Tai Baribo returned to the lineup and scored a first-half brace, delivering D.C. United a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday in Washington.
Louis Munteanu registered two assists for D.C. United (6-7-10, 28 points), who had won just once in their previous 11 MLS matches, going 1-3-7 over that span.
Santiago Rodriguez scored in the 49th minute for Columbus (6-13-5, 23 points), which has lost five of its past six league matches.
Sean Johnson recorded three saves for D.C., matching the three stops Patrick Schulte made for Columbus in the first of two meetings between the clubs this season.
D.C. United broke a nine-match winless streak against the Crew, which began in 2021 and included six Columbus victories and three draws.
The goals for Baribo came after he missed two matches with a knee injury. He now has a team-high 14 goals after scoring 16 last season for the Philadelphia Union.
Baribo’s first goal came in the 24th minute after Joao Peglow fed Munteanu running down the left side of the box. Munteanu crossed to the middle to Baribo, who beat Schulte and a trailing defender to the ball and slipped a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
In the 38th minute, D.C. increased its edge to 2-0 on a transition play triggered by Munteanu with a long pass from the center line to Kimito Nono on the right flank.
Nono delivered a one-touch pass to an unmarked Baribo in the middle of the penalty box. Baribo placed his right-footed shot wide of the onrushing Schulte and inside the left post.
Columbus halved the deficit early in the second half when Joseph Martinez slipped a square pass to Rodriguez. From the top of the box, the newly acquired Rodriguez blasted a right-footed shot inside the right post for his second goal in as many matches with the Crew.
Just a minute after Rodriguez’s goal, D.C. had a chance to retaliate, but Kye Rowles’ header slammed into the middle of the crossbar.
Rowles was back in the lineup after missing four matches with a thigh injury.
After Rodriguez’s goal, Columbus had trouble generating chances the rest of the way despite dominating possession. Brais Mendez had the best opportunity, but his shot in the 70th minute from outside the box glanced off the crossbar.
–Field Level Media
