They had chances. Lots of them. Good ones, too. That's what will sting for the foreseeable future.
Minnesota United's debut appearance in the Major League Soccer playoffs should be viewed in that light, as an opportunity lost. The Loons dominated long stretches of play and did many things well, but they came up short in the most important aspect of the game.
But they didn't finish their chances, and LA Galaxy did.
That was the difference that brought United's historic season to a sudden end with a 2-1 loss in the first round Sunday night at Allianz Field.
Two goals allowed in a 4½-minute span late in the second half pushed the Loons into desperation mode after smothering the Galaxy the first 70 minutes. United's Jan Gregus scored in the final minutes, but the outcome provided a blunt reminder of what's needed after getting a small taste of the playoffs in Year 3.
"Have to get better," Coach Adrian Heath said. "We have to bring quality [talent] in. We did last year, and we have to do the same again. We can't stand still. Not in this league. Not in the West. If we stand still, we move backwards."
That should become their organizational slogan. Move forward, not backward. A new standard now guides every decision. The Loons are a playoff team. They must act accordingly this offseason.
The front office needs to continue to tweak the roster with better talent. That requires savvy scouting and strong financial commitment in pursuing top-level players.