Tai Baribo scoring the lone goal of the match to give D.C. United their home opener win. Written by Denis Gomez Photo: Karla Canales Tai Baribo scored the lone goal that gave the Black-and-Red their first win of the season against his former team, as D.C. United defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0 in front of 18,003 fans. The striker celebrated passionately in front of the home supporters and later explained, “I always celebrate with passion because it’s not easy to score goals and I always thank God. I celebrated with our fans and I love the club.” Typically, when a player scores against a former club, they choose not to celebrate out of respect. On this night, however, the “Law of the Former Club” — the unwritten rule that a former player often finds the net against his old team — was in full effect, and Baribo made no apologies for embracing the moment. Baribo’s 23rd-minute finish, assisted by Peglow after a midfield steal, proved decisive. Earlier, D.C. had a goal disallowed in the ninth minute when Baribo found the net but was ruled offside. Philadelphia threatened in the 20th minute through Iloski, and Johnson was called into action a minute later, making a sharp save to preserve the clean sheet in his Black-and-Red debut. The first half belonged largely to D.C. United. They moved the ball efficiently, mixing diagonal switches and long balls to break Philadelphia’s high press. The tactical flexibility was intentional. “We have to vary, otherwise we are predictable. We want to be unpredictable. We played diagonal balls and long balls to open the game.”; Weiler explained in the post-match presser. The approach unsettled the Union’s defensive structure and created space in midfield, allowing Peglow to capitalize on a turnover that led to the match’s only goal. The Union’s uphill climb became steeper in the 58th minute when striker Alladoh was shown a red card in his MLS debut for directing an obscene gesture and language, per the pool report and postgame comments. Playing a man down, Philadelphia pushed for an equalizer, but D.C.’s defensive organization held firm. “Against a strong opponent like Philadelphia, you have to defend well — and we did. We didn’t give them a lot of chances”, Weiler emphasized. D.C.'s first season win highlighted a strong night for several debutants, as Johnson, Kurokawa, Louis Munteanu (70’), Hefti, Baribo, and Markovic (90’), and Nealis (90+3') all made their Black-and-Red debuts. The result snapped a poor recent stretch against Philadelphia, marking D.C.’s first win over the Union in nearly five years, dating back to a 3-1 victory on August 28, 2021. With the win, D.C. United gains early momentum and confidence in a rebuild season where making the Play-offs is a must, while Philadelphia will look to regroup in their midweek play against Trinis Defense Force in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Philadelphia has the 5-0 advantage and will look to seal the qualification for the quarter-finals at home on Thursday, February 26th. Three Points Law of the Ex strikes: Baribo punished his former club and celebrated it, delivering D.C.’s breakthrough moment. Johnson’s debut shutout: The goalkeeper made a key early save and commanded his box confidently in his first appearance in Black-and-Red. Discipline proves costly: Alladoh’s red card shifted the momentum and forced Philadelphia to chase the game with 10 men for over 30 minutes. Lineups D.C. United: Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett, Kurokawa; Servania, Peltola, Hopkins (Markovic 90’), Peglow, Pirani (Louis Munteanu 70’); Baribo (Nealis 90+3').Unused subs: Stroud, Antley, Nealis, Bono, Clack, Turner, Kijima Philadelphia Union: Blake (c); Larsen, Harriel, Makhanya, Sundstrom (Martinez 46’); Bueno (Anello 57’), Jean Jacques, Damiani (Korcienowski 79’), Iloski (Sullivan 70’), Vassilev (Bedoya 79’); Alladoh. Unused subs: Rafanello, Olivas, Rick Scoring Summary DCU – Tai Baribo (Peglow) 23’ Misconduct Summary PHI – Makhanya (caution) 41’PHI – Jesus Bueno (caution) 44’PHI – Alladoh (red card) 58’PHI – Sery (caution) 80’PHI – Jean Jacques (caution) 88’ DCU – Jackson (caution) 89’DCU – Peglow (caution) 90+4’ Peglow provided the assist

Tai Baribo recorded his first hat-trick as a Black-and-Red. His 3rd in his MLS career. Harrison, NJ — D.C. United traveled to Red Bull Arena for one of the league’s oldest rivalries against New York Red Bulls in the Atlantic Cup, delivering a dramatic 4-4 draw in a match packed with defensive mistakes and individual talent. New York came out dominant in front of their home crowd, asserting themselves early. In the 15th minute, forward Julian Hall opened the scoring with a composed finish from the center of the box, assisted by Ronald Donkor. Just minutes later, Donkor doubled the lead himself in the 21st minute, capitalizing on D.C.’s defensive vulnerability to make it 2-0. Despite the early setback, the Black-and-Red showed resilience. Tai Baribo pulled one