COLUMBUS, Ohio — D.C. United on Saturday paid its last visit to MLS’s first true soccer venue with a ragtag roster ravaged by injuries, one of which occurred a day earlier and another minutes before kickoff.
With almost half of the squad unavailable at Crew Stadium, United’s farewell to the spartan venue on the Ohio state fairgrounds was remarkable for its mix-and-match lineup, meager bench and two second-half own goals during a 3-1 defeat to the defending champion Columbus Crew.
A late episode epitomized the afternoon: Forward Ola Kamara halved a two-goal deficit in the 82nd minute, but United conceded its second own goal a moment later amid a miscommunication between goalkeeper Chris Seitz and defender Frédéric Brillant, sealing a third consecutive setback since a season-opening victory.