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Written by Sam Brummitt Photography by Sam Brummitt Louis Munteanu battles for the ball in a match against Atlanta United at Audi Field on September 12, 2026. Washington, D.C. – Recent matches between these two clubs have not generated much in terms of goals or excitement. The first match between D.C. and Atlanta earlier this season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta ended in a scoreless draw with only 11 shots and a paltry 0.48 total expected goals (0.31 xG for DC and 0.17 xG for Atlanta) over 90 minutes. The final game for these two teams last season was a hum drum affair in in Atlanta on October 18, 2025, when a 1-1 draw guaranteed that D.C. finished at the bottom of the Supporters Shield rankings and “won” the wooden spoon. The last match between these two teams at Audi Field in July 2025 ended in a scoreless draw. Both teams would consider Saturday’s match to be a must win in order to stay in the playoff race, so you would think that would light a fire under the players on both sides. There were good chances on both sides, and multiple shots that hit the woodwork or the side of the net, but instead the matchup lived up to recent history – D.C. managed zero shots on target and zero goals. Atlanta had the better of the offensive opportunities, with four of their 20 shots on target. Atlanta could not find the back of the net and both teams came away with one point. Nathan Ordaz, in his second start for D.C., created the first good chance of the game in the 8th minute with a shot from the corner of Atlanta’s box. His attempt to curl the ball inside the far post ended up going wide. Atlanta answered two minutes later when Breel Embolo, the newly signed Designated Player, shot the ball over the cross bar from close range. Sean Johnson was out of place and it seemed to be an easy shot for an elite striker, but his touch to settle the ball invited pressure from Kye Rowles and caused Embolo to chip it high instead of punching it straight at the goal. Silvan Hefti speculated on a long shot in the 22nd minute that went off target. Three minutes later, Atlanta cleared a D.C. corner only for the ball to fall at the feet of Andre Dozzell outside the box shot with plenty of space. Dozzell’s shot went over the bar in the 25th minute. That would be the last shot D.C. managed in the first half. None were on target. Miguel Almiron had three good chances for Atlanta in the first half. He made two excellent runs to receive long passes over D.C.’s back line. In his first attempt the pass was beyond his reach and while he was able to bring the second pass down with his chest and then turn towards goal, his shot was off target. Almiron also had a decent chance from 10 yards out in the 42nd minute on a cross that went wide. In the second half D.C. only managed one shot in the second half when Baribo’s header off a long cross in the 65th minute went over the bar. Atlanta threatened in the 54th minute, but Kimito Nono hustled back just in time to slide in front of Atlanta’s Cooper Sanchez to deflect his shot wide. Johnson made a save on Embolo’s 60th minute attempt and then was lucky that an attempt by a few minutes later went over the bar, and a bicycle kick attempted by Embolo from close range hit the post. Four minutes into stoppage time, Atlanta's Luke Brennan's point-blank header hit the cross bar. D.C.’s low block, Sean Johnson’s shotstopping, and some unlucky finishing by Atlanta resulted in a clean sheet for the Black-and-Red. Keisuke Kurokawa sets up to cross the ball in a match against Atlanta United at Audi Field on September 12, 2026. Post-Match Quotes René Weiler on the team’s performance: We didn't play the best {game}. It was at the end a good result {with the} draw, but we didn't play a good game. So some key players, they didn't perform how they had to perform in our squad… But at the end they {fought} and they got out, they clinched it and the result is a good result.” Weiler on how Baribo affects opposing team’s defense: {Baribo} is a guy who {does not} need{} a lot of goal scoring chances to score a goal. He scored so far 14 goals, that is a great number. We know it and even the opponents know it and I'm happy that he's in our team and not in another team. Three Points Lackluster Attack - D.C. could not muster many threats on offense, managing only 0.19 expected goals to Atlanta’s 1.62 per Fotmob (0.38 xG for D.C. to Atlanta’s 2.11 xG based on American Soccer Analysis’ match data data), but came away with a point due to their strong defensive performance. Defensive Highlights - Sean Johnson had three saves and one clearance on the night. Rowles also had a strong performance with 15 defensive contributions and four blocks. When D.C.’s key defensive players are all healthy the team is difficult to break down. Draws Good Enough for the Playoffs? - The draw against Atlanta was D.C.’s 11th draw of the season, tied with Toronto FC for the most draws in the league. D.C. has managed more draws and more losses (5 each) at home than wins (4). Dropping points against teams lower in the standings at home will likely not be enough to get the team above the playoff line. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-4-2) Johnson; Hefti (56’ - Hopkins), Bartlett (C), Rowles, Kurokawa; Nono, Servania (56’ - Peltola), Dozzell (82’ - Markovic), Ordaz (56’ Stroud); Munteanu (89’ - Kijima), Baribo Unused Substitutes: Bono, Nealis Head Coach: René Weiler Atlanta United (4-3-3) Hoyos; Jacob, Mihaj, Alonso (57’ - Edwards), Baez; Sanchez (87’ - Brennan), Amaro (57' - Gill), Fortune (Muyumba 57'); Miranchuk, Embolo, Almiron (C) (Picault 73'), Unused Substitutes: Hibbert, Santos, Picault, Diaz, Reilly Head Coach: Tata Martino Scoring Summary D.C. United None Atlanta United None Booking Summary D.C. United 68’ - Rowles (Yellow Card) 70’ - Nono (Yellow Card) 71’ - Stroud (Yellow Card) Atlanta United 36’ - Amaro (Yellow Card) 62’ - Muyumba (Yellow Card) Up Next D.C. United hosts Charlotte FC at Audi Field on Saturday, September 19. D.C. is three points below the playoff line. D.C. has a game in hand with the FC Cincinnati match that was postponed due to lightning and heavy rain on September 5 rescheduled for October 21, however, the team has one of the more challenging schedules in the final 10 games of the season, with away trips to Vancouver and Miami. Atlanta United continues their road trip with a visit to Providence Park to take on the Portland Timbers on Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 pm ET. The Five Stripes then play two home games against NYCFC and FC Cincinnati. Flags flying in the Chico Stand during a match between D.C. United and Atlanta United at Audi Field on September 12, 2026.

