Quintero on target as Minnesota downs Rapids

Darwin Quintero made up for a missed penalty kick by scoring in the 39th minute as Minnesota United FC won 1-0 over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at Saint Paul, Minn.

Minnesota (12-8-5, 41 points) was the aggressor most of the night, holding nearly 60 percent of the possession, to bounce back from Saturday's 5-3 loss at FC Dallas that ended its seven-game MLS unbeaten run.

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Sitting among the top three in the Western Conference, the Loons improved to 8-1-4 at home while setting a club record for single-season MLS victories in their third campaign.

Colorado (7-13-5, 26 points), meanwhile, fell short of a season-high third consecutive win while falling to 1-7-3 on the road.

Minnesota had the first quality opportunity in the sixth minute. However, Quintero's free kick from just outside the box was blocked by the wall and eventually landed in the hands of Colorado keeper Clint Irwin, who finished with eight saves.

The host side kept the pressure coming in all forms throughout the half, but could not convert a 37th-minute penalty kick by Quintero after Colorado midfielder Danny Wilson fouled Minnesota left back Chase Gasper in the box. Irwin made a rather easy diving stop to his right on the pedestrian attempt.

However, Quintero would redeem himself two minutes later by perfectly getting behind the Rapids back line to take a well-timed pass from Kevin Molino. That left Quintero one-on-one with Irwin, who got a piece of the shot with his left leg but couldn't keep it out, as the Colombian rolled in his team-leading eighth goal of 2019.

Colorado made some noise early in the second half, but was unable to convert. Loons defender Ike Opara kicked one off the goal line in the 50th minute to keep the Rapids off the scoresheet.

The Rapids, who had six corners on the night, did not back down and looked the better side for about 10 minutes on either side of the hour mark. Minnesota, though, regained its moxie and ultimately had enough to thwart Colorado's late pressure to prevail.

Vito Mannone finished with two saves in his ninth shutout of the year.