D.C. United faced off against Columbus Crew on Saturday night, ending the game in a 2-2 tie. Christian Benteke was the star of the match, showcasing his scoring prowess by netting two goals, bringing his total for the season to an impressive 21 goals, making him the top scorer in the MLS.
In the 30th minute, Benteke opened the scoring with a precise one-touch shot from the center of the area, off a pass delivered by Ted Ku-Dipietro. Later in the 81st minute, Benteke demonstrated his skill once again by redirecting a pass from Gabriel Pirani and beating Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte for his second goal of the night.
With his 21-goal haul this season, the 33-year-old forward etched his name in D.C. United’s history books as only the third player in the franchise’s history to score at least 20 goals in a single season, joining the likes of Raúl Díaz Arce and Luciano Emilio.
On the other side, Juan “Cucho” Hernández made his mark for the Columbus Crew by effortlessly flicking a shot from outside the area, equalizing the score at 1-1 in the 54th minute. The Crew then took the lead when Jacen Russell-Rowe headed in a goal from an arcing entry pass by Hernández in the 57th minute.
The match saw remarkable performances from both goalkeepers, with Patrick Schulte making five saves for the Columbus Crew, while Alex Bono had four saves for D.C. United. The tie leaves Columbus Crew with a record of 16 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses, maintaining their unbeaten streak for four consecutive matches, whereas D.C. United’s record stands at 8 wins, 13 draws, and 10 losses.
Overall, the game showcased thrilling moments of skill and resilience from both teams, adding another chapter to the ongoing Major League Soccer season.