Written by Sam Brummitt Photography by Sam Brummitt Washington, D.C. – Tai Baribo scored two early goals against the Columbus Crew and D.C. United held on for a 2-1 win. The Black-and-Red began their three game home stand on Wednesday night with three much needed points against a team that was one spot below D.C. in the Eastern Conference. The Columbus Crew were 13th on 23 points going into Wednesday’s game at Audi Field while D.C. was in 12th on 25 points. The result moved DC up to 11th place on 28 points. With the three points from this win, D.C. also surpassed the 26 points they accumulated in their last place finish in the 2025 season. D.C. started out strong with Louis Munteanu getting a good look in the 15th minute with a backheeled attempt on goal from six yards out that was saved. A minute later, Kimito Nono connected on cutback pass from Baribo only for Nono’s hard shot to go off the crossbar. Baribo joined the starting XI after missing the last two games due to a knee injury but he did not miss a step. His expert finishing and his knack for finding space in the box got D.C. on the score board with two goals in the first half. D.C. started the first goal sequence in the 24th minute by switching the ball in Columbus’ half from Nono on the right touchline through Louis and Hopkins to Peglow on the left wing. Peglow took three touches and then played a pass through to Louis Munteanu, who turned and took one touch near the goal line to square the ball across the goal mouth towards Baribo and two Columbus defenders. Louis’ pass and Baribo’s run were both timed perfectly, with the ball going just past the outstretched foot of the Crew’s Sean Zawadzki and landing on Baribo’s foot to tap it into the goal. Sean Johnson made a diving save in the 30th minute to preserve D.C.’s lead. And then Baribo scored his second in the 37th minute on a play that began with slow build up play Johnson through the midfield and eventually to Louis who found Nono on the right side. Nono had acres of space and caught Columbus’ defense high and out of position. Nono sent a cross on the ground towards the top of the box, which found Baribo making another perfectly timed run. Baribo took one touch to set up a shot with his right foot and found the bottom left of the net. In addition to Baribo, Kye Rowles also returned to the starting lineup and was paired up with Bartlett as the center backs, along with Kurokawa and Hefti as fullbacks. With all core starters healthy, Coach René Weiler used a 4-3-3 lineup with Munteanu, Hopkins and Baribo up top and Kimito Nono and Andre Dozzell returning to their natural positions in right midfield and central midfield, respectively, along with Peglow on the left side. After the halftime break, Columbus brought on their recently signed Designated Player, Brais Méndez, who joined from Real Sociedad a month ago, in an attempt to get back into the game. D.C. conceded soon after the half when Josef Martínez received a pass in the 49th minute just outside the top of the box with no one on D.C. United applying any pressure. Martínez had time to settle the ball and decide whether to shoot. He decided to pass it off to Santiago Rodríguez on his left. Rodríguez hit it hard past a diving Sean Johnson to cut the Crew’s deficit to one. D.C. continued to threaten on counterattacks, usually by advancing the ball wide through Hefti and Kurokawa. D.C. created several more good chances to put the game away. In the 50th minute, Rowles was at the top of the six yard box in the right spot to receive a cross from Nono. Rowles’ header beat the Crew’s goalkeeper only to go off the crossbar. Nathan Ordaz’s shot in the 76th minute and Servania’s shot in the 89th minute from just inside the box were both saved. D.C. absorbed a good deal of pressure late in the game as Columbus used all five substitutions to get fresh legs on the field and keep the ball in D.C.’s half of the field. Columbus’ Mendez had a shot go of the cross bar in the 70th minute. D.C. held on and preserved their one goal lead through the final whistle. It was a much needed win for D.C. after three draws and two losses in their last five games saw them fall below the playoff line. Columbus came into this game off a 3-0 win at home against the Colorado Rapids on September 5th. It was the club’s 400th MLS regular-season match victory and the Crew became only the second MLS club to reach that mark, along with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Columbus leaves Audi Field still searching for their 401st win. Post-Match Quotes René Weiler on D.C.’s defensive stand to hold on to a one-goal lead: We had some difficulties at the beginning of the game, but we changed the system and afterwards it was much better. {We were} much more compact… At the end it was better to change the system because of the problems we had at the beginning of the game. Weiler on Baribo’s impact on the game: {Baribo} is a real scorer. So he has scored now, goals {number} 13 and 14. And he missed a couple of games. It’s important that everybody knows that when Tai is on the field we have somebody who is able to score. In this game it was important because {Columbus} started better than we started and then {Baribo’s goal} was the opener to this victory at the end. Weiler early Nono’s first few games with the team: Nono is a good player. The games he has played for us so far, he has a good feel how to play the play {and} how to run. He is calm. He played, two or three times, the right pass, {a pass that} was not too strong to the right player. So that is a very good player. Three Points Golden Boot Race – Baribo’s two goals on Wednesday night put his season goal total at 14, which is behind only Lionel Messi and Petar Musa at 18 goals each. In his six games since the World Cup break (526 minutes of playing time), Baribo has scored six goals. Baribo is netting 0.78 goals per game this season, and with 11 games remaining he is on pace to surpass his career best 18 MLS goals scored last season with the Philadelphia Union. Weather Scrambles the Schedule – D.C. enters the final third of the season with a game in hand after heavy rain and lighting caused the team’s Wednesday night match at FC Cincinnati to be canceled. The match will be played at a later date, which means the already busy fall schedule – with a friendly against SC Paderborn 07 on the last WWednesday in September and two Wednesday night matches in October already on the schedule – will become more congested. Low Possession and Vertical Football – D.C.’s preference for playing compact and disciplined defense and relying on counter attacks and long ball to steal a goal or two worked out well in this match against a team that ranks second in possession this season behind San Diego FC. D.C. only had 28 percent possession against Columbus, below their season average of 39 percent possession (the lowest in the league), but the team was deadly on the counter and generated 2.51 expected goals to Columbus’ 0.81. While Columbus outshot D.C. 16 to 10, D.C. compact defense forced Columbus to play the ball around the box and take low percentage shots. Wednesday’s match against Columbus demonstrated how D.C.’s low possession, defend and counter tactics can succeed against a technically skilled team. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-3-3) Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett (C), Rowles, Kurokawa; Nono, Dozzell, Peglow (90+2’ Nealis); Hopkins (46’ Peltola), Baribo (77’ Servania), Munteanu (70’ Ordaz) Unused Substitutes: Avilez, Bono, Kijima, Marković, Stroud On injured list: Segal Head Coach: René Weiler Columbus Crew (4-2-3-1) Schulte; Ruvalcaba (46’ Moreira), Zawadzki, Amundsen, Lennon; Chambost (70’ Gomes), Karumanchi ; Farsi, Habroune (46’ Méndez), Rodríguez (81’ Thiaré); Martínez (60’ Tapia) Unused Substitutes: Bailly, Giaccone, Hagen, Pruter On injured list: Abou Ali, Bangoura, Camacho Head Coach: Laurent Courtois Scoring Summary D.C. United 24’ - Baribo 37’ - Baribo Columbus Crew 49' - Rodríguez Booking Summary D.C. United 19’ - Peglow (Yellow Card) 57’ - Rowles (Yellow Card) 90+5’ - Johnson (Yellow Card) Columbus Crew 12’ - Karumanchi (Yellow Card) 19’ - Ruvalcaba (Yellow Card) Up Next This victory over the Columbus Crew was D.C.’s first win since July 25, when they also notched a 2-1 win at home over an Eastern Conference opponent (Toronto FC). D.C. United will look to carry that momentum into their next two home games against Atlanta United on Saturday, September 12, followed by Charlotte FC on Saturday, September 19. Atlanta sits in 14th place in the East, six points behind D.C. United. Atlanta’s on field success in their last two seasons has not matched the team’s ambitions and high wages. The team made four signings in the summer transfer window, headlined by the Swiss striker Breel Embolo, who was signed as a designated player from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for an eight-digit transfer fee. Stealing some points from these next two opponents will be critical to D.C.’s playoff hopes before they head on the road to play two of the top teams in the league, Vancouver Whitecaps on September 26 and Inter Miami on October 10. Columbus Crew enter a stretch of games that will also make or break their playoff chances. Columbus currently sits six points behind the playoff line (9th place New York City FC). The Crew’s next three matches are against NY Red Bulls and Orlando at home, followed by Montreal on the road. Columbus is going through a rebuild similar to D.C. The club sacked their previous manager after only several months on the job and appointed Laurent Courtois as coach in May. The team also went through major turnover in their key players and offensive production during the summer transfer window: striker Diego Rossi sold to Liga MX, left back Max Arfsten sold to the EFL Championship, midfielder Hugo Picard sent out on loan to Ligue 1, and new additions in DP Brais Mendez and MLS veteran Josef Martinez. Columbus may need time for Courtois to implement his vision and for the new players to integrate with the team. A run for the 2026 MLS Cup is unlikely, but the team could be a serious contender by the time the spring sprint season gets underway.

