PORTLAND, Ore. — Christian Ramirez was the perfect player to score Minnesota United’s first goal as a Major League Soccer expansion franchise on Friday night at Providence Park.

Although the Loons’ 5-1 defeat marked the most one-sided loss in MLS history by an expansion team in its first game, Ramirez provided a savory story line.

Ramirez, 26, is the truss on the bridge to the club’s heritage in the second-tier North American Soccer League. The three-time all-NASL player scored 51 goals in the past three seasons, including a league-leading 18 in 2016.

Ramirez’s father, Juan, stopped playing soccer in Colombia and emigrated to the U.S. before Christian was born in Santa Ana, Calif., in 1991. Before last season, Ramirez said he plays for his family, especially his dad to “live out his dream that he wasn’t able to.” Related Articles Minnesota United’s injury list won’t shrink much in near future

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Part of that dream came true Friday. Ramirez subbed on in the 69th minute and 10 minutes later, his goal helped get the Loons back in the game at 2-1. While a Timbers avalanche turned United’s debut into a rout, Ramirez sought a special keepsake: a game ball signed by his teammates.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was little and for it to happen that quickly in the first game, that means a lot,” Ramirez said.

After speaking to the media, Ramirez crossed paths with assistant coach Ian Fuller outside the visiting team’s locker room.

“It’s the drill,” Ramirez said in a hat tip to practice time he’s put in with Fuller.

Fuller then explained the drill. A few mannequins are staked into the grass to serve as defenders, with a player taking a touch on the ball, turning and trying to bend a shot around the figures.

“We do it quite often,” said Fuller, with a smile.

Before training camp started in January, Loons coach Adrian Heath, a former star forward in England, said he and Ramirez talked about how Ramirez can improve his play with his back to the net. Ramirez’s goal came with him needing to pivot from the top of the 18-yard box.

Johan Venegas set Ramirez up with an attacking pass that sliced through multiple Timbers defenders.

“I thought it was a really good ball from Johan Venegas,” Heath said. “Then (Ramirez) does what he does. He’s good in the box and he took his goal well.”

Ramirez also was complimentary of Venegas’ vision and execution, which was further uncorked when Venegas moved from forward to more of a midfielder role when Ramirez entered the game.

“I think it gave Johan a little bit more freedom to go and find the ball, knowing that I was pinning the two center backs,” Ramirez explained. “He’s such a great playmaker and (Kevin) Molino was finding himself in good spaces knowing I’m pinning the two guys back.”

Heath said his team “started apprehensive but we grew into the game in the first half. Second half, I thought we started to impose ourselves a little bit.”

While there is little sugarcoating for the sour 5-1 defeat, United did hold a 54-46 advantage in possession, a stat that “surprised” Heath.

Before Minnesota plays its home opener next Sunday against Atlanta, an expanded role for Ramirez will be explored.

“We’ll see where that takes us next,” Heath said. “But he’s always scored goals, so maybe we’ll look at that.”