When Minnesota United’s fourth goal hit the back of the net Saturday night, cathartic cheers were uncorked from an announced crowd of 17,728 at TCF Bank Stadium.

After a woeful, winless March, when the Loons were lambasted for allowing a Major League Soccer record 18 goals in four matches, April began with United’s first MLS win.

As the final whistle blew in a 4-2 victory over Real Salt Lake, the celebration was in full swing. The English band Oasis’ hit song “Wonderwall” blared from the stadium’s speakers, a replaying of the song that became the soundtrack when the club won the lower-level North American Soccer League title in 2011.

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Loons have ‘money available’ and roster flexibility for more additions Christian Ramirez, who celebrated with that song being sung by supporters at the Loons’ last home game in Blaine last October, played a starring role in the club’s new home stadium Saturday. He overcame a bout with the flu to score two goals, something he did 51 times in the previous three season with the Loons.

“It was surreal,” Ramirez said after Saturday’s postgame party. “I didn’t think anyone wanted to leave.”

With a 1-1 tie at the half, Ramirez’s goals came 52nd and 62nd minutes and Johan Venegas’ goal, United’s fourth, sealed it in the 68th.

Given the bad start to the season, United coach Adrian Heath repeatedly said this week that Saturday’s game was “probably the most important game in this club’s history.”

That line bothered diehard supporters who remember championships, but Heath stood by it. Saturday’s match certainly made history as the Loons (1-3-1) earned three points for the first time in MLS.

However, Heath didn’t let himself savor the victory until the final whistle, certainly not after Salt Lake got a goal back in the 87th minute.

“It was relief, and everybody can maybe calm down a little bit,” Heath said. “Then pleasure for everybody that worked so hard to be an MLS club.”

Video: #MNUFC coach Adrian Heath is pleased for supporters after they stuck with club after a tough opening month that ended with 4-2 win. pic.twitter.com/rzeQwrDDZY — Andy Greder (@andygreder) April 2, 2017

After a 6-1 defeat to Atlanta in the home opener, Heath saw a duty to perform in front of the home audience as well as a golden opportunity against Salt Lake (0-3-2), which is now on a 13-match winless streak since last September and lost defender Aaron Maund early in the first half.

The Loons pressing for a win seems more urgent with a tough road game next week at Dallas, an early-season favorite to win MLS Cup.

Real Salt Lake started strong and gave the Loons deja vu that their defensive woes would not cease. Salt Lake had scored one goal in its previous four games but needed only four minutes to score against Minnesota. The Loons have now given up six goals within the first 17 minutes of all five games this season.

Salt Lake’s Luke Mulholland, a former Minnesota Stars player who also sang “Wonderwall” in 2011, found the ball at his feet after Loons defender Francisco Calvo’s diving header went awry. Mullholland then beat Loons goalie Bobby Shuttleworth to take an early lead.

Kevin Molino headed in the equalizer to make it 1-1 in the 16th minute. Molino dyed his hair blond while with the Trinidad and Tobago national team because it has given him good luck in the past. With the new color, he scored in a World Cup qualifier last week and kept the good vibes going Saturday. He also assisted on Ramirez’s first goal as well as Venegas’ finish.

United defender Justin Davis joined the club in 2011 and was a part of that title run. He started his third game at left fullback with the MLS club Saturday.

“I think it’s nice that the tradition stayed on,” Davis said. “We brought things from NASL and Thunder days, Stars days and we’ve kept that, kept our identity and haven’t lost sight of what built this team and led us to get to this point.”