The Crew’s struggles away from home continued Sept. 9 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., where a sloppy first half was too much to overcome in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United.
Despite getting another goal from midfielder Santiago Rodríguez, their new designated player, the Crew dropped to 1-8-3 on the road in MLS play. They have just 10 games remaining to climb back into the race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, split evenly between ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and the road.
Steven Moreira, the Crew’s usual starter at right back, started the game on the bench along with starting midfielder Brais Mendez, a designated player. Each subbed into the game at the start of the second half with Columbus already trailing 2-0 in goals by D.C. United forward Tai Baribo.
Rodriguez gave the Crew life they desperately needed with a goal early in the second half. His second goal in as many games since arriving from Brazil as a designated player cut D.C. United’s lead to 2-1 less than five minutes into the second half.
After a pass from Josef Martinez, Rodriguez sent a quick shot through defenders that beat D.C. United keeper Sean Johnson inside the right goal post. It helped offset a brutal first half for the Crew, which fell behind on Baribo’s goals 14 minutes apart.
Each was scored from close range thanks to his ability to get free away from the ball behind a lagging Crew defense. Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte didn’t have much chance at stopping either one.
Coming off a 3-0 win over Colorado that stopped a five-game losing streak Sept. 5 in Columbus, the Crew went into Washington needing to sidestep their season-long struggles on the road. They carried a record of just 1-7-3 away from ScottsMiracle-Gro Field into the game, including an 0-5-2 record in their previous seven road games.
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew stumble on the road again, fall to D.C. United 2-1
