Through 64 minutes Saturday, Minnesota United was cruising against Sporting Kansas City. The Loons led 3-0. SKC was getting booed by its own fans. It was cold and snowing and the home team was headed for an 11th consecutive loss. You could have excused SKC for looking like, as a team, it simply wanted to dig a hole and hide.

Then the Loons made two substitutions.

“It’s very difficult to look past the before and after point today, around the point at which we change,” coach Eric Ramsay said.

Read more: Loons are unreserved about frustration after flop at Kansas City

GAME STORY: Minnesota United turns a lead into a draw at Sporting Kansas City

FRIDAY ADVANCE:

Minnesota United doesn’t have a natural rival in Major League Soccer. Sporting Kansas City, which hosts Minnesota United on Saturday night, has traditionally been the choice — almost by default.

SKC fans, for their part, much prefer their own rivalry with St. Louis City. But thanks to (relative) geographical proximity, plus a history of U.S. Open Cup matchups dating back to Minnesota’s days in the second division, there have been spots of bad blood between Minnesota and Sporting KC through the years.

And so it’s unlikely you’ll find a lot of Loons fans who are bemoaning the current state of affairs: Sporting Kansas City is awful.

Read more: Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City and Peter Vermes