Recap: MNUFC put the heat on FC Cincinnati in their first ever meeting.

Though an excessive heat warning plagued the Twin Cities this weekend that didn't harm Minnesota United or the Loons faithful as they soared to a 7-1 win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon in St. Paul.

While missing Romain Metanire, who is still out on International duty the Loons put together a solid starting XI for the night. Vito Mannone started his 17th league match in net with Hassani Dotson, Ike Opara, Michael Boxall, and Chase Gaspar in front of him with Gaspar starting his first MLS match this season. Ethan Finlay, Jan Gregus, Osvaldo Alonso, and Miguel Ibarra took up the midfield with Angelo Rodriguez and Darwin Quintero forming the Forward tandem in Adrian Heath’s 4-4-2 formation.

After showing great attacking prowess in the last two US Open Cup matches, Minnesota United continued to flex their muscle on the attack early on in the match. Jan Gregus took a free kick from the side of the 18 and after a Cincy defender deflected it towards and it then bounced off of their keeper Ike Opara finished it off to start the Loons scoring.

Just five minutes later it was Hasani Dotson scoring as he sent a ripper into the net from behind the 18 to extend the lead to 2-0

The Loons refused to stop there and took yet another goal on a sneaky play that saw Rodriguez push a short pass to Quintero who took it deep in the box before sliding it over to Ethan Finlay, who despite being hit with a sliding tackle, finished the play off for a goal.

Even with a 3-0 lead built up stopping was not an option for the home side when Angelo Rodriguez snagged a long pass inside the box and fired a hard shot into the low left-hand corner of the net on what would be the final goal of the first half.

As per what seems to be a normal affair in MNUFC matches the home side gave up a goal to Cincinnati’s Emmanuel Ledesma not long into the second half to erase the clean sheet they had going to that point.

Near the hour mark of the match Kevin Molino went in to replace Darwin Quintero while Mason Toye went in for Angelo Rodriguez, who was given a yellow card just minutes prior to the substitution. The 3rd and final sub was used in the 69’ when Lawrence Olum came in for Osvaldo Alonso.

Shortly after the sub Ike Opara headed in a cross from Jan Gregus to get a brace with the teams fifth goal of the night and Baby Shark rang out from the speakers after the goal.

Five just wasn't enough for Minnesota and Mason Toye proceeded to take a loose ball from near midfield and dribble it all the way into the top of the box before blasting his first ever MLS goal into the back of the net.

Kevin Molino also netted a goal near the end of the match to cap off the 7-1 win for MNUFC.

The 7-1 win over FC Cincinnati was a larger win than the Loons worst ever loss, a 6-1 defeat to Atlanta in the 2017 Snowpener back at TCF Bank Stadium.