The Columbus Crew moved to second place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night when the Black & Gold drew D.C. United, 2-2, at Audi Field to tie the club record for most points in a season.
Head coach Wilfried Nancy said it was a match where Columbus certainly had great chances to score more, but the team will build upon the positive result to finish the regular season with momentum.
“To be honest, they had opportunities, but we had also really good opportunities that it could have been clear that we can score, but we had the lack of execution in the final third,” head coach Nancy said after the tie. “We controlled the game, but we didn't control the game like we usually do because they are really good to counter attack.
“Obviously, we want to win every game. This is why we play. This is football. We still have something to play for. The idea is to be limitless and to go all in, and we'll see after that.”
The home side scored at the half-hour mark when Christian Benteke converted a brisk D.C. United counter attack down the Columbus left flank.
The lead wouldn’t last, though, as Cucho Hernández delivered a wonderful equalizer in the 54th minute when he used his leg as a pitching wedge to chip a shot over Alex Bono.
With the goal, Cucho is now tied with Stern John for fifth-most goals in Club history across all competitions with 55 in 89 games played.
Columbus scored a second goal in three minutes later through more Cucho brilliance – and a Jacen Russell-Rowe diving header. Standing on the right flank, the Colombian forward sent a curling ball into the box, where it connected with a diving Russell-Rowe to give the Canadian his career-best fifth goal of the MLS season.
Benteke then pulled the match back level in the 81st when quick United passing led to the goal that confirmed the points would be shared.
“Benteke is Benteke,” Nancy said. “He’s going to be good. This is one of the best players. This is for me the best player in terms of No. 9 to be as a pivot and to do the layoff to set for his teammate and to make the run blind side and to score. He’s really good at that. We knew that he’s a really good player. We try to do the best we can.”
With the draw, the Black & Gold have now tied the Club record for most points in a season with 57. Don’t forget the side still has four games to go in the regular season, including Wednesday night at Lower.com Field against Inter Miami CF.
Wednesday’s match will pair the top clubs in the Eastern Conference, as second-place Columbus hosts Supporters' Shield-leading Miami. The Herons are expecting to play Lionel Messi, who will play his first match against the reigning league champions and Leagues Cup champions since he joined MLS last summer.