Written by Sam Brummitt Photography by Sam Brummitt Defender Kimitio Nono had seven defensive contributions and seven recoveries with 90 minutes played for the Black-and-Red. Washington, D.C. – After conceding six goals in their last two games, D.C. United cleaned up their defensive issues and came away with one point from a 0-0 draw against Los Angeles FC (LAFC) at home. With two regular starters in D.C.’s back four out for the game — Silvan Hefti (yellow card accumulation) and Kye Rowles (injury) — Andre Dozzell filled in at center back and Kimito Nono shifted to right back. Nathan Ordaz made his first start for the club. It was a big moment for the 22-year old forward, who grew up in southern California and came up through LAFC’s academy and first team before transferring to D.C. United in July this year. Ordaz’s first start for D.C. United came in a home game before a sellout crowd against his former team. Ordaz lived up to the moment by creating four chances in 89 minutes and demonstrating that he will play an important role in D.C.’s attack along with Tai Baribo and Louis Munteanu. Saturday night was only the fourth time that these two clubs have met. In their only other match at Audi Field in April 2019, LAFC won 4-0. There was a tremendous build up to this match with a top Western Conference team playing in Audi Field for only the second time. Audi Field was sold out and buzzing on a warm Saturday night, with a large contingent of fans coming out to see LAFC’s Son Heung-min, Denis Bouanga, and Hugo Llloris. LAFC started the 2026 season hot with four straight wins – all four were shut outs – and the club was in the top three in the Western Conference standings through matchday 11 in early May. While their defense is near the top of the league (22 goals allowed through 22 games coming into the match against D.C.), their high profile attacking talent has struggled since the World Cup break. Coming into the match against D.C., LAFC had scored only five goals across seven matches in August. After using a 4-4-2 for the majority of this first year coaching D.C. René Weiler changed the club’s formation to a 4-3-3 against LAFC. With Tai Baribo, Silvan Hefti, and Kye Rowles, René Weiler shifted Andre Dozzell and Kimito Nono to center back and right back, respectively, and played Brandon Servania, Matti Peltola and Peglow in midfield and a front three of Nathan Ordaz, Louis Munteanu, and Jackson Hopkins. The match was marked by close chances and impressive defensive displays by both sides. For LAFC, the best performance on the night was from Hugo Lloris, the 39-year old who won the 2018 World and logged a record 145 starts for the French national team. He demonstrated his world class shot-stopping skills with four saves on the night. D.C. United showed a cohesive and disciplined defense. The two players that stood out were João Peglow and Kimito Nono, who shut down LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (11 MLS goals to date this season, and 20+ goals in each of the last three seasons), and Son Heung-min, the 2021-22 Premier League Golden Boot winner. Kimito Nono demonstrated his flexibility to play anywhere on the right side. Nono joined D.C. United only a month ago and started his first three games as the right midfielder in D.C.’s 4-4-2. With Silvan Hefti suspended for yellow card accumulation, Nono started the LAFC match at right back. Nono spent much of the match marking Son Heung-min. He played the full 90 minutes and had 9 defensive contributions, 3 tackles, and 8 recoveries. D.C. largely neutralized LAFC’s high octane attack such that Sean Johnson had to make only one save on the night. Both teams prefer to play against the ball and counterattack. LAFC had more of the ball on Saturday night and tended to build up play while D.C. continued to prefer long balls. The best chances for D.C. came in the 1st minute, when Peglow, who created seven chances in the game, was on the receiving end of a cross in the box only to head it directly to Lloris in goal. Race for the playoff play-in spots: D.C. earned one point from this match but remained in 11th place. Going into matchday 22 (the August 29-30 weekend), Orlando, Toronto, and D.C. were all at 23 points a piece. The first tiebreaker in MLS is number of wins, followed by goal differential, and Orlando was in the final playoff spot based on having two more wins than D.C. and Toronto. Toronto sat in 10th, one spot ahead of D.C., based on goal differential. The standings remained the same following matchday 22 as D.C., Orlando, and Toronto all earned draws over the weekend and now sit on 24 points. Philadelphia is one point back from this trio, followed by Atlanta and Montreal with 21 points and Columbus on 20 points. With 12 games remaining in the 2026 season, every team is still in the playoff picture. Post-Match Quotes René Weiler on the team’s performance without Baribo and Rowles: “There’s an impact when you have two strong players from our squad not on the field because we don’t have {a} massive squad, like, for example LAFC. But I repeat, they {had} a great game. At the end, it’s a pity that we didn’t win this game. But {it was a} very good team performance. René Weiler on the MLS transfer window ending September 2: “Of course, you can strengthen the team always and we {still} have a couple of days to find these reinforcements.” Three Points Playoff Picture – D.C. United’s two losses against New England Revolution and Charlotte FC saw them drop out of the last playoff spot and down to 11th in the Eastern Conference. D.C. is level with 9th place Orlando City and 10th place Toronto FC at 25 points, but Orlando City have the edge in terms of wins and Toronto have a better goal differential (the first tiebreaker in MLS in wins followed by goal differential). Record Against LAFC – While the draw and one point meant D.C. maintained their 11th place position in the Eastern Conference, the team is still seeking their first win against LAFC as the draw brings D.C.’s record against that club to 0-2-2. Late Season Injuries: Two key starters are out, Tai Baribo (knee) and Kye Rowles (thigh). Both are listed as questionable have missed the last several games. D.C.’s captain, the center back Lucas Bartlett, went down injured after an aerial duel late in the second half but played out the rest of the game in a protective head band. The August schedule was a grind five matches in hot weather. It will important for the team to stay healthy to improve their chances of a playoff push in the final months of the season. The next MLS Player Availability Report on Friday will give us an indication of which regular starters are available for Saturday’s match at Cincinnati. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-3-3) Johnson; Nono, Bartlett (C), Dozzell, Kurokawa; Servania (86 - Stroud), Peltola, Peglow; Munteanu, Hopkins (77’ - Kijima), Ordaz (90+2’ Markovic) Unused Substitutes: Avilez, Bono, Castillo, Nealis, Turner Head Coach: René Weiler Los Angeles FC (4-3-3) Lloris; Hollingshead, Porteous, Long (C), Cheberko; Choinière, Segura (77’ Terry), Delgado; Bouanga, Ebobisse (81’ - Boyd), Son Unused Substitutes: Carter, Díaz, Kosakoff, Mihalić, Nielsen, Raposo Head Coach: Marc Dos Santos Scoring Summary None Booking Summary None D.C. United will travel to TQL Stadium to play Cincinnati FC at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Cincinnati currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, six points ahead of D.C. United. Cincinnati lost to Nashville SC last week 4-0, which ended their four-game unbeaten streak in league play. LAFC will travel to face Real Salt Lake on Saturday, September 5. The team continues their campaign for a playoff spot in a tight Western Conference. LAFC currently sits in 3rd place on 36 points, but only 10 points separate 2nd place (Houston Dynamo with 29 points) from 9th place (Minnesota United FC with 29 points). Forward Nathan Ordaz made his first starting appearance for D.C. United and created four chances; he completed 89 minutes against his former club.

