Querétaro produced a late flourish to secure a 2-0 victory over D.C. United and take firm control of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal tie on Tuesday.
Gallos Blancos labored for most of the night against a determined United side, but the hosts eventually broke through in the final 20 minutes. Candelo produced a moment of magic to lash inside the far post after 71 minutes. Edgar Benitez doubled the advantage by latching onto a Sinha throughball and slotting past Andrew Dykstra to complete the victory at Estadio Corregidora.
The final result pushed United to the brink even after a capable display for most of the night. United posed a threat on the break and from set pieces without procuring a precious away goal. Taylor Kemp hit the post just after the hour, while Steven Birnbaum forced a fine double save from Tiago Volpi just before Candelo’s screamer.
Fantastic goal from Candelo gives Querétaro the lead against D.C. United. Live coverage @FS1. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/HKJkF1UcJ0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
Querétaro spent most of the opening hour trying to figure out a way through United’s resolute defensive setup. United started brightly and tried to disrupt Gallos Blancos. Those efforts frustrated the home side in its attempts to connect in the final third, while Emanuel Villa’s early exit with a hamstring complaint compounded those concerns.
United created the better chances during that period without converting them. United debutant Luciano Acosta saw Volpi respond well to his near-post effort just before the break, but the best chances arrived right around the hour.
On both occasions, United exposed Querétaro’s slipshod focus on throw-ins. Kemp collected after a series of passes on the left and sliced inside to find space. His right-footed effort pinged off the crossbar with Volpi well and truly beaten. Birnbaum nearly beat Volpi with his header from a long-throw, but the Querétaro goalkeeper responded well to the initial attempt and thwarted the rebound.
Edgar Benitez doubles Querétaro's lead against D.C. United. United on the brink now. #MLS #CCL #CCLonFOX https://t.co/9qgDOm9Qm5
— Inside MLS (@InsideMLS) February 24, 2016
Those interventions proved crucial as Candelo opened the scoring inside the final 20 minutes. A series of passes provided Candelo -- the early replacement for the hamstrung Villa -- with enough space to smash his effort past Dykstra to end United’s resistance.
Benitez procured the killer second seven minutes from the end. Sinha caught out the United defense with a ball over the top. Benitez raced clear and slotted inside the far post to give Gallos Blancos a comfortable advantage ahead of the return leg at RFK Stadium on March 1.
