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Columbus edge Rooney’s DC United in MLS Cup playoffs
WASHINGTON, Nov 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Federico Higuain scored two goals and
converted in the penalty shootout as the Columbus Crew advanced in the MLS
Cup playoffs on Thursday over Wayne Rooney’s DC United.
The teams were knotted at 2-2 after extra time after Nick DeLeon grabbed an
equalizer for DC United in the 116th minute.
But DeLeon would plummet from the heights to the depths minutes later when
his shoot-out effort sailed high over the bar on United’s last attempt,
Columbus advancing 3-2 on penalties to an Eastern Conference semi-final
against the New York Red Bulls — winners of the Supporters’ Shield as the
team topping the regular-season table.
Higuain opened the shoot-out to put Columbus up 1-0. Rooney took United’s
first attempt and his effort was saved by diving Crew keeper Zack Steffen.
Steffen also saved an attempt from Luciano Acosta before DeLeon’s bad miss
ended things.
“He’s unbelievable,” Crew captain Wil Trapp said of Steffen. “We feel like
every time he’s going to make a great save and he made two of them.”
It was a heartbreaking end to Rooney’s remarkable first campaign with DC
United.
The former Manchester United and England star arrived in July and was the
catalyst for a stunning transformation in United fortunes, leading them from
the bottom of the Eastern Conference to playoff contenders.
They took a 10-game unbeaten streak into the playoffs, finishing fourth in
the conference standings.
But for the second straight year, Columbus advanced out of the knockout
round in a shootout.
As in Atlanta a year ago, Steffen was key.
“It just comes down to instincts and your gut feeling,” he said of his
diving saves of Rooney and Acosta.
“I don’t like them,” he added of shoot-outs. “I get nervous — but at the
same time it’s a thrill.”
France’s Frederic Brillant had given DC United the lead in the 21st minute
after Steffen shunted an Acosta cross into his path in front of goal. Rooney
had set things in motion with a long free kick that Acosta tracked down.
Nine minutes later Higuain made it 1-1, slotting the ball home after Junior
Moreno and Joseph Mora failed to clear.
Higuain’s header six minutes into extra time put Columbus up for the first
time in the contest. He had sent the ball wide to Harrison Afful then made
his way into the penalty area where Afful’s pass found him and he headed into
the far corner past United keeper bill Hamid.
DeLeon, a second-half substitute who missed much of the season with a knee
injury, made it 2-2 in the 116th when he intercepted an attempted clearance
by Gyasi Zardes and fired a volley from just outside the area inside the near
post. It was his first goal in more than two years.
Hamid made one save in the shootout, and Columbus midfielder Patrick
Mullins hit the post to give United an opening, but DeLeon couldn’t come
close.
The knockout round concluded later Thursday, with Los Angeles FC hosting
Real Salt Lake in a Western Conference clash.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1025 hrs