There were many reasons for the Carolina RailHawks to feel pessimistic as they visited Minnesota United Saturday evening.

The RailHawks had just one win to show for their last eight games, while Minnesota United was riding a five-match unbeaten streak and had only lost once at NSC Stadium all season. No NASL team has allowed more goals in the NASL’s fall season than Carolina, while no team has scored more goals than Minnesota over the league’s entire regular season. Nacho Novo, Carolina’s lead scorer, began the game on the bench, and Connor Tobin, arguably their best defender, was suspended due to a red card received during Wednesday’s officiating debacle in San Antonio.

Despite those overwhelming obstacles, the RailHawks grabbed a first-half lead over the Loons, which they held fast until the final 18 minutes. Carolina then fell prey the sort of sudden and utter lapse that has repeatedly marred their 2015 season, surrendering three goals (the first an own goal) over just nine minutes to hand Minnesota United a 3-1 victory.

The RailHawks struck first in the 4th minute. Unmarked defender Futty Danso nodded a Tiyi Shipalane corner kick off the inside of the far post and across the goal line for an early 1-0 advantage. The assist gives Shipalane eight on the season, one behind Tampa Bay’s Georgi Hristov for the league lead.

The remainder of the first half went scoreless thanks to the sublime skills of both goalkeepers, Akira Fitzgerald for Carolina and Sammy Ndjock for Minnesota. Flummoxed Minnesota manager Manny Lagos made two substitutions at halftime, then didn’t stick around long enough to see how they turned out after he was ejected from the match in the 66th minute. As the second stanza wound down, RailHawks supporters permitted themselves to believe, while the 8,222 Minnesota fans at NSC Stadium began to get nervy.

The match’s turning point began in the 70th minute. Charging into the area off the right wing, Shipalane was taken down by a clumsy Aaron Pitchkolan slide tackle that took out both of Shipalane’s legs but didn’t come close the ball. The referee inexplicably did not whistle a penalty. Worse still, Shipalane aggravated a shoulder injury when he fell to turf, causing him to leave the contest.

Just two minutes later, a free kick by Loons midfielder Kevin Venegas bounded off the unwitting forehead of Carolina’s Daniel Scott and past Fitzgerald for an own goal that squared the score at 1-1.

In the 76th minute, Christian Ramirez headed a Minnesota long ball back to second-half substitute Pablo Campos just outside the 18. Campos rifled his shot off the half-volley into the far netting for a 2-1 Minnesota lead.

With the Carolina collapse in full effect, Venegas maneuvered around a statuesque Chris Nurse and Scott in the 81st minute before slotting his own shot across Fitzgerald into the far net for the final 3-1 victory margin.

Fitzgerald, again the hapless victim, made five saves for the match. But Carolina has now allowed three goals in six of their last seven games. The plight of the RailHawks’ porous defense -- which is now tied with San Antonio for the most goals allowed this NASL regular season -- is encapsulated in this shocking fact: Fitzgerald, who didn’t even join the RailHawks this season until late May, leads NASL goalkeepers in both saves (66) and goals allowed (28).

The reeling RailHawks (6-8-9, 26 pts.) complete their 3-game road trip next Saturday when they visit the Atlanta Silverback. Carolina returns to WakeMed Soccer Park on Sept. 26 to host the Ottawa Fury.

BOX SCORE

CAR: Fitzgerald, Wagner, Danso, Scott, King, Hlavaty, Shipalane, Albadawi, da Luz, Engel (Da Silva (80’), Catic (Novo, 64’)

MNU: Ndjock, Davis, Pitchkolan, Calvano, Venegas, Vicentini, Ibson, Yago (Mendes, 46’), Jordan (Campos, 66’), Alhassan (Gotsmanov, 46’), Ramirez

GOALS

CAR: Danso, 4’ (Shipalane)

MNU: Daniel Scott, 72’ (OG); Campos, 76’ (Ramirez); Venegas (81’)

CAUTIONS

CAR: Engel (45’), da Luz (71’)

MNU: Calvano (23’), Mendes (67’), Campos (77’)

EJECTIONS

CAR: --

MNU: --

ATTENDANCE: 8,222