The San Jose Earthquakes came into Allianz Field on Saturday night with the worst record in MLS this season.

Minnesota United made it even worse and finally climbed out of its own long slump with a 2-0 win.

The Loons (8-10-6, 30 points) were able to snap what had become a 48-day winless grind across nine matches.

But the opening 30 minutes was a slog resembling two scuffling sides. Neither side took much control of the game nor produce a shot on target.

To shuffle the deck, head coach Eric Ramsay pulled starting midfielder Alejandro Bran in an apparent move to address it. Robin Lod moved from the right wing and into Bran’s spot in central midfield, while winger Franco Fragapane came off the bench.

Minnesota started to gain a foothold. The Loons connected approximately a dozen passes before getting a goal in the 38th minute. A threatening cross from Sang Bin Jeong ended up in an own goal from Tanner Beason.

Ramsay’s decision to start Bran was a bit of a surprise, but his quick adjust with a rare first-half substitute was instrumental in MNUFC taking a first-half lead.

United was fortunate to not be down a goal earlier in the game. Jeremy Ebobisse had two scoring chances in the 10th and 32nd minutes, but he put both of the attempts wide.

The Loons doubled the lead with Joseph Rosales’s cross met with a powerful header from Bongi Hlongwane in the 77th minute.

Coming into Saturday, San Jose (4-19-2, 14 points) was eight points behind the second-worst point total in MLS.

Minnesota was able to take advantage of a team that has allowed a league-high 61 goals this season and have managed only one win in 12 road games.

With the win, the Loons will enter the Leagues Cup break with positivity.

Briefly

New attacker Samuel Shashoua made his MLS debut as a sub in the 77th minute. … The transfer fee MNUFC is set to pay to Italian club Genoa for striker Kelvin Yeboah is in the ballpark of $3.2 million. Italian news outlet El Secolo XIX said compensation will also include bonuses and a sell-on percentage going to Genoa if the Loons transfer Yeboah to another club. …. Michael Boxall, who was suspended for Saturday’s match due to yellow-card accumulation, will depart Minnesota for the Olympics in Paris on Sunday. The 35-year-old center back is one of three over-age players for the New Zealand soccer team. He will miss the Loons’ two Leagues Cup matches against Seattle on Friday and Necaxa on July 30. … Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair wore the captain’s armband for the first time in an MLS game Saturday. It was his first professional captaincy; he wore the band at the University of Maryland.