D.C. United got second-half goals from Christian Benteke and Hosei Kijima to complete their comeback and defeat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at home on Saturday night.
D.C. (1-0-2, 5 points) earned its first win of 2025 after consecutive 2-2 draws to begin the campaign.
Kijima’s header in the 68th minute proved to be the game-winner after he flicked on a cross from Joao Peglow that beat SKC goalie John Pulskamp. It was his first goal for D.C. and second in MLS after he scored once in 2024 for St. Louis City.
SKC’s Manu Garcia sent a 98th-minute desperation free kick into D.C. United’s box that was smothered up by goalie Kim Joon-Hong, who collided with Jansen Miller. Joon-Hong needed medical attention and as a result the match went into the 102th minute before hearing the final whistle.
Benteke leveled the match for D.C. in the 60th minute when he converted from the penalty spot a week after sending a late penalty kick attempt over the crossbar in a draw at Chicago. Benteke, the 2024 Golden Boot winner with 23 goals, has three goals in three games this season after nine in his last 10 of the 2024 campaign.
Erik Thommy opened the scoring and put SKC (0-3-0, 0 points) on top in the 53rd minute with a right-footed blast from inside the box after a cut back assist from Jacob Davis. It was the first goal from the run of play this season for SKC.
The counterattack goal was Thommy’s first since scoring a brace in SKC’s 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 18, 2024. It would end as SKC’s only shot on goal in the match.
Shapi Suleymanov nearly put Sporting KC back on top in the 66th minute after his left-footed shot beat Joon-Hong but clanked off the right post.
Benteke, who subbed off in the 81st minute, nearly got on the score sheet twice in the first half.
In the 24th minute, Christian Benteke controlled a pass from Jared Stroud with his chest before attempting a bicycle kick inside the box, but the attempt sailed wide left. In the 42nd minute, Benteke rose high near the penalty spot, but his attempted header sailed well right of the goal.
D.C. and Sporting KC, two of the league’s founding members, met at least once in each of the first 24 MLS seasons but have played only one time since 2019. Saturday was SKC’s second visit to D.C. United’s current home at Audi Field.
–Field Level Media
