The summer of 2018 will always be a pivotal moment in Minnesota United’s growing history.



After some spring struggles, the attack had finally found its footing during an extended homestand. Darwin Quintero hit the ground running at a historic clip, teaming up with Miguel Ibarra and Christian Ramirez to form a threatening three-man weave. For a team that had stuttered after injuries to Kevin Molino and Ethan Finlay, it seemed like the magic salve. Goals came in bunches — four against defending champion Toronto FC, three against Real Salt Lake, five against upstart Los Angeles FC — giving a still-stammering defense time to settle in behind a leaky midfield.



Three days after that 5-1 thumping of LAFC, Ángelo Rodríguez was introduced as the Loons’ second Designated Player. It set off a rapid chain of events that led to the Colombian striker becoming the starter, Ramirez being traded to that same LAFC side, and an attack forced to...