Saturday night in Austin started with a Minnesota side hungry for goals. After breaking an eight-game undefeated streak in a tough loss to Vancouver, the Loons had a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. So, the boys decided to make a statement comeback accordingly: three goals and three points against the formerly third-in-the-West Austin FC, a poetic return to victory that marked some firsts for a few of the Black and Blue.

Coach Ramsay decided to mark the beginning of May with a shake-up in formation; in a departure from the classic 5-3-2, he lined up Nicolás Romero, Michael Boxall, and Jefferson Díaz in back and had Robin Lod and Joaquín Pereyra flank Tani Oluwaseyi up front. By all official counts, the boys showed up in a 4-3-2-1, but functionally they fell into a 3-4-2-1. Anthony Markanich and Bongokuhle Hlongwane were both able to push up higher on the field, treading more into midfielder territory than their traditional wingback positions.

Pereyra sparked the momentum in the 22nd minute with a slide that sent the ball past Ilie Sánchez and right through Brad Stuver’s legs — a massive, uncharacteristic blunder from a keeper with five clean sheets to his name this season. Pereyra’s first MLS goal got the Loons rolling, and between a determined backline and a slew of opportunities for Minnesota in the attacking third, Austin just couldn’t strike a rhythm.

The 35th minute saw Markanich double the lead, placing himself in the perfect spot to receive Díaz’s cross and head the ball into the box to bounce past Stuver. Markanich’s goal was another milestone, his first for Minnesota United and second in MLS. The decisive lead had Austin scrambling for chances in the first half but only managing two shots on goal, both saved by an unbreakable Dayne St. Clair. The first half closed on a 2-0 scoreline in favor of Minnesota, with the Loons logging eight shots on goal in only 34% possession. The boys really doubled down on the mantra of possession with purpose.

Nico Estévez made a pair of substitutions in the 61st minute in an effort to turn the game around, sending Diego Rubio on for Osman Bukari and replacing Myrto Uzuni with recent acquisition Robert Taylor. A few minutes later, Minnesota responded with the debut of Julian Gressel — like Taylor, a versatile back-of-the-transfer-window move from Inter Miami. He’s played all over the pitch, but made his entrance as a wingback tonight, allowing Hlongwane to move up the field. The move paid off when Gressel held up the clean sheet with a decisive block from inside the goal, sending Brandon Vázquez’s shot out of the danger zone.

When the new faces on the field didn’t alter the scoreline, a line of substitutions rolled in from both sides. Austin brought in CJ Fodrey to create some opportunities, but the score for the Texas side held steady at zero. Guilhermo Biro found the back of the net in the 77th minute but was caught offside. Minnesota opted for a more defensive move with just about 10 minutes left on the clock, bringing defender Morris Duggan in for Lod to hold down the fort.

And to really bring it home, Pereyra made it a brace with a phenomenal shot from the top of the box a minute into stoppage time, putting Minnesota up 3-0 on a struggling Texas side. St. Clair shut down Fodrey’s last-minute header for his sixth clean sheet of the season, tied for first in the league.

Texas may be the Lone Star State, but there were a number of stars on the Black and Blue squad tonight — solid performances around the board, milestone goals from Pereyra and Markanich, and four saves from St. Clair made more of a constellation that El Tree just couldn’t crack.

Soccer isn’t over for the Western Conference tonight, and the Portland Timbers’ performance will determine where the Loons fall in the standings, but tonight’s three points puts Minnesota at a solid 19, good for second place in the West at the time of writing. Going into the U.S. Open Cup and a landmark Matchday 12 against Inter Miami, that’s a pretty good place to be.