Washington D.C. (May 5, 2019) — On April 24, D.C. United scored a historic win against Columbus Crew SC as they won at MAPFRE Stadium for the first time since 2007. The Crew came to Audi Field looking for revenge.
Despite their poor form, D.C. United haven’t scored in their last three home games and also haven’t scored from open play in their last three games.
Fifth Consecutive Loss For Crew: D.C. United 3-1 Columbus Crew
The game started fast and fluid with the black-and-gold largely on the front foot. In the 23rd minute, Pedro Santos drove at D.C.’s goal following a referee interference. D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum couldn’t close Santos down and the ball was put past goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Columbus Crew SC manager Caleb Porter was left furious. However, when the Video Assistant Referee ruled there was a foul before the goal and the goal was overturned.
Moments later D.C. United took the lead. In the 26th minute, skipper Wayne Rooney stood over a dead-ball. Rooney’s delivery would find Leonardo Jara. He then got the ball taken off him by Luciano Acosta, who made no mistake and scored. Audi Field imploded as Ben Olsen’s squad broke the dead-lock. Accosta’s goal was the first home goal for D.C. United since St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Things wouldn’t get much better for the Crew as Will Trap was judged to have extended his left-arm blocking an entry pass by Luciano Acosta right before half time in the 46th minute. Rooney, D.C.’s top scorer this season, stepped up and beat future Manchester City stopper Zack Steffen to make United’s lead 2-0.
During a half-time interview Caleb Porter let his frustrations known, slandering the referees decisive decisions. In Ohio, the Crew failed to comeback against a D.C. United lead and in all five of D.C.’s previous five victories they kept clean sheets. Being two goals down away from home this time posed a massive challenge.
In the 60th minute, Leonardo Jara won the ball as Columbus was in transition. Jara drove forward and made a back-heel pass that found Paul Arriola, whose shot from the top of the box extended D.C’s lead to 3-0. That was D.C. United’s first goal in open play in three games.
Arriola’s goal proved to be the nail in the coffin as the Crew couldn’t find their way back, despite a Bill Hamid own goal in the 75th minute. D.C. United completed a historic double over Eastern Conference rivals Columbus Crew SC.
.@WayneRooney's penalty earns tonight's @KPMidAtlantic Moment of The Match! #DCU | #DCvCLB pic.twitter.com/EmOxGa69Ld
— D.C. United (@dcunited) May 5, 2019
Three Takeaways
- Fifth-consecutive loss for Columbus: This has been a horrific run of form for the Crew. They’ve lost five in a row, scoring two and conceding nine goals in this time. Meanwhile, other teams in the Eastern Conference are catching fire. It’s time for Porter to turn things around quickly.
- Gyasi Zardes: When Zardes first came to the Ohio club he looked to have found the perfect new home. A run of six games without a goal now can highlight the Crew’s goal scoring issue. Zardes has struggled to make an impact on games and his reliance on the service of his team mates has become a liability.
- D.C. United double: Ben Olsen’s tactics left Caleb Porter rattled across the two-week series of games between the two clubs. After Columbus knocked D.C. out of the playoffs last season, these two victories will feel that much better.
D.C. United Main Photo:
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