One-third of the MLS season is in the books, and Minnesota United is right where they set out to be: holding onto an MLS Cup playoff spot.

But at 4-3-3, how the Loons are on pace to achieve their primary objective for the first time in three MLS seasons has been far from linear.

Two-plus weeks ago, early returns showed Minnesota on pace to give up even more goals than their record-setting worst marks in Years 1 and 2. They’ve rebounded and now look stout defensively, with one goal allowed in their last three games.

The Loons are on pace to achieve their top aim despite praying and pleading that Darwin Quintero returns to his 2018 form, which had him as an early league MVP candidate this year. After being among league leaders in goals scored, Minnesota has netted only two goals in their last three games. Quintero has four penalty-kick goals but only goal in 681 minutes of open play, and the Loons have shown abilities to win without him.

They’re here after a clean break with former captain Francisco Calvo, a mainstay defender traded to Chicago on Friday. From his departure, there seems to be no wake, nor leadership void in Minnesota’s dressing room. Ozzie Alonso has assumed captaincy duties, and Miguel Ibarra has moved into Calvo’s prime locker spot inside Allianz Field.

Last year, there were B.C. and A.D. moments near the middle coach Adrian Heath’s three-year plan. A line drawn in the sand before Calvo called for more respect within MLS, and after Darwin signed as the club’s first Designated Player. Now a year later, those moments aren’t watershed.

The Loons weathered five straight road games to start the year, and after scratching out four wins in their previous 34 road games, they produced three away wins for a stronger early footing. Then under heightened expectations to open their St. Paul stadium with a bang, they’ve been able to go undefeated in four home matches, albeit with three draws.

After two opening draws, Minnesota got a monkey off their back by giving their supporters a chance to sing their “Wonderwall” victory song with a 1-0 win over D.C. United last weekend. They followed it up with a 1-1 draw with Seattle on Saturday.

“I think we should be cautiously pleased,” United sporting director Manny Lagos said in a season assessment before Saturday’s result.

Coach Adrian Heath expressed satisfaction from their recent stretch Saturday, especially against Western Conference foes in the Los Angeles Galaxy and Sounders, two sides ahead of the Loons in the standings. But not getting a full three points at home could loom as the season grinds on, with Minnesota having lost in L.A. in March and a road game at Seattle in the regular-season finale.

“Everyone has been talking about the others and we are the underdogs,” United goalkeeper Vito Mannone said. “I don’t mind that. But we want to end up as high as possible and we want to get the playoffs. It’s down to us.”

FiveThirtyEight’s prediction of Minnesota making the playoffs went from 62 percent to 57 after Saturday’s games. They figure the Loons will average 1.35 points per game, which is below the 1.4 benchmark set over the previous four years for the new seventh and final playoff spot. They are currently on a pace of 1.5. — with identical point averages home and away.

“I look at the group of players I have to work with every single day and, far and away, (it’s) the best group — mentally, physically and I think ability wise,” Heath said Tuesday. “I think that has shown in the results. I still think that we should be three points better off with the way that we played, but on the whole I’m pleased.”

One obvious game for the Loons to kick themselves over would be the 2-1 loss to New England on March 30, especially given how the Revolution sit in the Eastern Conference basement.

But Heath remains bothered by the 4-3 loss at Toronto FC on April 19. United gave up a 3-2 lead in the final 15 minutes and lost two players — Calvo and Jan Gregus — to red cards and then one-game suspensions.

“It’s not very often you get yourself in a position away to somebody like Toronto … and to come away with nothing and in the process you lose two players as well, that was frustrating,” Heath said Tuesday. “I think the response since then has been terrific.”

Calvo’s tripping of Toronto’s Auro was the last play he made in a Loons shirt in a game. After the trade, Calvo traveled to California and appeared as a sub in Chicago’s scoreless draw with Los Angeles FC on Saturday, and United goes to Chicago to play Calvo and the Fire at 7 p.m. Saturday. Related Articles Loons’ late rally falls short in 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew

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After that, Minnesota will have three of four MLS games at Allianz Field as well as a friendly against German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin on May 22.

“I think it’s a successful first part of the home stand,” Ike Opara said Saturday after his goal helped bring Minnesota a point. “… We got three more here at home. I think that’s when we are going to judge the whole home stand. I think it’s in a decent start to this home stand, to get familiar with the new environment and I think the guys are getting comfortable.”

United has 24 games remaining, which is just over 70 percent of the season. “We’ve got a long way to go,” Brent Kallman cautioned.