COLUMBUS – Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored a controversial goal in the 57th minute and added an assist on the insurance goal by Eric Brunner 30 minutes later as the Crew defeated D.C. United 2-0 on Saturday before 15,335 fans in Crew Stadium.
Replays showed a looping shot by Emilio Renteria hit the left post then the right fist of Schelotto, who calmly settled the ball and tapped it in for his fifth goal, but first from the run of play since April 24.
Renteria had taken a through ball from Jason Garey and knocked it over a sliding Troy Perkins as the goalkeeper left the near post vacated. Renteria’s chipped ball hit the upright and Schelotto was two yards off the line waiting for the rebound.
In the 87th, Schelotto’s left corner kick was flicked at the near post by second-half substitute Steven Lenhart to the far post where Brunner headed it in for the defender’s second career goal.
Lenhart was brought down by Clyde Simms in stoppage time for a penalty, but Lenhart, taking it from the spot instead of Schelotto, shot the ball right at Perkins.
The win snapped a three-game winless streak for the Crew, and ended a three-game unbeaten streak for visiting D.C. United.
Crew right back Frankie Hejduk missed his fifth straight game because of a strained hamstring, but coach Robert Warzycha had stuck with a 4-4-2 until Saturday when he went with a backline of Brunner on the right, Chad Marshall in the middle and left back Gino Padula.
The new look allowed him to go with five midfielders, enabling Renteria to make his second start. In another move, Garey started at forward for Lenhart.
D.C. coach Curt Onalfo made only one change from a 3-2 win at Seattle Sounders FC on June 5, when he inserted forward Adam Cristman for Luciano Emilio.
It took just 33 seconds for Chris Pontius to test Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer. Pontius, who had two goals in the last game against Seattle, fired from 22 yards out, but Hesmer made an easy stop.
D.C.’s best opportunity in the first half came off a brutal turnover from Brunner in the 38th minute. Christman picked off an errant Columbus backpass 40 yards out, but hurriedly one-timed a shot that landed on top of the goal.
Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Guillermo Barros Schelotto 5 (unassisted) 57
CLB -- Eric Brunner 1 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 4, Steven Lenhart 2) 87
D.C. United -- Troy Perkins, Devon McTavish (Danny Allsopp 81), Dejan Jakovic, Julius James (Juan Manuel Pena 53), Jordan Graye, Chris Pontius, Stephen King, Clyde Simms, Andy Najar, Santino Quaranta, Adam Cristman (Jaime Moreno 72).
Columbus Crew -- William Hesmer, Eric Brunner, Chad Marshall, Gino Padula (Andy Iro 87), Emilio Renteria (Steven Lenhart 70), Brian Carroll, Eddie Gaven, Adam Moffat, Robbie Rogers, Jason Garey (Emmanuel Ekpo 77), Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Misconduct Summary:
DC -- Andy Najar (caution; Reckless Tackle) 52
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: Philippe Briere; Daniel Belleau
4th Official: Landis Wiley
Attendance: 15,335
Time of Game: 1:49
