Defensive strife followed Minnesota United into the start of Saturday’s season opener against San Jose, and Kevin Molino’s resilient pair of goals turned up late intrigue in the Loons’ eventual 3-2 defeat to the Earthquakes.

A year after jaw-dropping backline breakdowns produced a numbing narrative last March, the Loons couldn’t flip the script, falling behind 3-0 in the first 60 minutes.

In back-to-back minutes in the first half, Danny Hoesen was unmarked at the top of the 18-yard box and beat Loons goalkeeper Matt Lampson to his low, left-hand side in the 27th minute.

After Francisco Calvo’s clearance was blocked, San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski’s cross skipped across the front of goal and Valeri “Vako” Qazaishvili got inside Tyrone Mears on the back post to tap in a goal in the 28th.

“We made two poor decisions, two poor choices, and at the end of the day, individual errors have cost us two goals,” United coach Adrian Heath said “You can’t hide away from that.”

Hoesen earned a brace with his second goal in the 59th minute to seemingly put the game on ice, but Molino produced a late pair of goals in the 81st and 85th minute to pressure the Earthquakes. Christian Ramirez’s hold-up work aided Molino to make a play to his right-hand side for the first goal, and Molino netted a long strike for the second. In the waning moments of stoppage time, Collen Warner’s shot went just wide, concluding the comeback attempt.

“They didn’t give in and when you get to 3-nil, it’s very easy to start to play even more defensive,” Heath said. “Then start to play safe and don’t take chances as far as taking men forward, but we kept pushing forward.”

In the preseason, Heath stressed that continuity in the lineup should produce better results from the MLS-worst 70 goals allowed in 2017, including 18 over the first four games. That wasn’t the case in the opener.

Heath also sees Molino capable of double-digit goals this season, and the Trinidad native fulfilled his coach’s aims early. Related Articles Houston Dynamo scores twice in 2nd half to tie Minnesota United

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“I’m really pleased that Kev got a couple of goals because we’ve had a good long chat about what are my expectations of him,” Heath said. “It will do his confidence no harm and hopefully he can take that into next week.”

Both Heath and Molino will return to Orlando next Saturday, their previous homes before coming to Minnesota. Heath might had difficulty filling the striker spot against the Lions.

Second-year striker Abu Danladi made the start, but didn’t finish the half, coming off after re-aggravating his left hamstring injury in the 29th minute. Sub Ramirez rolled his left ankle, remained on for the second-half sparks, but the injury swelled after the game.

“It doesn’t bode well for the weekend,” Heath said.

In three preseason games, Heath was consistent with a backline center back pair of Calvo and Michael Boxall, with Jerome Thiesson as the left back and new addition Mears on the right. The Loons have suffered from the loss of defensive midfielder Sam Cronin to concussion symptoms and left back Marc Burch out with an ankle injury. United went with a midfield pair of Rasmus Schuller and Ibson.

Heath said late Saturday night was premature to consider defensive changes.

“I will have to have a good think about it, Heath said. “It’s never easy to make a decision straight after a defeat because you are too emotionally involved at this moment in time. We’ll have a regroup (Sunday) and watch the game on the way back on the plane and go from there and decide what we do later in the week. I certainly wouldn’t make one of them decisions now.”