Minnesota United played on without star attacking midfielder Emanuel Reynoso as starter or sub in Sunday's 18 against Houston at Allianz Field.
Club and league policies don't identify players who have tested positive for COVID-19. A game at FC Dallas last Sunday was postponed after two Loons players were confirmed positive two days before the game.
Wednesday's home game against Chicago was postponed as well on short notice after another player was a suspected positive test that later proved negative.
Without Reynoso, Loons coach Adrian Heath started attackers Kevin Molino, Ethan Finlay and Robin Lod up front behind striker Kei Kamara and with Hassani Dotson and Jacori Hayes behind those three. Dotson went down twice because of injury early in Sunday's game.
Defender Jose Aja and midfielder Thomas Chacon were not in the Loons' 18 for Sunday's game.
Coronavirus testing led to the postponement of two games, canceled training sessions and caused the team to train Saturday in groups of five players each to limit exposure to the virus.
"We have to get on," Heath said Saturday. "We can't use it as an excuse. We are looking forward to getting back to playing again. These are hurdles we have to overcome. We can't use them as an excuse because, guess what? We're playing a game tomorrow."
The two postponed games allowed team captain and veteran defensive midfielder Ozzie Alonso time to heal from the hamstring injury sustained last month, and he entered the game Sunday in the 15th minute. Minnesota United also is expected to get veteran midfielder Jan Gregus back in the lineup after missing only two MLS games while he was gone to play with his Slovakia national team in Europe.
