After a rough-and-tumble first four games in Major League Soccer, Minnesota United earned their first win as an expansion club back on April 1, 2017 – three years ago to date.
The memorable occasion was a 4-2 thumping of Real Salt Lake at TCF Bank Stadium, one that brought the Loons faithful much-anticipated exultation. You can even catch a full replay of the game tonight at 6 pm ET on mnufc.com if you’re in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul broadcast markets.
Even though RSL midfielder Luke Mulholland scored for the visitors in the fourth minute, Minnesota found their equalizer in the 16th minute via Kevin Molino. The floodgates then opened in the second half via a Christian Ramirez brace and Johan Venegas tap-in, with both Loons’ attackers capitalizing on RSL turnovers. Yura Movsisyan bagged a consolation goal in the 87th minute for RSL, but it mattered little in the end.
Minnesota had a prior chance to reward their supporters when making their home MLS debut March 12, 2017 against Atlanta United. But the Five Stripes, another expansion club that season, stormed to a 6-1 win amid snow-filled conditions. That was one data point in a broader 0-3-1 opening stretch whereby the Loons allowed 18 goals.
The Loons ultimately finished ninth in the Western Conference standings that year, plus set a since-broken MLS record for most goals allowed in a single season (70).
