Minnesota United is stress-testing the jurisprudence of Murphy’s Law. Amid a stubborn and growing list of absent players, the Loons’ play early in Wednesday’s game against Vancouver Whitecaps further pushed the adage of what can go wrong, will go wrong. Michael Boxall, the Loons’ steady captain center back, made a ghastly error in the opening four minutes to concede a goal and MNUFC was immediately chasing the game in a 3-1 loss at Allianz Field. MNUFC (8-8-6, 29 points) has lost five straight matches, setting a new club record for worst skid in its MLS era. “There is no way of looking at the game other than we’ve given ourselves a real mountain to climb in the opening stages of the game,” head coach Eric Ramsay said. To twist the knife, Vancouver (8-7-7, 31 points) joined Portland with recent wins over Minnesota leading to them leaping over the Loons in the Western Conference standings. Boxall, who has been playing hurt in recent weeks, was trying to set up debutant goalkeeper Alec Smir with an easy pass, but he under-hit it. Whitecaps forward Ryan Gauld pounced on it and passed to Brian White for the opening goal. “Tonight, that is 100% on me,” Boxall said. “We are at the point we should be fighting tooth and nail to scrapping every time we can to stay in games and not just be gifting and doing (expletive) plays like I did to start the game.” On a Vancouver corner kick in the 16th minute, Boxall and others let Mathias Laborda get in behind for a header into the back of the net. Gauld set up that goal as well with a cross into the box. The Loons had chances to get a goal back in the 24th and 27th minutes. First, goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka came far out of goal, but Robin Lod’s shot was blocked by a Vancouver defender’s leg. Then Vancouver was called for a handball in the box, but surprise penalty kick taker Joseph Rosales’ poor shot was saved by Takaoka. Rosales got some redemption on a corner kick in the 30th minute. His service was headed by Hassani Dotson to the back post and Bongi Hlongwane got his left foot on it to make it 2-1. The Loons outshot the Whitecaps 17-6, but Vancouver made the most of its chances with Sebastian Berhalter sealing the win with a quality long-range goal in the 60th minute. MNUFC hasn’t earned a point since June 8 and hasn’t won since June 1. “I haven’t really been counting,” Boxall said of the month-long losing streak. “It feels like a long time. Obviously longer than we are used to, particularly some of the home games when it feels like, even last week, they are snatched away from you. It’s close, but we are just not quite getting it done.” Briefly Smir made his MLS debut in net for the Loons; the 25-year-old MNUFC2 player got the start with Dayne St. Clair away with Canada and Clint Irwin out after injuring his groin after the Portland loss Saturday. … With eight players out, Alejandro Bran was thrust into the starting lineup after being away from the Loons for weeks and just coming off the bench for Costa Rica in Copa America on Tuesday night in Austin, Texas. … The Loons signed goalkeeper Oscar Herrera to an MLS NEXT Pro contract and a short-term loan to the first-team backup for Wednesday’s match. Herrera, of Madison, Wis., played at Augsburg through 2023 and has been training with MNUFC’s first and second teams this year. … Midfielder Franco Fragapane made his 100th appearance for the Loons on Wednesday. Related Articles Minnesota United FC | Minnesota United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Keys to the match, projected starting XI and a prediction Minnesota United FC | Minnesota United: ‘Brilliant’ midfielder Robin Lod selected for MLS All-Star Game Minnesota United FC | Loons need to have another ‘difficult conversation’ with defender DJ Taylor Minnesota United FC | Loons limp to 3-2 loss in Portland as losing streak reaches four matches Minnesota United FC | Minnesota United at Portland Timbers: Keys to the match, projected starting XI and a prediction