The joke has been done countless times, but it still made two Minnesota United players smile at Allianz Field on Wednesday.

Media members were interviewing forward Angelo Rodriguez after the Loons’ 4-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup when Ozzie Alonso extended a water bottle as a fake voice recorder and offered a question in Spanish. Their exchange made both players smile, and those expressions have been in short supply lately in Minnesota’s dressing room.

Rodriguez was one of three Loons attackers to end scoring droughts, and United distanced itself from a three-game MLS losing streak with a victory in the fourth round of the national tournament.

Rodriguez’s third-minute goal was his first since April 28. Early in the second, Ethan Finlay scored his first since May 18.

Then in the biggest slump bust, Darwin Quintero notched his first goal since April 19. He then added a second, with an array of celebrations to clear his son’s growing list of dance suggestions.

“The goal scorers couldn’t have been three better players for us who needed a goal for their confidence,” coach Adrian Heath said.

Both Minnesota and Kansas City played without handfuls of regulars — due to injuries and national team duties — but for the Loons’ long-suffering attackers, they will pocket goals any way they come.

“If the goals don’t come, I don’t beat myself over it,” Quintero said. “I stay calm and keep working for when the moment arrives.”

The Loons advanced to the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 for a second straight season. Their opponent will be determined in a redraw Thursday morning. If Minnesota hosts, the earliest date would be June 20 to work around the Concacaf Gold Cup doubleheader at Allianz Field on June 18.

Wednesday’s victory was Minnesota’s first in Open Cup play against Kansas City, following defeats in 2017, ’15 and ’14. Including MLS play, it was Minnesota’s second victory in 10 meetings with a Western Conference rival.

“It’s just nice, in all honesty, to progress,” Finlay said. “Open Cup is something that every team approaches differently, and I really liked our approach. We went for it and played guys that played 90 minutes on the weekend.”

Quintero assisted on Rodriguez’s goal, and they flipped roles in the second half, an important interplay after Rodriguez had heated words for Quintero after they failed to connect in Saturday’s 1-0 MLS loss to the Colorado Rapids. That defeat sank the Loons to a season-worst losing skid.

“We always try to understand each other on the pitch and find the best solution for the team,” Rodriguez said through a Spanish translator. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. (Wednesday) it did.”

Four Loons were away on national team duty: starting midfielder Jan Gregus (Slovakia), starting right back Romain Metanire (Madagascar) and key midfielders Kevin Molino (Trinidad and Tobago) and Rasmus Schuller (Finland). Five others were injured: Alonso (quad); Ike Opara (soreness); Abu Danladi (hamstring); Brent Kallman (leg); and Miguel Ibarra (calf). This meant Minnesota had three vacant spots on the bench.

With so many key players out, a loss would have meant rest until MLS play returned June 29, but Quintero was the first player to step up and say Tuesday he wanted to be a part of the U.S. Open Cup lineup.

I think this is where hierarchy is shown and where every player wants to be,” Quintero said.

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BRIEFLY

With the U.S. men’s national team training in Blaine ahead of next Tuesday’s first game in the Gold Cup, head coach Gregg Berhalter and his staff watched Wednesday’s game in St. Paul. … Wednesday’s announced attendance was 7,211, the smallest crowd in nine matches at Allianz Field. All seven MLS games have been sellouts of more than 19,600.