Written by Sam Brummit Photography by Sam Brummit Nono made his debut in front of the home crowd at Audi Field. This is his second consecutive start since he arrived earlier this month. Washington, D.C. – D.C. United’s six-game unbeaten streak ended at Audi Field on Saturday night as the Black-and-Red could not find an answer to the Revolutions’ Alhassan Yusuf, who scored three goals. The story of the game was not only Yusuf’s hat trick but also the ability of the Revolution’s midfield, led by veteran playmaker Carles Gil, to control the center of the pitch for the majority of the match. The visitors completed 90 percent of their 547 passes while D.C. managed only 354 passes. The Revolution were able to repeatedly progress the ball into their attacking third and work the ball into dangerous areas. D.C. started strong and created the best scoring chances during the first 20 minutes of the game. In the sixth minute, Munteanu intercepted a pass just inside New England’s half and found Hopkins near the top of the box only to see his shot blocked. This was followed by a second good look by D.C. when cross from Kurokawa caused the New England goalkeeper, Matt Turner, to trip over a teammate while attempting to punch the ball away. The ball nearly landed on Kimito Nono at the far post but the cross had too much on it for Nono to get a clean touch. In the 20th minute, Hefti received a cross from Nono at the edge of the box and his shot was blocked by Peyton Miller. This started a series of good chances by DC. A cross by Munteanu gave Nono a second opportunity at the far post, but again the cross was a touch too strong for Nono to connect on it cleanly and his header went wide of goal. Despite a number of good chances by the home side, it was New England’s Alhassan Yusuf who converted the first of his five shots in the 23rd minute to open the scoring. The Revolution worked the ball quickly up the left side on a counter attack, then moved the ball out to their new Designated Player, Jack Harrison on the right side. Harrison crossed the ball to Miller at the far post, who headed it back across the goal to Yusuf at the top of the six-yard box. Yusuf headed the ball down and hard into the right corner of the goal. Late in the first half, D.C. pushed for an equalizer. A series of several one touch passes in the 35th minute found Munteanu in a one-on-one against a charging Turner. Munteanu’s flicked it up and over Turner but could not get the ball to drop enough to land on target. In the 39th minute, D.C. worked the ball around New England’s half of the field until Peltola and Baribo both had looks on goal that were blocked. Munteanu had another one-on-one look from close range but was denied by Turner. As D.C.’s chances came up short, Yusuf doubled the Revolution’s lead in the 45th minute. Harison worked the ball around the box before connecting with Yusuf on a long cross. In the 66th minute, D.C. absorbed a great deal of pressure and relied on Johnson to make two acrobatic saves. However, despite a chance to reset at the half and learn from the mistakes defending against crosses, D.C. still did not have an answer for Yusuf and his speed and ability to time runs onto crosses. Harrison found a pocket of space on the right side to send a long cross to the far post and find Yusuf for his third goal and the first hat trick in league play by a Revolution player since 2017. Despite the loss, other results across the Eastern Conference over the weekend ended in D.C.’s favor such that the team maintained their hold on the 9th and final playoff spot. Post-Match Quotes René Weiler on what made the difference in the match “…First, the better team won without any doubt. {They} were very good at the ball. So, {New England} took their chances {and} they had maybe three and they scored those goals. Of course, we have to defend it better, but {they were} very efficient. When you’re two goals down against a team, at home, it is very difficult. It wasn’t the best game from our side…” “When we don’t play with the starters in our defense, there’s an impact. Maybe we have to read certain situations better than we read {them} today.” Three Points D.C.’s Revamped Midfield: We have now had several looks at D.C.’s new additions in midfield. Andre Dozzell, the 27-year old who joined on a free transfer from Portsmouth FC last month, made his fifth start for the Black-and-Red in central midfield. Dozzell has played at least 87 in his three appearances for D.C. His on-the-ball skills will be critical to improving possession and ball progression for a team that plays long and against the ball. Kimito Nono, the 24-year old who joined D.C. from the J1 League’s Kashima Antlers three weeks ago, has started the last two games on the right side of D.C.’s four-man midfield. He primarily played as a right back in the J1 League and has shown versatility in both attack, recording an assist against Montreal, and in tracking back to assist in defending D.C.’s right side. Unbeaten Run Ends: D.C. United’s six-game unbeaten streak ended. The Black-and-Red recorded five draws and one win in MLS games going back to May 16, prior to the World Cup break. The loss puts D.C.’s all time record against New England Revolution in regular season matchups at 37-39-15. Kimito Nono’s First Appearance at Audi Field: D.C. United’s newest signing, right back/midfielder Kimito Nono, made his debut at Audi Field. The versatile Japanese player Nono had 33 touches and created 0.62 xG on three shots, including a bicycle kick in traffic that went just wide of goal. His three shots against New England created 0.62 xG, however his underwhelming defensive performance suggests he may take some time to adjust to a new team and league. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-4-2) Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett (C), Nealis (Servania 46’), Kurokawa; Nono (Marković 68’), Peltola, Dozzell (Stroud 90’), Hopkins (Ordaz 46’); Baribo, Munteanu (Kijima 68’) Unused Substitutes: Bono, Avilez Head Coach: René Weiler New England Revolution (4-3-3) Turner; Polster (Baker 84’), Kohler, Fofana, Sands; Gil (C) (Siqueira 89’), Raines, Yusuf; Harrison (Zambrano 84’), Turgeman (Harris 77’), Miller (Yow ‘89) Unused Substitutes: Parisian, Beason, Fagúndez, Yueill Head Coach: Marko Mitrović Scoring Summary New England Revolution 23' – Alhassan Yusuf 45' – Alhassan Yusuf 66' – Alhassan Yusuf Booking Summary D.C. United 26' – Dozzell (Yellow Card) New England Revolution 13’ - Raines (Yellow Card) 32’ - Polster (Yellow Card) D.C. United will travel to face Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Charlotte is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, five points ahead of D.C. United. Only nine points separate the nine teams in the sixth (Charlotte FC) through 14th positions (CF Montreal) in the Eastern Conference, so this will be one of several matches this weekend that will determine which teams remain above and below the playoff line. New England Revolution will get an extra day of rest before they host 7th place New York City FC on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET. Andre Dozzell continues to establish himself in the Black-and-red midfield, recording his fifth consecutive start since his arrival in early July.

