Minnesota United had an opportunity to move back into an MLS Cup Playoffs spot after Austin and Dallas lost matches earlier Saturday night. And Bongi Hlongwane led the way back over the playoff line with two goals in the Loons’ 2-1 win over San Jose at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.

The Loons (10-11-6, 36 points) were able to down the Earthquakes (5-20-2, 17 points) for the second time in Minnesota’s last three MLS matches.

“Largely up until the point they had the scoring chance right at the death, it was a performance that was full of control and dominance for far longer than we have been able to display over the course of the last couple of months,” head coach Eric Ramsay said. “It was a pleasing night, and it obviously puts us right back in the mix.”

Hlongwane paid back Ramsay’s faith in starting him next to forward Kelvin Yeboah and over Teemu Pukki and Tani Oluwaseyi, who subbed in for first time since suffering a hamstring injury July 30.

Minnesota capitalized on Earthquakes’ sloppiness in the opening minutes. Hassani Dotson stuck his body in to win a loose ball and Robin Lod fed a pass for Hlongwane to poke in in the ninth minute.

The Loons gave up the lead about 20 minutes later when Jefferson Diaz and Michael Boxall couldn’t win headers and Ousseni Bouda’s goal made them pay. It was San Jose’s first shot of the match.

On a long throw-in by Joseph Rosales, Hlongwane’s second goal came on his third consecutive shot; his two shots were denied on the doorstep.

Like his team, Hlongwane has enjoyed success against the Earthquakes this season. He scored the insurance goal in the Loons’ 2-0 win over San Jose on July 20.