Moments of stomach-wrenching anguish dot Minnesota United's history, and Michael Boxall has lived through every major sorrow over the past decade.

The Loons’ longest-tenured player endured the pain of losing the U.S. Open Cup final to Atlanta United in 2019 and the MLS Western Conference final to Seattle Sounders in 2020. Now, MNUFC’s 2-1 loss on Wednesday to Austin FC in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal makes for a trio of top-tier traumas.

“Been here far too long,” Boxall, a nine-year veteran, said from the podium at Allianz Field. “… And we’ve been in that position, what, three times? Doesn’t come around too often, so it sucks.”

With emotions still raw, Boxall was asked how this letdown might compare to falling short of the mountain top in 2019 and 2020.

“I feel like the other two, we we

See Full Page