Adrien Hunou scores twice in Minnesota United's win over Houston Dynamo

Minnesota United's 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday will go down as a win against the last-place team in the Western Conference, one that's now gone 15 games without a victory.

But that doesn't mean it was easy for the Loons.

This is a Minnesota team that had managed just one goal and two draws in the past three games, despite playing for 140 minutes with a man advantage and repeatedly creating good scoring chances. It's a squad that was missing seven players with injuries, including Emanuel Reynoso, the team's do-everything playmaker, and both of the team's first-choice wingers. It was a game in Houston, a place that Minnesota had never won before, in Texas's usual punishing soup of humidity and heat

And just 54 seconds into the game, the Loons were behind.

Said winger Ethan Finlay, "It's three points, but it feels like we get a bonus one, because of the way we did it tonight."

Striker Adrien Hunou scored twice for Minnesota, his first goals in 10 games, with both assists coming from Finlay. The goals, one in each half, were enough to end a three-game winless streak for the Loons, and send them into a two-week break in the schedule with a bit of optimism.

Houston's first-minute goal came after a defensive mix-up by the Loons. The mistake gave Dynamo winger Fafa Picault an open run down the left-hand side, and midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla volleyed Picault's cross off a defender and into the back of the net.

"That was a gut punch," Finlay said. "I've been a part of some of those type of games, and a lot of times they don't turn out this way. We can't do that; the really good teams in this league will make you pay for that."

In the 16th minute, the Loons managed to level the score, thanks to Hunou's first goal of the night. Wil Trapp swung a long free kick into the penalty area, and a deflected header found Finlay open at the back post. Finlay drove a pass across the goalmouth, where Hunou was waiting for one of the easiest goals he'll ever score, a 2-yard strike with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen.

Coach Adrian Heath was especially pleased with Hunou's positioning on his first goal. "I keep telling him he's got to keep getting in the right areas," Heath said. "I liked his first goal because I don't think he spends enough time in the real danger spots, close enough to the goal. He's got to get in where it matters and keep believing that the ball's going to come for him. I kept saying to him, stay in the box, and he's done that better tonight."

The winner came in the 73rd minute, with both teams flagging in the Houston humidity. MLS veteran Fanendo Adi, making his Minnesota debut after signing a contract in midweek, back-heeled a throw-in to Finlay. The winger slipped a pass to Hunou in the Houston penalty area. The Frenchman made no mistake, side-footing his shot into the bottom left-hand corner to give the Loons the 2-1 lead.

The goals were Hunou's third and fourth since arriving in Minnesota in late April. The assists were also Finlay's first two helpers of the season.

The Star Tribune did not travel for this event. This article was written using the television broadcast and video interviews before and/or after the event.