Battling five other teams for the fourth and final spot in the NASL playoffs, Minnesota United FC desperately needed a win Saturday night.

It didn't happen.

The Loons lost 1-0 to the Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., in their second-to-last regular-season match. And their weak hold on that fourth playoff spot is gone now.

Rayo OKC moved into that final playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over Fort Lauderdale. Rayo OKC has 44 points in the combined standings based on its 11-9-11 record. United (11-12-8) stayed at 41.

So the Loons will have to beat the New York Cosmos in their last game, next Saturday at the National Sports Center, and hope Rayo OKC loses to Indy Eleven the next day at Miller Stadium, its home pitch.

If that happens, both teams will finish with 44 points and the Loons will own the first tiebreaker, which is goal differential. Both teams are plus-5 now.

Rayo OKC's win did eliminate four other teams from playoff contention: Tampa Bay (which tied Ottawa 1-1), Fort Lauderdale, Miami (which lost to New York 4-0) and Carolina despite its win.

The RailHawks scored the lone goal on Matt Fondy's shot in the 51st minute. He found a spot inside the far post after a crossing pass from fellow forward Brian Shriver. It was his seventh goal of the season.

Nazmi Albadawi took a penalty shot for Carolina in the 72nd minute, but he missed. It was awarded after a handball in the box.

The Loons had several chances, too. Danny Cruz hit a crossbar in the 25th minute. And in the 81st minute, J.C. Banks appeared to score, but the goal was nullified by an offside call.

United had 13 shots, five on net. The Railcats had 19 shots, four on target.