the match as he scored the match-winning goal. Niko Tsakiris sends a long ball down the near side of the pitch to Jack Skahan, then makes the attacking run. AS he crossed the ball toward Leroux, all he did was take a big, bending shot that made the keeper stick his boots into the pitch and never moved for that shot in the 73rd minute.
Minnesota scores twice to take the lead
Minnesota United regrouped inside the locker room before the second half began. They played more directly and looked determined to get back into the match. They got an equalizer and started pushing up. The referee played advantage to Minnesota as a foul was committed inside the center circle. As the attacking run commenced they play was along the near side and then a cross to the middle of the San Jose Area when Anthony Markanich forced Ronaldo Vieira to defend the ball, and the Quakes defender put it into his own net for the own goal in the 59th minute.
They earned a second goal to take the lead. The ball was played along the far side, and a pass to the path of Tomas Chancalay as he had a defender in front of him. When Chancalay made the turn towards the area, he put on the brakes and made a cut to give himself a better angle to take the shot. When he did take the shot, Chancalay bent it across and inside the back post, and four minutes later, in the 63rd minute.
Another own goal, but for the Quakes
The Quakes earned a corner along the far side and delivered a big moment to tie the game. As the ball was delivered, it was being passed around the near side of the pitch, until the cross to the far side, and Jack Skahan was able to get a hold of the ball to control it. He delivered a big blast that deflected off the legs of Minnesota’s Daniel Padelford, and the ball went into the net for the equalizer in the 69th minute.
The last goal from the Quakes came from Tsakiris as he was able to get that insurance tally late in the 75th minute. When the final whistle blew, the Earthquakes advanced to the quarterfinal draw. But they lost Timo Werner, who was down with a non-contact injury, as his right leg felt something, and was subbed out of the match in the 34th minute. He was able to walk off the pitch on his own power and looked a bit gingerly as well. Hopefully, it’s not serious, and he can continue in MLS play.
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