D.C. United lose fifth straight in 3-0 defeat at Columbus Crew: Match report

Halloween is more popular as a source of light-hearted scares, but for D.C. United Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Columbus Crew only served to emphasize the Black-and-Red's late-season terrors.

First-half goals from Sean Zawadski and Anass Zaroury were compounded by a missed penalty kick from Keisuke Kurokawa, the combination of which ensured that the visitors would not be slowing the red-hot Crew. A second-half own goal only emphasized the gaps between a side that now has 21 points from their last eight in MLS, and one that has lost five straight.

With injuries sidelining Tai Baribo (hip) and Louis Munteanu (ankle) — scorers of 56.4% of D.C.'s league goals in 2026 — as well as starting goalkeeper Sean Johnson (knee), the match looked like a tall order from kickoff.

Columbus predictably controlled the early possession, though United's enterprise on the left produced two dangerous crosses that just lacked the proper run. However, an avoidable foul handed the Crew a set piece, with United's late-season weakness on that front resulting in the opener.

Dylan Chambost's 16th-minute service went right to the goalmouth. While it wasn't a perfect header from Zawadski, making uncontested contact so close to goal meant that ideal contact wasn't required to beat Alex Bono.

The visitors replied with a 21st-minute long-range effort from Matti Peltola that seemed to be blocked by a diving Sékou Bangoura. However, VAR quickly intervened, directing referee Elijio Arreguin to take a second look. Replays showed that Bangoura handled the effort, resulting in a penalty kick.

With United's top two penalty takers unavailable, Keisuke Kurokawa stepped up to the spot, and though the Japanese fullback sent Patrick Schulte the wrong way, his shot skipped wide.

Undeterred, United began to press Columbus into difficult situations. João Peglow attempted to sneak a shot past Schulte after a poor giveaway from the Crew handed possession over inside the box, but the angle proved too severe. Two minutes later, Andre Dozzell opted for power, but Schulte was again up to the task.

The Crew eventually managed to quell D.C.'s fightback, regaining control before capping off a lengthy spell of possession with a 41st-minute goal for Zaroury.

Play flowed down the right, with the Crew stringing passes together in tight spaces. Eventually Chambost saw the chance to open things up, finding the Moroccan wingback in plenty of space on the left. With time to pick his spot, Zaroury did the rest, curling an excellent shot around Bono.

Zaroury missed a near-carbon copy of his goal as the Crew retained full control of the match after the break, while United's only moments of brightness came in brief flashes of dribbling ability from halftime substitute Oscar Avilez.

The Crew looked like they had a third in them, and it arrived on the hour mark. Columbus countered after a United corner, as Patrick Schulte sparked the move with an outlet throw.

Gonzalo Tapia got into space on the right to deliver a dangerous ball, and while Bono managed to prevent Santiago Rodríguez to finish, the rebound popped up and hit Kimito Nono, whose recovery sprint left him with no chance to avoid an own goal.

The game's final half-hour felt like a metaphor for United's late-season struggles, with nearly nothing in terms of attacking threat despite the deficit. Nathan Ordaz was hauled off moments before the third goal, with United ending the match without a natural forward on the pitch.

One more Peltola shot from distance represented the best, and arguably only, real attempt at getting on the board. Meanwhile, the Crew came close to a fourth, as Kurokawa had to provide a critical block after Zaroury nearly faked Lucas Bartlett out of his boots to tee up another chance.

United (7-12-14) have one last match to get through before the consequences of another poor season come to bear. They'll host NYCFC — another side eliminated from the playoff chase — on Saturday, Nov. 7, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.

Highlights will be added when they are made available.

Box score — MLS regular season (game 33)
10/31/2026

Columbus Crew (Zawadski 16, Zaroury 40, Nono 61og
D.C. United

Lineups:
Crew (3421): Patrick Schulte; Steven Moreira (Eric Bailly 84), Sean Zawadski, Malte Amundsen; Mo Farsi (Andrés Herrera 71), Dylan Chambost, Sékou Bangoura (Tarun Karumanchi 71), Anass Zaroury; Taha Habroune, Santiago Rodríguez (Lautaro Giaccone 74); Gonzalo Tapia (Josef Martínez 71)

DCU (442): Alex Bono; Silvan Hefti (Nikola Markovic 84), Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles (Sean Nealis 71), Keisuke Kurokawa; Kimito Nono, Matti Peltola, Andre Dozzell, Jared Stroud (Oscar Avilez 46); Nathan Ordaz (Brandon Servania 60), João Peglow

Bookings:
Crew - None
DCU - Rowles 46+, Peglow 64

Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Weather: Overcast, 62°
Attendance: Will add once I have it