Revolution wrecked by Benteke

United 3 Revolution 1

The New England Revolution could not overcome more than an hour shorthanded after Giacomo Vrioni was sent off for two early yellow cards, and D.C. United won the Major League Soccer opener for both teams, 3-1, on Saturday night via a Christian Benteke hat trick.

United, which has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons, spent much of the match at Audi Field squandering chances to put away 10-man New England. Benteke made those misses easy to forgive.

The former Belgian international headed home a cross in the 34th minute, answered a curling Carles Gil equalizer with a second in the 72nd, and outleapt Revolution keeper Henrich Ravas for a third in second-half stoppage time.

Vrioni, one of New England’s designated players, lasted just 25 minutes in the nation’s capital, booked first for delaying a restart in the 12th minute, then again for a late tackle on Christopher McVey near the left sideline.

D.C. needed just nine minutes to take the lead through Benteke, whose header from 6 yards away was initially ruled stopped by Ravas’s foot, but reversed to a goal on review.

The handful of D.C. squanders — it finished with a 31-10 edge in attempts — stung harder when Gil struck a highlight-reel tally into the top left corner in the 67 th minute. But Benteke and D.C. answered just five minutes later when he sneaked behind Dave Romney to the doorstep and slid home the winner.

When Aaron Herrera crossed to him in stoppage time, the 33-yearold became the sixth MLS player to score a hat trick in a season opener.