SHORT TAKES
Minnesota United has struggled in the U.S. Open Cup in recent seasons, with two first-game losses against lower-league teams in the past three years. The schedule for the team's first two games is set. The Loons will host current titleholders Sporting KC on June 15 if they can beat third-division St. Louis FC on the road on June 1 — the same place Minnesota was bounced from the competition last season.
• Give Mexican giants Club America credit for sticking with manager Nacho Ambriz after a difficult patch in midseason. Many assumed Ambriz would be fired after a bad fall season and a rocky start to the spring, but America recovered to finish in the top four, while winning its second consecutive CONCACAF Champions League title.
• U.S. men's national team striker Jozy Altidore will miss the Copa America this summer, after injuring his hamstring for the umpteenth time. The burden of scoring goals for the USA this summer likely will fall to Bobby Wood, who scored 17 times for Union Berlin in the German second division this year.
