Christian Ramirez, Darwin Quintero inspire Minnesota United past LAFC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:29 pm

Christian Ramirez and Darwin Quintero each scored a goal in the closing minutes of the first half as Minnesota United pulled away for a 5-1 victory on Sunday over LAFC in Minneapolis.

Ramirez finished with two goals, teaming with Miguel Ibarra on a pair of second-half scores. Ibarra scored in the 56th minute and then fed a pass to Ramirez two minutes later for an easy wide-open score just in front of the LAFC goal.

Rasmus Schuller also scored a first-half goal as Minnesota United won its third consecutive MLS match and earned its the fourth home victory. The Loons have scored 14 goals while going 4-1-0 in their past five matches.

Benny Feilhaber scored a first-half goal for LAFC, which has just one victory in its past five road matches. The five Minnesota United goals were tied for the most LAFC has given up in a match this season.

LAFC was playing without forward Carlos Vela, who did not make the trip to Minnesota in advance of Thursday's match with the cross-town Los Angeles Galaxy.

The home victory was key for a Minnesota United squad that is about to hit a road-heavy portion of its schedule. The Loons are 1-8-0 away from home this season and will play six of their next seven matches outside of Minnesota. They are 8-3-1 at home.

Darwin Quintero
Darwin Quintero
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Schuller gave Minnesota United a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when he scored with a right foot from just left of the penalty spot. Trailing the play, Schuller scored his first career MLS goal off a feed from Quintero.

LAFC responded quickly, getting Feilhaber's goal one minute later. The veteran Feilhaber cut back with his right foot to shake a defender and finished a left-footed shot from close range for his third goal of the season.

Minnesota United took control quickly with halftime approaching. Off a corner kick, LAFC was unable to clear the ball and Ramirez snuck a shot just past LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller. Ramirez's two goals gave him seven on the season.

With the half-time whistle approaching, Quintero remained hot with his sixth goal in his past five matches. He scored on a breakaway one minute into stoppage time, slotting the ball home with his right foot for his ninth goal of the season.