The sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 had to endure yet another weather delay prior to the start of the Columbus Crew’s Saturday match with D.C. United at Lower.com Field. Once the action began, the Crew took advantage of goals from Daniel Gazdag and Lassi Lappalainen, both their firsts for the Black & Gold, to win 2-1.

Coming off a shutout loss at Nashville Wednesday, the Crew were looking for a first-half score against the Black and Red. In the 31st minute, they got their chance when Daniel Gazdag was fouled in the D.C. box by Lucas Bartlett. Gazdag’s resultant penalty kick went left as goalkeeper Luis Barraza went right and the Crew were up 1-0.

It was Gazdag’s first goal for Columbus after coming to the team in a trade from Philadelphia in April. Asked if it took some pressure off his shoulders, he said, “Yeah, absolutely. I mean, soccer is like that. There are always times when you struggle with goals, but obviously it was bad that it happened when I joined the new team, so I wanted to score as soon as possible.”

At the beginning of the second half, the United scored the equalizer when Derek Dodson made a perfect pass from the right of the box to Christian Benteke in front of the Crew goal and Benteke headed it past Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

In the 78th minute, the Crew retook the lead on Lassi Lappalainen’s first goal of the season. Lappalainen had replaced Diego Rossi on the pitch just two minutes before his score. He took a ball that had been poked away from Max Arfsten in a crowded box and lined it into the D.C. net.

Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy noted after the match, “I really enjoyed to see the performance because we were on the task and we were on the mission to get better individually because collectively, we are good, I think. Individually, now, sometimes you can have lapses. I think that today was better.” 

With the win, the Crew remained in fourth place in the MLS’s Eastern Conference, four points behind leader Cincinnati. Nashville and Philadelphia are tied in the second spot, three points ahead of the Black & Gold. The Crew host Orlando Friday with the action scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

EXTRA TIME:

• The Crew donned their new third jersey, labeled as “The Heritage Kit”, for Saturday’s match. The mostly white kit, with black and gold across the shoulders of the jersey, honors the team’s original 1996 wear, complete with three hard-hatted workers.
• Before the match began, the Crew inducted Guillermo Barros Schelotto into their Circle of Honor. He joined Brian McBride, Frankie Hejduk, and Sigi Schmid in attaining this prestigious rank.
• Columbus native Taha Habroune got his first start for Columbus after scoring his first goal, as a second-half sub, against Cincinnati in the Crew’s come-from-behind road victory last Saturday.