Minnesota United’s locker room inside Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was dead silent after the team’s stinging 3-2 road loss to then-last-place Colorado on Saturday.

But when the Loons reconvened in Blaine this week, players called a rare team meeting during which veteran leaders spoke up to say enough is enough with their losing ways, especially on the road. Captain defender Michael Boxall, starting goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth and top playmaker Darwin Quintero delivered messages to the group.

“Darwin doesn’t come from a losing background, so he is extra motivated to turn this thing around,” forward Christian Ramirez said of United’s lone Designated Player who came from top Mexican team Club America.

Shuttleworth has been in his fair share of those backs-against-the-wall meetings during his 10 seasons in Major League Soccer.

“Sometimes you’re in those meetings and you feel like guys are saying the right things, and you know it’s going to be the same effort and the same things done wrong,” said Shuttleworth, who joined Minnesota last season after eight years with the New England Revolution.

Shuttleworth said he doesn’t get that vibe now.

“It’s a group of guys that I think genuinely care about each other,” he said. “I think there isn’t a person in the locker room that doesn’t want to do really well. I think we can all hold each other accountable and realize that what we’ve done so far hasn’t been good enough. I think there is a sense among us that it’s going to improve and it needs to improve.”

With one win in their past six MLS games, Minnesota’s first opportunity to change the season’s trajectory will be a daunting one. The Loons (5-9-1) face second-place FC Dallas (8-2-5) at 7 p.m. Friday at TCF Bank Stadium.

By the end of this week, the somberness of the Colorado trip was gone and the Loons had livened up. They were lighthearted during the open portions of training, often bonding over the latest developments in the World Cup.

“We’ve responded well this week,” Ramirez said. “Guys have had a chip on their shoulder. We’ve talked it out. We figured out what we need to do to come together as a team. We had some words that needed to be said. It’s always good to air things out and what is expected of us.”

The Loons are 4-2-1 at home, compared to 1-7 on the road, and from coach Adrian Heath on down, the loss at Colorado was considered one of the toughest to swallow this season because the Rapids entered the game winless since April.

“I think other losses, we’ve come up against teams that have been pretty good on the day and we weren’t up to it,” Boxall said. Against Colorado, “we should have been up by at least a couple in the first half. When you don’t make the most of your chances, you leave it in the balance.”

Among the worst this season, the loss to Colorado ranks alongside — or potentially higher — than the 3-1 home loss to current basement dweller San Jose on May 12. Related Articles Loons’ late rally falls short in 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew

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Against Colorado, United had 59 percent possession, a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal and a 1-0 lead in the first half. In the second half, that evaporated in the thin Rocky Mountain air as Colorado came back to finish with 53 percent possession, a thin 8-7 deficit in shots on goal and a 3-2 victory.

Also akin to the San Jose loss, the Loons hemmed over officiating issues. They questioned Miguel Ibarra’s red card, which will force him to sit out Friday’s game, and how there was no reciprocating punishment for Colorado’s Jack Price, who was involved in the fracas.

Six minutes of stoppage time was added after 90 had been played, and despite a lack of subsequent delays, Colorado’s Tommy Smith scored in the 97th minute, ruining Minnesota’s chance to salvage a point.

“There is no reason for that,” United coach Adrian Heath said of the run-on.

Ramirez, who scored the goal to put Minnesota up 2-1, looked forward. “There is a long season left,” he said. “We have 19 games left to fix it, and we are only (seven) points out” of the playoffs.

DALLAS’ DIAZ OUT

Dallas will play Friday without dynamic attacking midfielder Mauro Diaz, who is second in MLS with eight assists this season.

This week, multiple reports had Dallas working on a transfer of Diaz to a club in the United Arab Emirates. A photo was posted Wednesday on Twitter showing Diaz in the Middle East.

FCD is 5-0-2 this season when Diaz has contributed a goal or assist.