Pedro Santos’s goal was voided by a review, then Luciano Acosta scored for United in the 27th minute. That goal, however, was not certified until another review, initiated by video assistant referee Kevin Terry Jr.

AD

Wayne Rooney then converted a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time after referee Ted Unkel checked the monitor a third time and whistled a Crew handball.

AD

Paul Arriola scored an undisputed goal in the 61st minute as United (6-3-2) ended a three-match scoreless streak at home and kept pace with Philadelphia (6-3-2) atop MLS’s Eastern Conference. The win also ended United’s three-match winless streak at home.

“One of those VAR nights,” United Coach Ben Olsen said, “where we are going to say it’s a great invention and they are going to say it’s a terrible invention.”

The officials seemed to get it right on United’s first two goals, but the decision to nullify the Crew’s early goal left Columbus Coach Caleb Porter dumbfounded and livid.

AD

On the play, Unkel got in the way of Acosta and Columbus’s Wil Trapp at the edge of the center circle. Play continued, leading to Santos’s goal, but in reviewing the play, Unkel ruled Trapp had tripped Acosta.

“If you watch it, it’s a fair goal – 100 percent,” Porter said. “Referee gets in the way. Referee fouls Acosta and then the referee goes and looks at the television to bail himself out. I’ve never in my life seen anything like that – ever.

AD

“There should be massive ramifications for that.”

Of the disallowed goal, Rooney said, “I didn’t see anything” that should have nullified it.

In answering questions from a pool reporter, the officials said “this foul started the attacking possession phase for Columbus that led to the goal.”

AD

With the score wiped out, United answered.

Rooney drove a 35-yard free kick into the heart of the box. Leonardo Jara brought it down with a fine touch and had his shot blocked by Gyasi Zardes. The ball fell to Acosta for a simple finish, his third goal of the year.

But wait! Terry alerted Unkel to a possible offside. After a long delay, the goal was allowed to stand, ending United’s scoreless streak at Buzzard Point at 307 minutes.

Video came into play again in stoppage time at the end of the half after Unkel failed to make the initial call. Alerted by Terry, he went to the monitor and ruled Trapp had used his upper arm to block Acosta’s entry pass just inside the box.

AD

AD

Rooney planted the penalty kick into the right side for his sixth goal of the season.

During the confusion, Crew goalkeepers coach Matt Reis was ejected, presumably for unkind words directed at Unkel. At the halftime whistle, Columbus players marched toward the officiating crew before retreating to the locker room.

Olsen said of the reviews overall, "I think they got it all right. I am certainly biased though.”

Olsen retained the same formation from three of the previous four matches, deploying three center backs and two wingers. That figures to change next weekend when newly acquired left back Marquinhos Pedroso is fully integrated and Olsen can return to four defenders.

AD

The Crew (4-6-1), which has lost five in a row, arrived in a dismal scoring rut: one goal in its previous four matches, including a 1-0 setback to United 10 days earlier in Ohio.

AD

After United stirred a bit, Santos whipped a 25-yard shot that crashed off the far end of the crossbar. Bill Hamid might have gotten a finger on it.

Those chances were a prelude to chaos.

“Is it the psychology of the referee and they fan out on guys like Wayne Rooney?” Porter said. “I don’t know. It’s unreal to me and I’m tired of it.”

In the second half, United withstood steady pressure before putting the outcome to rest. Jara got forward on the right side and, without looking, spun the ball backward to Arriola for a 15-yard one-timer that took a slight deflection beyond Steffen’s reach.

AD

Columbus cut the deficit in the 75th minute, when Robinho’s in-swinging corner kick slipped between Hamid’s raised hands for an own goal.

Controversy aside, “We were better with the ball at times [than in recent games]. We played some good stuff. A lot more composure and control.”

AD

Notes: Defender Chris McCann returned to game-day duty after a four-game absence with a hamstring strain. He did not play. ...

D.C. homegrown midfielder Griffin Yow played the last nine minutes in the U.S. under-17 national team’s 6-1 victory over Barbados at Concacaf’s U-17 World Cup qualifying tournament in Bradenton, Fla.