Baribo scored the 2-2 equalizer to bring his Golden Boot race tally to 11. This was his 4th consecutive game scoring. Washington, D.C. – D.C. United extended its unbeaten run to five matches with a dramatic 2-2 comeback draw against Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC on Saturday night at Audi Field, rallying from a two-goal deficit behind goals from Silvan Hefti and Tai Baribo to earn a point in front of the Black-and-Red. The two sides had previously met earlier this season, playing to a 2-2 draw. Nashville entered the nation's capital as one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference, while D.C. United looked to continue its recent resurgence under head coach René Weiler. The opening 45 minutes even, with both teams recording two shots on target. However, Nashville proved far more clinical with its opportunities, converting both of its shots on goal to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. The visitors opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after Servania was called for a handball inside the penalty area. English forward Sam Surridge stepped up to the penalty spot and calmly converted, giving Nashville a 1-0 advantage. Nashville doubled its lead eight minutes later. Following a scramble inside the D.C. United penalty area, Ghanaian forward Ibrahim Mohammed managed to find the back of the net, putting the visitors ahead 2-0. D.C. United had an opportunity to respond before halftime when Louis Munteanu tested Nashville goalkeeper Patrick Schwake in the 26th minute following a dangerous Peglow breakaway, but Schwake was able to deny the Romanian forward. D.C. United came out of the break with a much more aggressive approach, pushing forward in search of a way back into the match. That pressure paid off in the 56th minute when Silvan Hefti found the back of the net following another scramble inside the Nashville penalty area. The goal marked Hefti's first goal as a member of D.C. United and gave the Black-and-Red renewed confidence as they continued to push for an equalizer. D.C. United's pressure eventually paid off again in the 77th minute. Munteanu provided an unconventional scorpion-style assist inside the penalty area, finding Tai Baribo, who finished the opportunity to level the score at 2-2. The goal marked Baribo's 11th of the season and extended his scoring streak to four consecutive matches. D.C. United continued to create opportunities late in the match and looked for a winner, but Nashville goalkeeper Patrick Schwake produced several important saves to preserve a point for the Eastern Conference leaders. The comeback extends D.C. United's unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches, with the Black-and-Red recording one victory and four draws during the stretch. Post-Match Quotes René Weiler on the comeback: "It was a great comeback. Maybe last season we might have lost this game 4-0. It was a tough first half after being 2-0 down. That's one of the reasons they are in the top of the table and maybe not by coincidence. I'm really proud of the players for playing a great game." Silvan Hefti on the team's response: "They are a very strong team and it was not an easy game obviously. I'm very proud of the way we came out and we stuck to our plan. We wanted to come back in this game and we showed that." Andy Najar on Nashville leaving with a point: "We are not happy with the result but we snatched one point as a visitor. I congratulate D.C. because it's not easy to tie a game after being down 2-0." Andy Najar on returning to D.C. United: "D.C. United is my home and I will always keep them in my heart. It's mixed feelings to play against the club that saw me grow as a player and it is always great to play here." Three Points Hefti Scores His First for the Black-and-Red: Silvan Hefti scored his first goal as a D.C. United player in the 56th minute, sparking the Black-and-Red's comeback after Nashville had taken a 2-0 lead. Baribo Chasing the Golden Boot: Tai Baribo scored his 11th MLS goal of the season and extended his scoring streak to four consecutive matches. The Israeli forward continues to establish himself as one of the league's most dangerous goal scorers. Unbeaten Run Continues: D.C. United extended its unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches, recording one victory and four draws during the stretch. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-4-2) Johnson; Bartlett (C), Hefti, Kurokawa, Rowles; Dozzell, Servania (Peltola 64'), Peglow, Baribo, Munteanu (Stroud 90+2'); Hopkins (Ordaz 64') Unused Substitutes: Nealis, Bono, Avilez, Castillo, Kijima Head Coach: René Weiler Nashville SC (4-3-3) Schwake; Lovitz, Palacios, Najar (Baker-Whiting 84'), Corcoran, Tagseth (Bauer 84'), Qasem (Saad 63'), Surridge, Mukhtar (C) (Acosta 73'), Mohammed (Madrigal 62') Unused Substitutes: Valdez, Maher, Knight, Brunet Head Coach: B.J. Callahan Scoring Summary D.C. United 56' – Silvan Hefti 77' – Tai Baribo Nashville SC 32' – Sam Surridge (Penalty) 40' – Ibrahim Mohammed Booking Summary D.C. United 45+3' – Baribo (Yellow Card ) 72' – Bartlett (Yellow Card) Nashville SC 45+3' – Mohammed (Yellow Card) 82 – Saad (Yellow Card) 90+11' – Corcoran (Yellow Card) D.C. United will remain in action on Wednesday , August 5, when the Black-and-Red face Loudoun United in a friendly at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will provide René Weiler an opportunity to rotate his squad and give valuable minutes to players who have seen limited playing time this season. Nashville SC, meanwhile, will shift its attention to Leagues Cup play. The Eastern Conference leaders will face Atlético de San Luis on Saturday, August 9, at 8 p.m. ET as they begin their Leagues Cup campaign. Former Black-and-Red Player, Honduran Andy Najar, returned to play against his former club. Andy Najar is a D.C. United homegrown player. He played 84 minutes after seeing activity mid-week in the MLS All-Star game.

Tai Baribo scored his 10th MLS goal this season from the spot (90+10') to give D.C. United a dramatic 2-1 win . Washington, D.C. – D.C. United extended its unbeaten run to four matches with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday night at Audi Field, as Tai Baribo converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure all three points in front of the Black-and-Red faithful. Entering the match, D.C. United had drawn three consecutive matches against St. Louis City, CF Montréal, and the Houston Dynamo, while Toronto FC arrived in the nation's capital equally desperate for points as both clubs remained in the lower half of the Eastern Conference standings. Historically, D.C. United held the advantage in the all-time regular-season series, entering the evening with an 18-13-13 record against Toronto. The opening 45 minutes were evenly contested, with both sides creating opportunities but struggling to find the breakthrough. That difference finally arrived in the 41st minute from a D.C. United corner kick. Kurokawa delivered an dangerous service into the penalty area that Toronto defender Kobe Franklin inadvertently headed into his own net while attempting to clear the danger. The goal was initially credited to Kye Rowles before later being ruled an own goal, giving D.C. United a deserved 1-0 advantage heading into halftime. Toronto emerged from the break with renewed energy and gradually took control of possession and the tempo of the match. Sean Johnson, facing his former club for the first time since leaving Toronto, was called into action several times and produced a series of impressive saves to preserve D.C.'s lead. The visitors' pressure eventually paid off in the 76th minute. After Johnson parried away an initial effort, Theo Corbeanu reacted quickest to the rebound and fired a volley into the net to level the score at 1-1. Toronto continued to push forward looking for a winner, but Johnson denied them on six occasions. Just when it appeared the teams would settle for a draw, D.C. United found one final opportunity deep into stoppage time. Following a foul inside the penalty area against Dozzell, Tai Baribo stepped to the spot in the 100th minute to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory. The victory extends D.C. United's unbeaten streak to four matches and provides another boost in the club's pursuit of an Eastern Conference playoff position. Post-Match Quotes René Weiler on grinding out the victory: "We needed to keep the ball a little bit more. It's very difficult to win games and I'm very happy for the boys." Tai Baribo on converting the match-winning penalty: "I was ready. I always believe until the last minute." Andre Dozzell on defending under pressure: "There's gonna be spells where we are under pressure and we have to grind that out. We've got to be smarter in the next games. We're working on it and we're grinding for each other." Richie Laryea on Toronto's missed opportunities: "We were not able to do what we wanted to do in the final third. We need to get more clinical in front of goal. We created a lot of good chances in the second half that we could have scored and we didn't." Three Points Baribo in Contention for Golden Boot:Tai Baribo scored his 10th MLS goal of the season with the 100th-minute penalty kick and finished the match with three chances created, strengthening his case in the MLS Golden Boot race. Johnson Shines Against His Former Club: Sean Johnson recorded six saves on seven Toronto shots, making several crucial stops during a dominant second half from the visitors to keep D.C. United in the match. Unbeaten Run Continues : D.C. United extended its unbeaten streak to four consecutive MLS matches, recording one victory and three draws during the stretch. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-4-2) Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett (C), Kurokawa, Rowles (Nealis 80'); Dozzell, Servania (Kijima 80'), Peglow (Stroud 65'), Hopkins (Peltola 65'); Baribo, Munteanu (Ordaz 85') Unused Substitutes: Bono, Avilez, Markovic Head Coach: René Weiler Toronto FC (3-4-2-1) Gavran; Monlouis (Coello 46'), Franklin, Laryea, Zimmerman, Gilman, Corbeanu (Henry 90+2'), Sallói, Osorio (C), Etienne Jr. (Mihailovic 54'), Aristizábal (Kerr 54') Unused Substitutes: (Not listed) Head Coach: Robin Fraser Scoring Summary D.C. United 41' – Kobe Franklin (Own Goal) 90+10' – Tai Baribo (Penalty) Toronto FC 76' – Theo Corbeanu Booking Summary D.C. United Munteanu (53') — Yellow Card Toronto FC Osorio (88') — Yellow Card D.C. United returns to Audi Field on Saturday, August 1, when the Black-and-Red host Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Toronto FC travels to New York to face New York City FC on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. D.C. United extends their unbeaten streak to 4 games. 3 draws and 1 win.

