There were no goals for Lewis Morgan, who had a hat-trick last week for the Red Bulls. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Things were going pretty well for the Red Bulls in the opening 14 minutes of the game.

Until they were awarded a penalty kick on a decision that was aided by a VAR ruling.

Patryck Klimala’s attempt was saved and whatever momentum the Red Bulls had built up until then went down the drain in their home opener at Red Bull Arena.

Minnesota United tallied the lone goal of the MLS match early in the second half and as the visitors walked out of Red Bull Arena with a 1-0 win before an announced crowd of 14,848 on Sunday night.

The loss denied the Red Bulls (2-1-0, 6 points) of winning their first three matches of the season for the first time in their 27-year history. Minnesota improved to 1-0-2.

“It’s crazy for me that we step out without the point today with a performance on this level,” Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber said. “But yeah, football is sometimes crazy. We have to be critical with ourselves. What can we do better?”

The game changed in the 14th minute when referee Lukasz Szpala, after some help from the VAR, ruled that United’s  Hassani Dotson had handled the ball in the penalty area.

Dayne St. Clair guessed correctly on Klimala’s rather weak attempt, diving to his left to deny the Red Bulls’ forward.

Asked if he thought the PK save had a negative effect on the game, Struber replied, “Absolutely no. Absolutely no negative effect. I could see before the penalty and after the penalty hungry boys with a clear plan with a clear mindset. And I think this could always can happen [with] a penalty; that we miss chances like that.

“I think this penalty, this is no excuse. I think we have enough chances to win this game.”

For the rest of the contest, St. Clair put on a clinic, stopping several Red Bulls’ attempts. The Red Bulls, who tallied seven goals in their first two victories on the road, reverted back to their woeful finishing selves of 2021. They outshot Minnesota, 18-5, but could not find the back of the net.

“You have to tip your hat to him this game for sure,” Red Bulls captain Aaron Long said. “He had some amazing saves, but on the other hand, we did create a lot of chances and I think we should score one of them.

“I don’t know which one we should score, but I know I want to score mine. Patryk wants his back, I know Omir [Fernandez] wants his back. Dru [Yearwood] had a good one there, Lewis [Morgan] had a great one in the first half. So, I think one of us has got to put one in the back of the net for us.”

Minnesota did as Luis Amarilla scored off a brilliant volley off a Hassani Dotson chip pass in the 51st minute.

Luquinhas made his Red Bulls’ debut, entering the game for Dylan Nealis in the 81st minute.

The Red Bulls will try to get back on track when they host the Columbus Crew next Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.