NYCFC, D.C. United earn tie thanks to penalty kicks

New York City FC and host D.C. United traded penalty goals to settle for a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The draw extended the unbeaten run for United (8-12-9, 33 points) to three matches while New York (11-10-7, 40 points) remained winless in seven straight (0-2-5).

New York controlled the play early and had several chances to open the scoring but struggled to get shots on target.

New York got into the attacking third quickly when Hannes Wolf got to the top of the 6-yard box to try for a chance 13 seconds in but couldn't corral the ball.

Kevin O'Toole was denied by a block by D.C. defender Aaron Herrera in the eighth minute. Two minutes later, Alonso Martinez got down low by the 6-yard box before sending a back-heel feed for Wolf at the top of the goal area.

United found their way to the final third for a first stretch in the 12th minute when Christopher McVey delivered a shot from distance that was saved by goalkeeper Matt Freese.

A minute later, D.C. goalkeeper Alex Bono had to get his hands up to deny New York defender Tayvon Gray's attempt.

In the 26th minute, Martinez came within inches of giving New York the lead when his shot from distance rolled just wide past the left post.

The visitors finally broke through in the 32nd minute on a penalty, with Santiago Rodriguez converting for the 1-0 lead.

United thought they tied the score three minutes later when Gabriel Pirani found the back of the net but the goal went to video review for offside and was overturned after a lengthy review.

In the 50th minute, Freese kept the hosts off the board with a stop on Jared Stroud through traffic.

D.C. then equalized in the 67th minute on a penalty of their own. After Theodore Ku-Dipietro was tackled in the box, Christian Benteke stepped up to the spot and roofed a right-foot shot into the middle of the net for his MLS-leading 19th goal of the season.

--Field Level Media