Escrito por Jose Gomez El fútbol profesional hondureño vuelve a la acción con un evento histórico: la primera edición de la Supercopa Hondubet 2026, un nuevo torneo que reunirá a los campeones del Torneo Apertura y Clausura de la temporada 2025-2026 para definir al primer Supercampeón de Honduras. La gran cita será este jueves 23 de julio, a partir de las 7:00 p.m. (CST), en el Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, escenario que albergará una nueva edición del clásico capitalino entre Olimpia y Motagua, dos de las instituciones más ganadoras y representativas del balompié nacional. La Super Copa del Futbol Hondureño Motagua llega con una preparación sólida El Ciclón Azul realizó su pretemporada en Honduras, con una serie de amistosos ante equipos locales. Los resultados fueron positivos y sirvieron para afianzar la química del plantel y probar las nuevas incorporaciones al mismo. Olimpia apuesta por una preparación internacional Los Leones por su lado, decidieron comenzar su pretemporada en suelo nacional y terminandola en tierras internacionales (EEUU), disputando un par de amistosos frente al Houston Dynamo y Cincinnati FC respectivamente, buscando conseguir un buen ritmo de cara al nuevo torneo. Un nuevo capítulo para el fútbol hondureño La Supercopa Hondubet 2026 no solo enfrentará a los dos clubes más grandes y exitosos del país, sino que también marcará el inicio de una nueva tradición en el balompié hondureño. Olimpia y Motagua prometen dejarlo todo en la cancha para escribir el primer capítulo de esta historia y quedarse con el título de Supercampeón de Honduras. Boletería Los aficionados que deseen asistir al encuentro podrán adquirir sus entradas con los siguientes precios: Sol: L200 Sombra: L400 Silla: L800

Santos, scored the go-ahead goal in the 17th minute from a spectacular free-kick. Her 4th of the campaign. Washington, D.C. – The Washington Spirit returned to winning ways on Saturday night, defeating Seattle Reign 2-1 in front of a sold-out Audi Field crowd of 19,365, the largest attendance recorded at a Spirit home match this season. Coming off a difficult 5-3 loss against Club América in the W Champions Final, the Spirit entered the match looking for a response against a Seattle Reign side that arrived in the nation's capital sitting 10th in the standings. By the final whistle, Washington had done exactly that, securing its sixth win of the season and third consecutive home victory. The Spirit started brightly and found the breakthrough in the 17th minute through Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos. From a dangerous set-piece opportunity, Santos curled an excellent effort toward the left side of goal, leaving goalkeeper Claudia Dickey with no chance as the ball nestled into the back of the net. The goal was Santos' fourth of the season and continued her impressive run of form in midfield. Washington appeared in control for much of the first half, but Seattle found an equalizer just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, a ball played behind the Spirit defense released forward Maddie Mercado into space. As goalkeeper Sandy MacIver rushed off her line to close down the angle, defender Lucia Di Guglielmo inadvertently redirected the ball into her own net, leveling the score at 1-1 heading into halftime. The Spirit continued to push forward after the restart, creating several dangerous opportunities while controlling long stretches of possession. Dickey proved to be one of Seattle's standout performers, producing key saves to deny Washington on multiple occasions and keeping the visitors within reach. That breakthrough finally arrived in the 81st minute through Hal Hershfelt. The midfielder's effort took a deflection off a Reign defender, wrong-footing Dickey and bouncing into the center of the net. The goal was Hershfelt's second of the season and ultimately stood as the match winner. Seattle searched for another equalizer in the closing stages, but Washington's defense remained organized and disciplined to see out the victory and secure all three points in front of an energized home crowd. After the match, forward Sofia Cantore highlighted the importance of the squad's depth and the impact made by the substitutes. "We have a big roster, even if we are tied, we know that fresh people can come in and do great like they did today." Goal scorer Leicy Santos reflected on both her performance and the result. "I am happy with the goal and the win." Defender Elizabeth Tse pointed to improvements made following the midweek defeat. "Today we saw an improvement from the last game, we played quicker to find the width of the free player." The victory keeps Washington firmly in the playoff positions, currently in 4th place with 21 points, and provides an immediate bounce back after the W Champions Final disappointment . Three Points Home Fortress: The Spirit recorded their sixth victory of the season and extended their winning streak at Audi Field to three consecutive matches. Goals Coming From Everywhere: Washington now has seven different goal scorers this season. Leicy Santos scored her fourth goal of the campaign, while Hal Hershfelt, who scored the game-winner, netted her second goal of the season. Record Crowd: Audi Field welcomed a season-high crowd of 19,365 supporters, marking the largest attendance of the season and a complete sellout for the Spirit. Starting XIs Washington Spirit MacIver; Tse (Morgan 67'), Carle (Metayer 82'), Bernal (Sullivan 67'), Rudd, Di Guglielmo, Hershfelt, Santos (Monday 82'), Cantore (Martinez 67'), Rodman, Kouassi Unused Substitutes: Wiesner, Tamara, Abiodun, Collins Head Coach: A. Gonzalez Seattle Reign Dickey; Bugg, McClernon, Curry, Huerta, McCammon (Meza 45'), Menti (Fishel 65'), Mercado (Adames 87'), James-Turner (Ratcliffe 89'), Ward (Mondesir 46'), Dahlien Unused Substitutes: Brown, Holmes, Miller Head Coach: L. Harvey Scoring Summary Washington Spirit Santos (17') Hershfelt (81') Seattle Reign Di Guglielmo (Own Goal, 43') Booking Summary Washington Spirit Tse (5') — Yellow Card Sullivan (78') — Yellow Card Seattle Reign Ward (17') — Yellow Card Menti (59') — Yellow Card McClernon (68') — Yellow Card Hershelft, scored the game-winner at the 82nd minute. Her 2nd of the campaign.

