Baribo was the difference at Audi Field on Wednesday night, scoring twice in the first 37 minutes to hand DC United a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew. The forward, assisted first by Munteanu and then by Nono, gave René Weiler’s side a comfortable cushion heading into half-time. Rodríguez pulled one back for Columbus four minutes after the restart, but the visitors could not find an equalizer despite dominating possession for large stretches of the second half.
Key Moments
- 12′, Tarun Karumanchi picked up an early yellow card for Columbus Crew, setting a physical tone for the opening exchanges.
- 19′, Cesar Ruvalcaba received a second yellow card for the Crew, compounding Columbus’s discipline problems. Peglow was also booked for DC United in the same minute.
- 24′, Baribo opened the scoring, finishing from a pass by Munteanu to put DC United 1-0 up.
- 37′, Baribo doubled DC United’s lead, converting an assist from Nono to make it 2-0 before the break.
- 49′, Rodríguez gave Columbus a lifeline four minutes into the second half, finishing from a Josef Martínez assist to make it 2-1.
- 52′, A potential DC United penalty was cancelled by VAR review, keeping the score at 2-1.
Tactical Breakdown
DC United were clinical despite surrendering the ball almost entirely. René Weiler’s side finished with just 28% possession and 10 total shots, five of which were on target, but their 4-3-3 was organized to absorb pressure and exploit space in transition. Both goals came from quick combinations in and around the Columbus box, with Munteanu and Nono doing the creative work before Baribo applied the finish.
The match turned tactically at half-time. Columbus interim coach Laurent Courtois pulled both Cesar Ruvalcaba, who had been booked, and Habroune, introducing Steven Moreira and Brais Méndez. The Crew improved structurally and Rodríguez’s goal at the 49th minute gave them a foothold, but DC United’s shape held. The VAR cancellation of a DC penalty at the 52nd minute kept Columbus within reach without ever letting them level. DC United’s own substitutions, including Baribo’s exit at the 77th minute after his work was done, helped manage the final stages.
Columbus finished with 72% possession and 16 shots, but only four found the target. Johnson made three saves in goal for DC United and the home defense, anchored by Bartlett, absorbed the second-half pressure without conceding again. The Crew’s inability to convert from distance was telling: nine of their 16 shots came from outside the box, and all were off target or blocked.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
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Verdict
The win lifts DC United to 28 points in the Eastern Conference, ranking 10th, while Columbus Crew drop to 13th with 23 points after a fourth loss in their last five games. For Weiler’s side, the three points keep them in the conversation for the playoff spots above them, with the gap to ninth-place Toronto FC down to one point. Columbus, who have now lost 13 times this season, face a difficult remaining schedule with little margin for further slip-ups.
Columbus Crew
DC United