Gabriel Pirani scored in the 91st minute as D.C. United ended a scoring drought, salvaging a 1-1 draw with the visiting New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
The goal for D.C. United (3-7-6, 15 points) was their first after failing to score in their previous four matches, covering 496 minutes.
New England rookie Ilay Feingold scored his first MLS goal in extra time in the first half to give the Revolution (5-4-5, 20 points) the lead.
After a slow start this season, New England has gone eight straight MLS matches without a defeat. The run includes four consecutive wins, followed by four straight draws.
Pirani, who entered in the 81st minute, scored after a New England defender blocked a shot. The ball ricocheted to Pirani who fired a left-footed blast from the top of the penalty box into the top left corner.
In extra time, D.C. had two chances in one possession but New England keeper Aljaz Ivacic made consecutive saves on shots by Jared Stroud and David Schnegg. Ivavic finished the match with three saves.
The tally came against a New England defense which has surrendered the fewest goals (14) in the Eastern Conference.
D.C. was without 2024 Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke, who was sidelined by an ankle injury. It was the first time in four games that D.C. scored in a game that Benteke was not in the starting lineup.
Luis Barraza made three saves for D.C. United. There was little he could do to stop New England’s goal, which came on a transition opportunity triggered by a through ball by Carles Gil.
When a D.C. defender failed to clear, the ball rolled to the top of the box and to the feet of Feingold, who fired a right-footed blast into the bottom left of the unoccupied goal.
New England acquired Feingold, 20, early this year from Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Haifa.
–Field Level Media