Israeli Forward, Tai Baribo, scored his 7th goal of the season. Washington, D.C. - D.C. United entered Wednesday night riding strong momentum, unbeaten in five consecutive matches with two wins and three draws. Facing a Chicago Fire FC side coming off a home defeat against the New York Red Bulls, the Black-and-Red looked poised to continue their positive run after a dominant first-half performance. René Weiler’s side controlled the early stages and created the better opportunities before halftime, forcing Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady into several important saves. D.C. United’s first major chance arrived when Louis Munteanu cut in from the right side of the box and unleashed a low right-footed effort that Brady pushed away at the bottom right corner. Minutes later, in the 30th minute, Jackson Hopkins tested Brady again with a powerful strike from the center of the area, but the Chicago goalkeeper reacted quickly to tip the attempt over the bar.The persistence finally paid off in the 41st minute. Louis Munteanu delivered a dangerous ball into the box that found Tai Baribo, who calmly finished with his left foot into the bottom-left corner to give D.C. United a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The goal marked Baribo’s seventh of the season and continued his productive attacking partnership with Munteanu. At the break, D.C. United looked comfortable and organized after controlling much of the opening 45 minutes. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half as Chicago Fire FC began to take control territorially and push numbers forward. The visitors found their equalizer in the 62nd minute when Robin Lod rose in the center of the box and headed home a cross from Philip Zinckernagel to make it 1-1. Chicago’s pressure continued to grow, and controversy followed shortly after when the Fire were awarded a questionable penalty after a challenge involving Markovic and Dithejane inside the penalty area. Sean Johnson delivered a huge moment for the Black-and-Red in the 71st minute, diving low to his left to save Zinckernagel’s penalty and temporarily preserve the deadlock. But Chicago capitalized moments later from the set-piece sequence. Forward Hugo Cuypers reacted quickest inside the six-yard box and finished from close range to give Chicago a 2-1 advantage. D.C. United attempted to respond late, but Chicago remained dangerous on the counterattack and sealed the result in the 87th minute. Substitute Maren Haile-Selassie cut inside from the left side of the box and curled a left-footed strike into the top-right corner following another set-piece situation, extending the lead to 3-1. The defeat dropped D.C. United to a 2-3-0 home record during the 2026 MLS season despite another strong first-half display. Historically, the Black-and-Red still hold the edge in the all-time regular season series against Chicago Fire FC with a 28-25-22 record, including a 19-12-7 advantage at home. Rene's post match quotes: On what changed in the second half “Chicago tied the game a little bit out of the blue with a nice action, nice header. We had this situation for the penalty kick and then it was difficult with the weather against a strong team. They changed the three players, brought in new power. We felt it and at the end it was difficult to come back.” On the first-time partnership between Baribo and Munteanu “It was the first time they played together. So they created this chance and scored this first goal. When Baribo went out we lead the game 1-0 so they did a good job together.” Biggest headline quote — on Herrera wanting to leave “Herrera wants to leave. So that is a fact and he told us that.” Why Marovic started instead “I gave the chance to Marovic because he has the future. He’s a young guy with a good mentality.” On expectations after the recent unbeaten stretch “Some people are surprised that we lost now this game. What do you think now? We are overnight a top team? We have to play on our boundaries every game.” Three Points Baribo Keeps Producing: Forward Tai Baribo scored his seventh goal of the season in the 41st minute, finishing off an assist from Louis Munteanu. Munteanu’s Influence Continues: Louis Munteanu recorded his first assist of the season while registering three shots on target and winning three ground duels across 90 minutes played. Peglow’s Midfield Work Rate: Midfielder João Peglow delivered a strong all-around performance, winning seven ground duels and recording seven recoveries in midfield. Starting XIs D.C. United (4-4-2) Johnson; Markovic, Bartlett, Rowles, Kurokawa; Hopkins (Murrell 87’), Servania, Peltola, Peglow; Louis, Baribo (Stroud 64’) Unused Substitutes: Bono, Antley, Clark, Turner, Kijima, Farr, Herrera Head Coach: René Weiler Chicago Fire FC Brady; Dean, Elliot, Mbokazi, Gutman; Pineda, D’Avilla; Lod (Haile-Selassie 63’), Zinckernagel (Mueller 90+4’), Cuypers (Shokalook 90+4’), Bamba (Dithejane 63’) Unused Substitutes: Rogers, Radojevic, Waterman, Borso, Cohen Head Coach: Gregg Berhalter Scoring Summary D.C. United Baribo (41’) — Assisted by Louis Munteanu Chicago Fire FC Lod (62’) — Assisted by Zinckernagel Cuypers (71’) Haile-Selassie (87’) Booking Summary D.C. United None Chicago Fire FC D’Avilla (19’) — Yellow Card Bamba (48’) — Yellow Card Elliot (75’) — Yellow Card Dean (89’) — Yellow Card Gutman (90+6’) — Yellow Card Romanian Forward, Louis Munteanu, recorded his first assist.

The Black-and-Red's Captain, Bartlett, scored his 1st goal of the season. He now has 4 goals as a D.C. United player all-time. Nashville - D.C. United traveled to the Music City on Saturday night looking to continue their strong run of form against Nashville SC, the current leaders of the Eastern Conference with 24 points entering the match. Coming off consecutive positive results, the Black-and-Red delivered another disciplined performance, building a two-goal first-half lead before settling for a dramatic 2-2 draw after late pressure from the hosts. From the opening whistle, D.C. United looked organized and confident despite facing one of the league’s toughest home environments. René Weiler’s side controlled key moments of the first half and capitalized on their opportunities clinically when only possesing 30% of the ball. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute through in-form Romanian striker Louis Munteanu. Defender Silvan Hefti delivered a perfectly placed ball into the box, where Munteanu rose above the defense and guided a header into the right side past Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake. The forward has now scored in three consecutive matches and recorded four goals in his first three starts for the Black-and-Red. D.C. doubled its advantage five minutes later when captain Lucas Bartlett found the back of the net for the first time this season. Defender Keisuke Kurokawa delivered a dangerous cross into the area that Bartlett finished clinically to make it 2-0 in the 30th minute. Nashville briefly checked for a possible offside involving Jared Stroud during the buildup, but after review, the goal stood. At halftime, it appeared D.C. United was on course to secure all three points against the Eastern Conference leaders. However, Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan made a decisive tactical adjustment in the second half. After substituting Alex Muyl for forward Warren Madrigal in the 63rd minute, Nashville’s attack found new energy and urgency. The momentum of the match shifted dramatically in the 75th minute when Hefti received his second yellow card, reducing D.C. United to ten men. With the numerical advantage, Nashville poured pressure onto D.C.’s backline, finishing the match with 16 total shots and nine crosses. Just one minute after the sending off, substitute forward Warren Madrigal pulled one back