João Klauss scored on a penalty kick in the 70th minute to help St. Louis City earn a 2-2 draw with D.C. United on Saturday night.
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Lucas Bartlett heads the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against St. Louis City Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer St. Louis City's Joshua Yaro, right, celebrates after scoring alongside teammate Aziel Jackson (25) during the first half of an MLS soccer match against D.C. United Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Christian Benteke (20) and St. Louis City's Tomas Ostrak battle for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
CORRECTION MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Christian Benteke, right, is congratulated by teammate Theodore Ku-DiPietro after scoring during the first half of an MLS soccer match against St. Louis City Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Cristian Dajome, right, clears the ball as St. Louis City's Tomas Totland (14) defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Rafael Navarro The ball whistles past Colorado Rapids forward Rafael Navarro (9) after his kick was blocked by Houston Dynamo defender Micael in the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Jared Stroud reacts after being injured during the second half of an MLS soccer match against St. Louis City Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer St. Louis City's Joao Klauss, left, and D.C. United's Conner Antley (12) challenge for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer St. Louis City's Rasmus Alm, right, and D.C. United's Christian Benteke challenge for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Lucas Bartlett, right, heads the ball as St. Louis City's Joao Klauss watches during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United goalkeeper Alex Bono (24) kicks the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against St. Louis City Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer St. Louis City's Tomas Totland, left, clears the ball as D.C. United's Gabriel Pirani, right, defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer St. Louis City's Joao Klauss (9) and D.C. United's Gabriel Pirani (10) battle for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
MLS DC United St Louis Soccer D.C. United's Christian Benteke, right, passes the ball as St. Louis City's Nikolas Dyhr (44) defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 23, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) — João Klauss scored on a penalty kick in the 70th minute to help St. Louis City earn a 2-2 draw with D.C. United on Saturday night.
Klauss scored after a handball penalty on DC United’s Conner Antley that was upheld by a review. It was the first matchup between St. Louis City (1-0-4), which won the Western Conference regular-season title in its first season in the league last year, and DC United (1-1-3).
St. Louis City took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Joshua Yaro headed in a shot from close range with an assist from Indiana Vassilev off a corner kick. The lead lasted until the 21st minute.
DC United quickly pulled even on an unassisted goal by Ted Ku-Dipietro — his first of the season. Christian Benteke gave United a 2-1 lead at halftime when he took a pass from Jared Stroud in the 38th minute and scored for the fourth time. Stroud had five goals and five assists in 25 starts and 31 appearances for St. Louis City last season.
Roman Bürki finished with two saves for St. Louis City. Alex Bono stopped six shots on target for DC United.
DC United returns home to play CF Montreal on Saturday. St. Louis City hits the road to take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
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