Minnesota United has cold open for soccer franchise

Minnesota’s debut game in Major League Soccer took place Sunday before 35,000 fans in snowy, 20-degree temperatures.

Minnesota United FC lost 6-1 against Atlanta United FC, at the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus, according to the StarTribune of Minneapolis.

The 20-degree temperature at kickoff tied the record for the coldest game in MLS history, the Associated Press reported. This was the ninth game in league history played in snow but only the second time a special orange ball was used for better visibility.

Atlanta joins the MLS this season with Minnesota for the league’s 21st and 22 teams. Josef Martinez had three goals, Miguel Almiron scored twice and Jacob Peterson subbed in the 84th minute and scored the last goal in injury time for Atlanta, which is coming off a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls in its opener last week, the AP reported.

The Loons, as Minnesota United FC is known, will play at the University of Minnesota football stadium until their stadium is finished in nearby St. Paul.

Kevin Molino scored for the Loons, who lost 5-1 at Portland last week in their opener and became the first MLS team to allow five-plus goals in consecutive games.

”The only positive that we can take from today is the people who braved the elements to come out,” Minnesota coach Adrian Health told the AP. ”I thought their support was incredible, and it’s just a pity that we couldn’t give them any type of performance that warrantied the support that we got.”