Another 2-1 loss, this one at Columbus, keeps D.C. United sputtering

Washington Post

20-07-2025

D.C. United has become more competitive under interim coach Kevin Flanagan, but mistakes and a glaring absence of attacking threats continue to mar close matches.
Saturday night's 2-1 away loss to the Columbus Crew was the same margin as the previous two setbacks, extending United's winless streak to seven in MLS and eight in all competitions.
Christian Benteke, United's top threat, scored his first goal since returning from a series of injuries, tying the score early in the second half. But moments after entering, Lassi Lappalainen scored in the 78th minute for the Crew (12-4-8) as United fell to 0-6-1 in its past seven league games and 4-13-7 overall.
In a match that started 35 minutes late because of inclement weather, Columbus was by far the better team. Nonetheless, United stayed in the match through defensive persistence and organization. Benteke's goal offered hope of gaining a point, if not three, against an MLS Cup contender.
United played its fourth away match in 11 days, including a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in Nashville, Troy Lesesne's last game before being fired.
Flanagan, who will run the team until Switzerland native René Weiler receives his work visa, said the busy schedule has helped the team keep its chin up during off-field changes and on-field doldrums.
'With the amount of games we've been playing and the travel, there hasn't been that much time to allow the stress off the pitch to really negatively affect the group,' he said Friday. 'There's no doubt about it: The guys are feeling that fatigue ... but the way they're going about the work has been excellent.'
United will return to Audi Field next Saturday to face Austin FC, then hit the road again for visits to New England and Montreal.
Even under the best circumstances, playing in Columbus is not easy. This year, though, the Crew has lost just once in 13 league matches at Lower.com Field; Lionel Messi's Inter Miami did the honors in April.
Flanagan reincorporated four starters who sat out the 2-1 loss in Charlotte on Wednesday: Benteke (muscle tightness), center back Lucas Bartlett (ankle ailment) and fullbacks David Schnegg and Aaron Herrera (yellow-card suspensions).
Amid the winless streak, goalkeeper Luis Barraza and midfielder Gabriel Pirani have stood out — Barraza with a number of brilliant saves and Pirani with five goals in the previous nine matches.
As expected against the superior Crew, Barraza and the D.C. defense were under pressure from the start. Flanagan's four-man back line — a switch from Lesesne's five-man formation — shielded the keeper by keeping its shape and composure.
United's resistance, though, cracked when Bartlett took down designated player Daniel Gazdag in the box. With a clinical penalty kick, Gazdag posted his first goal for the Crew in 16 appearances since being acquired from Philadelphia in the spring.
United continued sitting back and waiting for counterattack opportunities; there were few. In possession, D.C. was dull and predictable. Columbus prevented Pirani from finding space to shoot outside the box, and Benteke, who is harmless without service, received almost none.
Max Arfsten almost doubled the lead on the last touch of the half, but after pouncing on Herrera's poorly headed back pass, his bid was fractionally off-target.
Although United remained within a goal at halftime, Columbus was comfortable in possession and unfazed in those rare moments when it needed to defend.
United, however, drew even three minutes into the second half on Benteke's first goal since May 3 and his seventh of the season. Derek Dodson crossed into the box to the unmarked Benteke for an eight-yard header past Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte. It was United's first shot on target.
Two minutes later, Barraza prevented disaster. Bartlett played the ball out of the box to Boris Enow, but Enow wasn't paying attention. Dylan Chambost intercepted the pass and drove a low shot that Barraza deflected. Bartlett shouted and gestured at Enow.
Still not at top fitness, Benteke was replaced in the 62nd minute by Dominique Badji (one goal in 18 matches).
United continued to absorb pressure, but in the 78th minute it conceded the tiebreaking goal. D.C. was unable to clear the ball from danger. Enow poked the ball toward the top of the box. Lappalainen smashed a 16-yard one-timer past Barraza for his first goal.
Herrera was red-carded in the 89th minute after receiving his second yellow. He will miss the Austin match.