The state's first major professional sports team to return since a virus shut them all down in March, Minnesota United on Sunday night played its first 90 minutes and then some in those four long months.
It needed every minute to beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 in its MLS is Back Tournament opener.
The Loons scored twice late in second-half stoppage time — in the 92nd and 97th minutes — and persevered after they spent months isolated at home, working out individually at first and then getting swabs shoved up their noses for the past weeks.
All to play again in a suspended season during which they are now 3-0, with nine points won.
"The words that spring to mind are character and adversity," Loons coach Adrian Heath said by video conference calls from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex outside Orlando. "When it's 1-nil you always have a chance, in any game."
The Loons hadn't played since March 7, when they started the season with consecutive victories at Portland and San Jose, outscoring their opponents 8-3 in those games. Five days later, MLS suspended its season.
Just when you thought Sporting Kansas City winger Khiry Shelton's 43rd-minute counterattacking goal might stand Sunday, Loons midfielder Jan Gregus knocked a free kick off Shelton's body in the 92nd minute. It deflected past goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, who entered in the 77th minute after Sporting KC starter Tim Melia got a red card and game ejection for obstructing Loons striker Aaron Schoenfeld's open path toward the goal.
Five minutes later, Loons veteran Kevin Molino scored the winner with an opportunistic left-footed goal from inside the penalty box on a Disney complex practice field where he and Heath once together toiled in the USL.