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Daniel Gazdag scores first Columbus Crew goal vs D.C. United: Takeaways
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- Daniel Gazdag scores first Columbus Crew goal vs D.C. United: Takeaways
Daniel Gazdag had previous scoring droughts during his career, but none as notable as the 15 games he went without a goal after joining the Crew in April.
In the Crew's 2-1 victory over D.C. United on July 19 , Gazdag caught the break he'd been waiting for when he was fouled while making a move with the ball inside the box.
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Replay: Daniel Gazdag scores first goal since trade as Columbus Crew defeat D.C. United
On the ensuing penalty kick, Gazdag scored his first goal for the Crew by sending his shot to the bottom-left corner of the goal as D.C. goalkeeper Luis Barraza dove the other way.
"It's good to get my first goal finally," Gazdag said. "I wanted to score as soon as possible, but I'm happy that it happened."
Gazdag was traded from Philadelphia to Columbus as a designated player expected to help fill the offensive gap left by striker Cucho Hernandez, who left for La Liga's Real Betis during the offseason. With the Union, Gazdag recorded a club-high 59 goals.
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Since Gazdag's first Crew appearance against St. Louis City SC on April 13 , the scoring opportunities had been present, with Gazdag taking as many as three shots on target in some matchups.
Crew midfielder Daniel Gazdag scores on a penalty shot on July 1.
Through the offensive struggles, Gazdag felt the confidence from his teammates and that a goal would come. They proved that confidence by helping set up two shots for Gazdag against D.C. before the penalty.
"I felt it from day one that this is a very good, cohesive team," Gazdag said. "They welcomed me very well from day one. ... I never felt anything that I wouldn't get the ball or something like that. I didn't score the goal because of myself."
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Gazdag scored in the 31st minute, giving the Crew a 1-0 lead. But D.C. striker Christian Benteke tied the game three minutes into the second half with a header.
Midfielder Lassi Lappalainen , who entered the game as a substitution, secured the Crew's victory with his first goal since signing with Columbus in January , scoring less than five minutes after replacing Diego Rossi in the lineup.
"We were in good control (of the game)," Lappalainen said. "I think they seemed tired, so I just brought energy just run in behind, and it worked."
Crew midfielder Lassi Lappalainen (26) celebrates with Ibrahim Aliyu (11) after Lappalainen scored on July 19.
Lassi Lappalainen's first Columbus Crew goal was high anticipated, but for different reason than Daniel Gazdag 's
When Crew coach Wilfried Nancy saw Gazdag and Lappalainen score their first Crew goals, there was a sense of pride for both players, but for different reasons.
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"Daniel, we know he wanted to score, and this is normal," Nancy said. "Lassi, it's been difficult for him the last three years. ... (Against D.C. United ) He could have scored a second goal, so good for him. We know that he has come far, so the idea is to give him confidence because we know that he's able to help the team to be good."
Lappalainen had dealt with multiple injury setbacks since arriving in Columbus, including a hip injury, and most recently had to miss games against the Seattle Sounders and FC Cincinnati.
Playing for Nancy's old team, CF Montreal , before Columbus, Lappalainen's last goal before the D.C. matchup was in October 2023.
Diego Rossi plays role in getting Daniel Gazdag's first Columbus Crew goal
The Crew had previously been awarded a penalty kick with Gazdag on the field against Cincinnati on May 17. In that moment, the ball was put into the hands of Rossi rather than Gazdag.
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Despite Rossi being the team's regular penalty-kick taker and the team's leading scorer with 11 goals, Rossi decided that Gazdag deserved to take the penalty in this scenario.
"We have a really good chemistry within the team," Nancy said. "Diego right away said to Daniel, 'Yeah, take it,' because usually this is Diego, good for him. Everybody was happy, and he's (Rossi) happy for him."
Crew forward Diego Rossi (left) celebrates with midfielder Daniel Gazdag after Gazdag scored on July 19.
Columbus Crew allow Christian Benteke to score fifth goal in four meetings
Benteke has proven to be a thorn in the Crew's side. Benteke has scored all five goals D.C. has against Columbus in the past four meetings .
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""He's a goal scorer," Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte said. "He finds spots in the box and his movements are real clever. ... He finds himself in the right situations, like tonight. Just unlucky for us, takes a deflection off ( Yevhen Cheberko ), falls right to him and six yards out, and a tight goal scorer like that, I'll take his chances over mine, sadly."
Benteke is the reigning MLS Golden Boot winner, which is awarded given to the player with the most regular-season goals. In 2024, Benteke scored 23 goals, three against Columbus.
The Crew will host Orlando City at 7:30 p.m. July 25 in their final game before Leagues Cup kicks off.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Daniel Gazdag scores, Columbus Crew defeat D.C United: Takeaways
