DC United was resigned to a goalless stalemate against Colorado Rapids after new signing Christian Benteke missed a second-half penalty.
The striker signed for United nearly a month ago and had been waiting for his work visa to be sorted but Sunday’s tie finally marked his first start for Wayne Rooney‘s struggling side.
Benteke had a couple of strong scoring chances in the opening five minutes. Both times, he threatened to score on headers. One attempt was blocked and the other went to the left of the goal.
Christian Benteke failed to convert a penalty to score on his starting debut for DC United
In 90 minutes of action he was credited with seven shots, with two of them landing on target.
But his biggest chance of the game came in the 66th minute when he had the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot.
DC United was awarded a spotkick when Rapids right back Keegan Rosenberry was called for a hand ball in the penalty area.
But Benteke failed to convert the penalty kick as goalkeeper William Yarbrough drove to his right to make the save.
Benteke’s best chance to open the scoring for Wayne Rooney’s strugglers came in 66th minute
DC United (7-17-5, 26 points) was squashed in its quest for back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two games of the season. It won Wednesday night at New York FC.
DC United had posted two goals in each of its two previous games, but it generated offense only in spurts.
The result sees DC United shackled to the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, six points of 13th-place Chicago Fire.
Rooney watches his DC United team play during a match against NYFC in Harrison, New Jersey