A week earlier, D.C. United ended up with a draw and a bone to pick with the referee in forward Taxi Fountas’s first start of the season. In a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Audi Field, United noted the arrival of another lineup reinforcement — and rued another tight call.
Lewis O’Brien, a midfielder on loan from English Premier League team Nottingham Forest, started for D.C. after getting his visa approved earlier in the week. But the presence of O’Brien alongside highly paid attackers Mateusz Klich, Christian Benteke and Fountas wasn’t enough as Lucas Zelarayán converted a first-half penalty kick — adamantly disputed by United (1-4-2) — and Christian Ramirez doubled the lead right after halftime.