United FC gameday

7 P.M. AT ST. LOUIS FC • MARSHALL WIRELESS STADIUM

Preview: The US Open Cup is U.S. Soccer's knockout tournament for all affiliated club teams, from amateur to MLS sides. Minnesota begins its 2015 campaign with a trip to face St. Louis FC of the USL. The winner will play at MLS side Sporting Kansas City on June 16.

United FC at a glance: Though United (3-1-3) takes the tournament seriously, it has had little success in the past two years, including a home loss to a lower-division side in 2013. Coach Manny Lagos said he is planning to change lineups from last Saturday's league victory over Jacksonville. "We have some guys that haven't been able to show what they can do who are going to be able to get on the field," Lagos said. United's predecessor, the NSC Minnesota Stars, visited St. Louis for a second-round game in 2010. They lost 1-0, to the now-defunct AC St. Louis.

St. Louis FC at a glance: This is St. Louis' first year as a franchise in the USL, one step below the NASL. The team is an affiliate of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, and currently has two players on loan from the Fire. It also has two former United players in midfielder Kentaro Takada and forward Mike Ambersley. In the Fire's first US Open Cup game ever last week, it defeated fourth-division Des Moines 2-1 in extra time, getting goals from Bryan Gaul and Jeremie Lynch. St. Louis is 3-3-2 in the USL and in eighth in the USL Eastern Conference.

To watch: The game will be streamed live by YouTube. Find the link at startribune.com/soccer.

JON MARTHALER