Loons fall 2-1 to Colorado Rapids in return to MLS regular-season play

The call came from inside the Loons locker room: Take the fine.

As reporters gathered around Minnesota United defender Wil Trapp after a 2-1 upset loss to the Colorado Rapids, his teammates voiced their support for what he was about say: “I forgot that the referee was playing basketball and was setting picks tonight.”

The comment was a reference to opponent Darren Yapi’s second goal — part of the 20-year-old’s brace Sunday at Allianz Field. After Yapi scored in the 60th minute, he capitalized on a Colorado counterattack with another right-footed shot to put the Rapids (9-11-6) up 2-0 in the 70th minute.

But moments before Yapi scored, Trapp ran into an official as he attempted to defend Colorado in transition.

“We’re not playing basketball, and you’re not on the other team,” Loons midfielder Tani Oluwaseyi said, echoing Trapp. “I mean ... you’re a ref. You’re supposed to be in the best position possible to let the game flow.

“You’re directly affecting the play and directly affecting our guy being able to get to the ball. I think it has to be a dropped ball. It has to be something. You can’t just act like it didn’t happen. ... It affects the play.”

SUMMARY: Colorado 2, Loons 1

On Sunday, the Loons (12-6-8) controlled 60.2% of the possession — a heavy share for a side that typically excels in off-the-ball movement. Against Atlético de San Luis on Wednesday, Minnesota United also had an uncharacteristically high possession percentage of 60.9%.

Both contests ended in losses.

“We’re evolving as a team that wants to have a little bit more of the ball, but with that comes more transition moments,” Trapp said. “I think, you look at [today] — both their goals came from transition moments. The next step for us is understanding: If we want to start doing this, we have to understand what the other side of it is.”

After falling behind by two goals Sunday, the Loons were able to find an answer — a goal from Oluwaseyi in the 73rd minute — but no equalizer.

Two minutes after Oluwaseyi’s goal, Trapp’s right-footed shot missed. Two corners — in the 75th and 78th minute — came and went. Oluwaseyi attacked in the 80th minute, finding an opening, but booted the ball sky-high. An attempt from Joaquín Pereyra in the 82nd minute also ended in frustration after he was blocked. The Argentine tried again with the left foot a few minutes later — farther out this time — and was deflected.

“We wanted to start this nine-game block far better than that,” Loons coach Eric Ramsay said of his side’s return to regular-season action. “That [performance] doesn’t constitute that in any way.”

Minnesota United granted Make-A-Wish kid Tommy Schweinitz’s dream of becoming a professional soccer player Sunday.

Schweinitz, 17, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in his right leg. He made the difficult decision to amputate the cancerous leg to prevent the cancer from spreading, but he has continued to play soccer.