Orlando City struck first, but Minnesota United got the last laugh on Saturday.

Duncan McGuire scored 13 seconds into the game for Orlando, but with it tied 2-2, Bongi Hlongwane scored a winning goal in the 96th minute to give the Loons a 3-2 win at Inter & Co. Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

MNUFC (2-0-1) remained undefeated and kept it alive against one of the Eastern Conference favorites in Orlando City (0-2-1)

In the opening sequence of the game, Loons midfielder Hassani Dotson had under-hit long pass that Orlando pounced on and Duncan McGuire scored 13 seconds into the match.

Orlando, which hadn’t scored in the opening two MLS games, was off to a great start. It was Orlando’s fastest goal in club history, while for Minnesota, it tied Sebastian Blanco’s 13-second finish in 2022 for MNUFC’smark  fastest goal conceded.

Teemu Pukki answered within four minutes. His high-pressing action forced Pedro Gallese to turn the bal over. Pukki won it back and scored on an empty net from a tight angle.

Pukki gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute. Off a pass Robin Lod, Pukki’s outside-the-box shot was tucked inside the near post.

Those two goals were the opening two goals for the Finn this season. He scored 10 in half a season with the Loons last year.

McGuire used the time and space provided by Micky Tapias to tuck a shot inside the far post to equalize in the 84th minute

Interim head coach Cameron Knowles made one change to the starting XI from the 1-1 draw with Columbus Crew last Saturday. Lod, who missed last week with a calf injury, returned to the Loons midfield, with Alejandro Bran dropping to the bench.

Orlando City played without Facundo Torres, who led the club with 14 goals last season. Torres fell hard on his shoulder during a Concafac Champions Cup match against Tigres on Tuesday.

Briefly

New Loons head coach Eric Ramsay has arrived in Minnesota and will be begin work on Monday. The Apple TV broadcasters shared a development during its broadcast that its undetermined if the former Manchester United assistant coach will take over MNUFC before the LAFC match at Allianz Field next Saturday or if the club will give him more time with a no-game weekend coming before the Philadelphia United match on March 30.

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