Columbus Crew won over home team D.C. United in a penalty shootout by 3-2 in a play-off following the thrilling 2-2 draw after 120 minutes on a Thursday evening to advance into the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the competition. The 33-year-old former England Captain Wayne Rooney is one of the star players to miss the penalty for D.C. United. Since the arrival of the former England Captain in their squad, DC United has started to renaissance. When Rooney arrived at the DC United, they were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. His presences in the squad inspired them to reach the playoffs. Just a day after being nominated in MLS MVP award for 2018, Wayne Rooney’s penalty is saved by the Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffan. The Manchester United and England all-time top scorer scored 12 goals and assisted in 6 goals from 21 games for D.C. United.
D.C. United scored the first goal in a 20 minute and took the lead in the game, the cross from Acosta is fumbled by the Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffan and the Frederic Brillant turned in from a close range to give the lead for the home side. D.C. United lead last just for ten minutes, 34-year-old Columbus Crew forward Federico Higuain scored from a close range to level the match. He took the advantage of a defensive error in the penalty area to score a simple tap in an empty post. Just a minute later, Justin Meram wasted the wonderful opportunity to score a tap-in from a cross inside the six-yard area and take the lead before end of first half for Columbus Crew.
The Second half was highly intense and very competitive. Both teams pressed really hard to take the lead. The away team Columbus Crew improved in the second half and were the better side in the second half. In the 85th minute, Pedro Santos brilliant effort from 25 yards out was denied by the fingertips of D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid. In a dying stage of the match, Zack Steffen made a brilliant save of Luciano Acosta’s effort from outside the box to keep Columbus Crew still in the game. The Second half failed to produce the goals and match went to the extra time.
In the first extra time, Federico Higuain scored his second goal of the game and 14th goal of the season to give a lead for Columbus Crew. The brother of Gonzalo Higuain marked himself free inside the penalty to score a brilliant goal from a header in a Harrison Afful’s cross. After Federico Higuain brace, the match looked to be turned into a Columbus Crew favor however just 4 minutes before the end of second extra time, the second half substitute player Nick DeLeon scored an equalizing goal from a powerful volley from just outside the d-box area for D.C. United to keep the home fans hope alive. The match finished 2-2 after 120 minutes of enthralling encounter and went to the penalty shootout.
In a Nail biting penalty shootout the Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen produce a heroic performance for them. Zack Steffen made the two wonderful save in a penalty shootout to help away side advance into the next round of the competition. He saved the penalty of D.C. United star players Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta in a shootout. The extra time hero Nick DeLeon failed to hit the last penalty of D.C. United on target which ends the D.C. United’s this year MLS journey. Gyasi’s penalty was saved by D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and the Patrick Mullins penalty was rebounded after struck on the post for Columbus Crew. Federico Higuain, Wil Trapp, and Niko Hansen succeeded to score a goal in the shootout for Columbus Crew while only Zoltán Stieber and Yamil Asad scored a penalty for D.C. United. After a win, Columbus Crew were advanced through the playoff in two successive seasons.
.Match Highlight at
Comments