D.C. United extended their unbeaten run to four matches as they topped Columbus Crew SC 1-0 for their third straight win in their 21st outing of the 2020 MLS Regular Season.
Bill Hamid started in goal with Joseph Mora, Donovan Pines, Frédéric Brillant, and Oniel Fisher composing the backline. Julian Gressel, Russell Canouse, Júnior Moreno, Yamil Asad, and Edison Flores started as the five in the midfield with Gelmin Rivas playing up front as the lone striker for the Black-and-Red.
United broke the scoreless draw in the 32nd minute when Julian Gressel scored his second goal of the season. After a series of quick passes in the Crew’s half, Edison Flores flicked a ball around the corner to Yamil Asad who found himself in space on the right wing. Asad drilled a low cross into the box where Julian Gressel was waiting near the penalty spot. Gressel took one touch onto his right foot and fired a shot towards goal that deflected into the top left corner to give United the 1-0 lead going into the break.
The D.C. United backline anchored by Captain Frédéric Brillant and Homegrown Center Back Donovan Pines picked-up where they left off in the first half, thwarting all of Columbus’ attempts to find an equalizer. A hard fought second half was highlighted by United limiting the Crew to no attempts on target. The match ended 1-0, as United’s organized approach and combative effort was rewarded with a 1-0 victory and a clean sheet.
The result marks United’s fourth clean sheet of the season and their first since the 0-0 draw against New York City FC on August 6. The Black-and-Red outshot Columbus 9-7 and Bill Hamid didn’t have to make a save all night.
With the win, United now have 21 points on the season and are in a three-way tie with Inter Miami and the Chicago Fire for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with only two matches left to play. The Black-and-Red will travel to New England to face the Revolution on Sunday, November 1 before returning back to Audi Field to finish the regular season against fellow playoff hopeful, the Montreal Impact on Sunday, November 8.
D.C. United will head north to face the New England Revolution on Sunday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. EST. Tune into WJLA 24/7 News, www.dcunited.com, and ESPN+ to watch the match.
