On April 22, Minnesota United found itself sitting with six points as it headed to Seattle for the seventh match of the season. Two March wins had been the only positive results of the fledgling season, sparked by an Ethan Finlay brace in Orlando, and his crucial assist in the home opener against the Chicago Fire.



The team also found itself trying to sort out both its on-field leadership and its attacking prowess. Sam Cronin’s extended absence with concussion-related issues both softened the midfield and offed one of the team’s most influential players in terms of work rate and his approach to the game. Meanwhile, Kevin Molino’s ACL tear in his Orlando homecoming saw a serious lack of creativity in the final third, at least partially necessitating the signing of Darwin Quintero. That trip to Seattle marked the Colombian’s second appearance with the Loons, and he was starting to find chemistry with Christian Ramirez, Miguel Ibarra, and...