Darwin Quintero didn’t just accomplish the first hat trick in Minnesota United’s history within Major League Soccer. The Loons’ playmaker created three jaw-dropping strikes to steal the show in a 4-3 win Wednesday over defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC at TCF Bank Stadium.

After the third goal, Christian Ramirez put one of the hats thrown onto the field by fans on the head of the diminutive dynamo. It resulted in a yellow card for Quintero, but it mattered little. Living up to his nickname as “Scientist of the Goal,” he placed his fourth career hat trick as the best in his long career and dedicated it to his wife on her Fourth of July birthday.

“I told her I was going to score a hat trick, and that I was going to get her the ball,” Quintero said through a translator.

With Quintero’s first strike in the eighth minute and Miguel Ibarra’s goal in the 13th, Minnesota United sprinted to another franchise record: the fastest pair of goals its 51-game MLS history. The lightning-quick start and first three-plus goal game since October helped end a three-game losing streak for Minnesota (6-10-1) and further twist the knife during a confounding season for Toronto (4-10-3).

Quintero’s first goal was a gorgeous flick with the outside of his foot from 18 yards out that eluded Toronto goalkeeper Clint Irwin and rippled the top corner of the net. The others were just as stunning with distance and pristine placement in nearly identical top-corner spots.

“It was pretty crazy to be a part of,” Ramirez said. “The fashion in which he scored those goals, all three are probably are going to be up for (MLS) goal of the week — should be. I admire that cleverness to pull those three off.”

United coach Adrian Heath added, “Probably as good a hat trick as I’ve probably ever witnessed, and I’ve been doing this a long time.” This is Heath’s 41st season.

After Quintero’s opener, Ibarra took a prime pass from Francisco Calvo and beat Irwin again. Those two goals bested the two goals Minnesota scored within the first 35 minutes in a 4-1 win over Dallas on Sept. 23 last season.

The Loons gave one goal back just before halftime. Ibson’s bad turnover in the box was smacked in by Toronto’s Justin Morrow in the 42nd minute. It cut Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 and gave the struggling title-holders life.

Like the first, Quintero’s second goal came from the right side and just inside the 18-yard box in the 52nd minute, and his third was from the left in the 57th. He received an ovation from fans when he was subbed out in the 87th minute.

Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco had his own long-distance beauty to make it 4-2 in the 70th minute.

The Loons continued to create scoring chances from the 3-5-2 formation Heath has now used in consecutive games. The only changes from the 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on Friday were the returns of center back Calvo from playing for Costa Rica in the World Cup and Ibarra from a one-game, red-card suspension.

“I thought for 25-30 minutes we were outstanding in our play tonight; it was as good as you will see in MLS,” Heath said. “Really was that good.” Related Articles Loons’ late rally falls short in 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew

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United goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth made a point-blank save in stoppage time to keep it 4-2, but Toronto’s Jordan Hamilton scored seconds later to make it 4-3 and prove the need for all of Quintero’s stunners.

During the postgame TV interview, Ramirez put the hat back on Quintero’s head, and he kept it on to celebrate that time.