in the 76th minute, giving the hosts belief heading into the final stretch. Despite resilient defending from the Black-and-Red, Nashville found its equalizer in the 89th minute. Former D.C. United defender Andy Najar delivered a cross into the area that Madrigal converted for his second goal of the night, rescuing a point for the home side. Nashville nearly completed the comeback in stoppage time, but D.C. United managed to survive the final moments and secure a point on the road. After the match, head coach René Weiler reflected on the performance and the difficult finish: “Yeah, very good point away against Nashville, but when you lead 2–0 with 15 minutes before the end, then you want to win this game.” On playing down a man late in the match: “At the end, it was tough with one man less. We take this point and I’m very happy with the performance of the players.” Weiler also acknowledged Nashville’s late pressure after the red card: “Yeah, it was tough. They pushed forward, Nashville played with a lot of pressure, and they immediately scored the first goal.” And on the dramatic ending: “At the end, with the last action, they were close to winning this game.” Despite the disappointment of conceding late, D.C. United extended its unbeaten streak to five matches. The result keeps the Black-and-Red in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 4-4-4 record and 16 points on the season. Historically, Nashville continues to hold the edge in the matchup. D.C. United now holds a 2-5-4 all-time regular-season record against Nashville SC and a 1-3-2 road record in Nashville during regular-season play. Looking ahead to the club’s upcoming midweek home match against Chicago, Weiler remained focused: “We prepare it how we always prepare the games, and then we try to get a good result at home.” Three Points Solid Run of Form: D.C. United extended its unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches, recording three draws and two wins during that stretch. Munteanu's can't stop scoring: Louis Munteanu scored his fourth goal of the season and has now found the back of the net in three straight matches. Kurokawa’s Consistency: Keisuke Kurokawa recorded his second assist of the season while adding three interceptions in 90 minutes played. Alongside goalkeeper Sean Johnson, Kurokawa remains one of only two D.C. United players to play every minute this season. Starting XIs Nashville SC (4-3-3) Schwake;Lovitz (Baker-Whiting 88'), Palacios (Woledzi 79'), Maher, Najar; Acosta (Brunet 62'), Corcoran, Muyl (Madrigal 63'); Mukhtar, Qasem (Pacius 88'), Espinoza Unused Substitutes: Willis, Mohammed, Bauer, Knight Head Coach: BJ Callaghan D.C. United (4-4-2) Johnson; Bartlett, Hefti, Kurokawa, Rowles;Peltola, Servania, Peglow,Stroud (Herrera 67'); Munteanu (Baribo 84'), Hopkins (Markovic 77') Unused Substitutes: Bono, Antley, Murrell, Clark, Turner, Kijima Head Coach: René Weiler Scoring Summary Nashville SC: Madrigal (76’) Madrigal (89’) — Assisted by Najar D.C. United Munteanu (25’) — Assisted by Hefti Bartlett (30’) — Assisted by Kurokawa Booking Summary Nashville SC: Mukhtar (37’) — Yellow Card Acosta (55’) — Yellow Card Palacios (72’) — Yellow Card D.C. United Hefti (45+3’) — Yellow Card Hefti (75’) — Second Yellow / Red Card D.C. United's forward, Munteanu, opened the score in the game. He now has 4 goals this season and it's the 2nd best team scorer behind Baribo.

Vancouver, Canadá — UEFA y Concacaf anunciaron la firma de un nuevo Memorando de Entendimiento (MoU) con el objetivo de impulsar el desarrollo y crecimiento del fútbol a largo plazo en ambas regiones. El acuerdo, firmado antes del 76.º Congreso de la FIFA, marca un paso importante en la colaboración internacional, reforzando valores compartidos como la inclusión, la integridad y la cohesión social a través del deporte. El presidente de UEFA, Aleksander Čeferin, destacó la diversidad cultural futbolística entre ambas regiones y la importancia de este vínculo:“Este Memorando refleja nuestra convicción de que, al conectar experiencias, podemos fortalecer el desarrollo, elevar los estándares y crear nuevas oportunidades en todo el fútbol”. Por su parte, el presidente de Concacaf y vicepresidente de FIFA, Victor Montagliani, subrayó el impacto global del acuerdo:“El fútbol alcanza su mejor versión cuando une a las personas y crea oportunidades. Esta alianza nos permitirá seguir elevando el nivel del juego en nuestras regiones”. Un acuerdo con impacto global El MoU establece una hoja de ruta amplia enfocada en el crecimiento integral del fútbol. Entre los puntos más destacados se encuentran: Desarrollo juvenil: Equipos masculinos y femeninos de Concacaf podrán participar en torneos juveniles de UEFA, fomentando competencia de alto nivel e intercambio cultural. Intercambio de conocimientos: Programas de observación en finales y torneos internacionales, además de conferencias y eventos conjuntos. Licencias de clubes: Fortalecimiento de estándares de gestión y regulación en línea con prácticas internacionales. Formación de entrenadores: Cooperación educativa y posible reconocimiento mutuo de licencias en el futuro. Desarrollo arbitral: Oportunidades para árbitros en torneos, cursos y programas técnicos en ambas confederaciones. Coordinación estratégica: Reuniones periódicas y reportes conjuntos para asegurar la implementación efectiva del acuerdo. Además, el programa UEFA Together jugará un papel clave en la implementación de proyectos a largo plazo entre asociaciones miembro. Mirando hacia el futuro El acuerdo estará vigente hasta el 30 de junio de 2031, proporcionando un marco flexible para el desarrollo de nuevas iniciativas conjuntas. Con esta alianza, UEFA y Concacaf refuerzan su visión compartida: utilizar el fútbol no solo como competencia, sino como una plataforma de educación, oportunidad y conexión global, con impacto dentro y fuera del terreno de juego.

MIAMI, FL - Aprovechando la última ventana internacional de la FIFA previa a la Copa del Mundo, Ecuador y Arabia Saudita se enfrentarán en el Sports Illustrated Stadium en Harrison, Nueva Jersey, el 30 de mayo a las 7:30 p. m. (ET). Ambos equipos están completamente enfocados en superar la fase de grupos este verano. El único enfrentamiento previo entre estas dos selecciones ocurrió en 2022 y terminó con un empate 0-0. Ecuador llegará al torneo tras finalizar en segundo lugar en las eliminatorias de CONMEBOL para la Copa del Mundo, por detrás del campeón vigente, Argentina. Esta será su quinta participación en el escenario mundial. Como integrante del Grupo E, se enfrentará a Costa de Marfil, Curazao y Alemania. Desde que asumió el cargo en 2024, el director técnico Sebastián Beccacece, junto con jóvenes talentos como Moisés Caicedo y Willian Pacho, buscará avanzar a la fase eliminatoria. Sorpresivamente, el director técnico Hervé Renard fue destituido de su cargo como entrenador a menos de un mes y días de que comience la Copa del Mundo. Una decisión que deja muchas incertidumbres, ya que el Mundial está a la vuelta de la esquina y los “Halcones Verdes” tendrán que encontrar un sustituto inmediatamente, ya que deben comenzar su preparación de cara al torneo. Todo indica que el entrenador griego de 56 años, Georgios Donis , actual entrenador del Al Khaleej, sera el elegido para comandar a los saudís en la gesta mundialista. En la última Copa del Mundo de Catar 2022, sorprendieron al mundo al derrotar al eventual campeón, Argentina, en la fase de grupos. Ubicados en el Grupo H, los “Halcones Verdes” se enfrentarán a Uruguay, España y Cabo Verde. La preventa de boletos para el partido entre Ecuador y Arabia Saudita en Sports Illustrated Stadium comenzará el martes 14 de abril a las 10:00 a. m. (ET). La venta general al público iniciará el jueves 16 de abril a las 10:00 a. m. (ET). Los boletos podrán adquirirse AQUÍ.