There was no stopping Christian Benteke as he hung in the air to seal his hat trick against the New England Revolution. Opposition goalkeeper Henrich Ravas looked favourite to reach the cross into the box, but DC United’s number 20 had other ideas, leaping to a height Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of to win the header and find the net.
By Graham Ruthven
Benteke’s hat trick against the Revs in DC United’s opening game of the season hinted at the potential of the Belgian as the frontman for a new-look team under new management. Two further goals against St. Louis City and the Columbus Crew have further underlined the importance of Benteke to the reconstruction project at Audi Field.
2023 was a difficult year for DC United. Wayne Rooney left the club at the end of a regular season which saw the Black-and-Red miss out on the play-offs. DC United will always hold a prominent position in Major League Soccer after establishing itself as the league’s first dominant force in the late 1990s, but the present outlook was bleak as the club entered the off-season.
Since then, though, DC United have enacted some changes. Ally Mackay was hired from Nashville as the club’s new general manager and chief soccer officer, making him, at 37, the youngest person in the entire league to hold that position. “The essence for me in soccer is to entertain, and I think that that is something that I want to impose on the club,” said Mackay not long after his appointment.
Troy Lesesne was identified as the man to remould DC United on the pitch as the club’s new head coach. Lesesne served as the New York Red Bulls’ interim boss in the second half of 2023 and led the Harrison outfit to the play-offs playing a brand of high-energy, high-intensity soccer that clearly drew Mackay’s eye.
While DC United are certainly a work-in-progress under Lesesne, having won just two of the seven fixtures they have played so far this season, there have been clear signs of transition. DC United rank fifth in MLS for non-penalty Expected Goals (xG). Their xG differential per 90 minutes also stands as the best in the division. Had DC United not spurned so many opportunities, they would be higher in the Eastern Conference.
Benteke can’t be blamed for his lack of effectiveness in front of goal. Only Cristian Arango and Lewis Morgan have scored more goals in MLS this season than the former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker who has found the back of the net five times in just five appearances. That puts him level with Luis Suárez and one goal ahead of Lionel Messi.
DC United are moving the ball more quickly, precisely and vertically this season. This has helped to get Benteke into better goalscoring positions (he’s leading the league in non-penalty xG so far this season) with the 33-year-old the attacking focal point Lesesne needs to make his approach work.
In a league that Messi now calls home, Benteke is often overlooked as a difference-maker. Even when ranking the best centre forwards in MLS right now, the likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis, Cucho Hernández and Suárez might be mentioned ahead of the Belgian. But Benteke’s record of 20 goals in 46 games – including 14 last season – for DC United speaks for itself.
“We’re in the process of building something and we’re rebuilding things in a lot of ways, both on the field and what you see on match day but many, many things off the field,” said Lesesne after Saturday’s credible draw away to defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew which would have been a win had it not been for a late strike by Aidan Morris.
As a club that has been defined by its past for too long, DC United are now finally looking to the future. The squad at Audi Field requires strengthening to truly compete with sone of the best teams in MLS for major honours, but Lesesne and Mackay have pointed the Black-and-Red in the right direction. Benteke is also playing a big role in that.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every DC United game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.