Minnesota United got off to a rollicking start in its first 90-minute preseason friendly Sunday against Sporting Kansas City in the Coachella Valley Invitational in Indio, Calif.

Loons forwards Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah each scored two goals in a 6-0 win. MNUFC defender Joseph Rosales and a K.C. own goal rounded out the scoring.

United head coach Eric Ramsay picked a starting XI almost entirely of first-choice players, while Sporting coach Peter Vermes rolled out back-ups to start the exhibition. The Loons took advantage with four goals in the opening 25 minutes.

“I’m completely aware of the context that they probably didn’t start as they probably would start for the first game of the MLS season, but I feel like even in that context, those games, particularly that early in preseason, can sometimes be very messy and disjointed,” Ramsay said. “I just felt like we gave a very precise, disciplined performance.”

Joaquin Pereyra, who scored in a 60-minute warm-up against Real Salt Lake on Jan. 29, assisted on the first goal (an Oluwaseyi header) and put a dangerous ball into the 6-yard box that resulted in the KC own goal.

Two up top

Ramsay has used two center forwards for a second-straight match; he also did it in scrimmage against RSL in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“The reason why we haven’t done a lot of that (work with one forward) over the course of preseason is because I feel like we are pretty well tuned into how that needs to look and what our problems are and what we do well in that system,” Ramsay said of the formation they relied on last season. “With two forwards, it’s been really necessary. … It’s definitely something we could start (games) with. … It’s a good position to be in.”

Rotation incoming

To round out preseason, MNUFC will play L.A. Galaxy on Wednesday and New York City on Saturday.

Ramsay said a significant amount of squad rotation will come midweek and then starters will get closer to 90-minute fitness against NYCFC.

The Loons’ 2025 season opener is less than two weeks away: at Los Angeles FC on Feb. 22.

Reminder of glass ceiling

Kansas City’s lineup was a byproduct of its preseason schedule, which has been adjusted and truncated due to a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, starting on Feb. 18 versus Inter Miami. They qualified for the North American, Central American and Caribbean tournament after being a finalist in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.

The Loons have failed to made the exclusive CONCACAF event every year since they joined MLS in 2017.

Briefly

MNUFC pursued Lucas Sanabria this winter, but the Uruguayan defensive midfielder signed with Galaxy on Saturday. The transfer fee for Sanabria was listed at $4.9 million, per FotMob. Sanabira, 21, signed a five-year contract and will be on the Under-22 Initiative. … New signing Hoyeon Jung and Nicolas Romero are progressing toward their work visas, which gives them the green light to play for Minnesota. Jung, a South Korean, has gone to an embassy in Canada to receive his visa. Romero, an Argentine, is in Buenos Aires to work toward his paperwork starting Monday. “Each are just around the corner,” Ramsay said. … Defenders Kip Keller and DJ Taylor are dealing with leg injuries. Rosales appeared to grab his hamstring on Sunday, but Ramsay hoped it wasn’t too serious because the Honduran can feel it once in a while without it ending up being a big deal. … With Jefferson Diaz’s red card in MLS Cup Playoffs exit last October, the Colombian will be suspended for the 2025 season opener. In his stead, Morris Duggan got start Sunday; Devin Padelford received the start in RSL scrimmage. … MNUFC2 has signed 6-foot-7 goalkeeper Wessel Speel to one-year MLS Next Pro contract for 2025 and a club option for 2026. The 23-year-old has been with Loons throughout preseason. The Netherlands native played for Duke last season, with 7 shutouts in 19 games. … Former MNUFC technical director Mark Watson attended the Gophers men’s basketball game versus Illinois at Williams Arena on Saturday. After being fired by United in October 2023, the Canada native has been consulting, including for Halifax Wanderers in Canadian Premier League. … United’s announcement of French midfield signing Owen Gene should come this week. The 21-year-old arrived in Minnesota from Paris late last week and will, in turn, also need to go to Canada for his work visa.