Every pro soccer player has to overcome adversity along the way, but 17-year-old Darius Randell — born in Liberia and immigrated to Minnesota — had to overcome one of the most difficult obstacles of all.

His mom.

Analysis: Darius Randell, 17, is a reason for Minnesota United FC to hope

Minnesota United has tried all season to get younger. The team’s summer shopping spree brought in six players, none of them old enough to remember when the years on the calendar started with the numbers 1 and 9.

Michael Boxall, though, is always going to be an exception. Tuesday, MNUFC announced that they’d signed their captain to a contract extension through 2025, with a team option for 2026 — immediately following what might have been Boxall’s best game of the season, last Saturday against Sporting Kansas City.

Analysis: Minnesota United had its reasons for signing Michael Boxall to extension

Minnesota United striker Kelvin Yeboah has brought a lot to the team in the five games since his arrival. Goals, absolutely; the Italian already has scored five. Energy, definitely; Yeboah has started every game, played 90 minutes in four of them, and manager Eric Ramsay has lauded him even more for his defensive effort than for his scoring.

But there’s something else that Yeboah brings, and will have a chance to display again on Saturday, when the Loons host the Colorado Rapids. In hockey, we’d probably call it “sandpaper.” In baseball, maybe just the term “grit” would suffice.

For Minnesotans? Well, we’d probably just call it “interesting.”

Analysis: Kelvin Yeboah brings goals and needed edge to MNUFC

Game Coverage

Minnesota 2, St. Louis City 1: Pioneer Press

Loons go on the road and spoil another St. Louis City home game with win

FC Cincinnati 2, Minnesota 1: Star Tribune

Minnesota United falls into early hole in 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati

Analysis: Minnesota United’s struggles at home continue

Minnesota 2, Sporting Kansas City 1: Pioneer Press

Loons capture first away win at Sporting Kansas City in eight years