Christian Benteke scored the eventual winner to help visiting D.C. United beat the New England Revolution 2-1 on Saturday.
The win propelled D.C. (10-13-10, 40 points) above the playoff line with one match remaining.
The Revolution (9-19-4, 31 points) were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
The visitors were firing on all cylinders early and quickly capitalized.
Moments after Jared Stroud had a quality chance down low, Pedro Santos put D.C ahead 1-0 in the third minute. Martin Rodriguez sent a cross into an open left side of the box and Santos, who was well outside the area, hustled to beat New England defender Brandon Bye to the ball before roofing a left-foot kick short side over the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic.
United took advantage of miscommunication between Ivacic and his backline to take a 2-0 lead in the eighth minute. D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett sent a Revolution clearance attempt at midfield back into the attacking third. Ivacic came to the top of the box to try to snare it before an onrushing Benteke could reach it, but the Congolese forward got his head on it to direct into the empty net.
It was his 23rd goal of the season, tying the D.C. regular-season record set by Raul Diaz Arce in the club’s inaugural campaign in 1996.
New England had a handful of opportunities throughout the first half but struggled to produce, with just three shots on goal, none on target. In the 18th minute, Giacomo Vrioni had a chance from the left side that missed the near side. Three minutes later, the Italian fed Carles Gil with lots of time and space at the top of the box, but Gil’s attempt sailed over the net.
The Revolution benefited from an own goal to get back in the game in the 74th minute, when United defender Matti Peltola headed in a centering cross from New England’s Ian Harkes.
–Field Level Media