back in the 37th minute, finishing clinically from the center of the box after a well-worked sequence involving Jackson Hopkins. The goal shifted momentum heading into halftime, with D.C. United trailing 2-1 but growing into the match. The second half exploded into life with even more attacking intensity. New York extended their lead in the 52nd minute through Ruvalcaba, restoring a two-goal cushion at 3-1. However, D.C. United responded immediately. Just two minutes later, Hopkins found the net, assisted by Peglow, allowing to get D.C. back in the game. Baribo then took center stage. The Israeli forward completed his brace in the 59th minute, finishing from the left side of the box off a precise Peglow through ball on the counterattack to level the match at 3-3. His movement and finishing proved a constant threat throughout the night. Ruvalcaba struck again in the 71st minute to give New York a 4-3 advantage, seemingly putting the hosts back in control. But D.C. United refused to back down. In the 80th minute, Baribo rose highest to head home from close range off a Silvan Hefti assist, completing his hat trick and sealing a hard-fought point for the visitors. There was late drama as Murrell appeared to score a potential winner in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out due to a foul on a Red Bulls defender, denying D.C. United a remarkable comeback victory. After the match, head coach Rene Weiler reflected on both the positives and the shortcomings: “The mentality was great. We came back in an away game. It was tough, today we score 4 goals but it's not enough to take home this win.” He also pointed to the defensive issues that continue to cost the team: “We conceded 4 goals, we gave them a lot of opportunities to score goals off the counterattack, we have to play better if we want to win a game like this.” On Jackson Hopkins’ performance: “I'm glad he scored his first goal of the season. I think it will give him a push. It's always good when forwards can score goals.” With the result, D.C. United moves to 2-4-3 on the season, sitting on nine points in the Eastern Conference standings as they continue to search for consistency on both ends of the pitch. Three Points Baribo’s Hattrick: Tai Baribo registered his first hat trick for D.C. United and the third of his MLS career, registering five shots and leading the attack with clinical finishing. Hopkins Progress: Jackson Hopkins recorded his first goal and assist of the 2026 season, playing a key role in D.C.’s attacking resurgence. Defensive Concerns Persist: Conceding four goals for the second time this month highlights ongoing defensive struggles, previously seen in the 4-0 loss against FC Dallas. Starting XI D.C. United (4-4-2): Johnson; Kurokawa, Rowles, Bartlett (C), Hefti; Peglow (Stroud 90+5’), Servania (Markovic 82’), Peltola (Clark 78’), Herrera; Baribo, Hopkins (Murrell 82’) Unused subs: Antley, Bono, Farr, Turner, Kijima New York Red Bulls (4-2-3-1): Horvath; Marshall-Rutty, Nealis, Voloder, Dos Santos (Bungi 47’); Donkor, Mehmeti (Berggren 66’); Forsberg; Mosquera (Sofo 66’), Hall; Ruvalcaba (Choupo-Moting 82’) Unused subs: Cowell, Mina, Parker, Benedetti, McCarthy Scoring Summary New York Red Bulls: Hall (15’) – Assisted by Donkor Donkor (22’) Ruvalcaba (53’) – Assisted by Forsberg Ruvalcaba (72’) – Assisted by Donkor D.C. United: Baribo (38’) – Assisted by Hopkins Hopkins (55’) – Assisted by Peglow Baribo (60’) – Assisted by Peglow Baribo (81’) – Assisted by Hefti Booking Summary New York Red Bulls: Mehmeti (51’) – yellow D.C. United: Markovic (87’) – yellow Clark (90+1’) – yellow The 24 year-old Brazilian midfielder, Peglow, provided 2 assists and has now 3 this season.

D.C. United's goalkeeper Sean Johnson, recorded 4 saves in the night and was the hero of his team to get a result away. This is his 3rd clean sheet of the season. Chester, PA —  D.C. United traveled to Subaru Park looking to grind out a result against the Philadelphia Union, but were held to a scoreless draw in a match where the hosts created the bulk of the chances yet couldn’t find a breakthrough. Philadelphia came out on the front foot, pressing early in search of their first home win. In the opening stages, Jesús Bueno unleashed a powerful strike that shook the left post, beating goalkeeper Sean Johnson but not the frame. The Union continued to test D.C.’s backline, and in the 25th minute, Iloski fired from outside the box, forcing a solid save from Johnson. As the first half progressed, the pressure mounted. Bueno remained a constant threat, and in the 40th minute, his effort was denied by a crucial sliding tackle from rookie defender Nikola Markovic. Just minutes later, Bruno Damiani nearly broke the deadlock with a one-touch effort off an overlapping service from Indiana Vassilev, but Johnson reacted quickly to keep it out. Damiani had another look shortly after but missed wide of the right post. The second half followed a similar script, with Philadelphia continuing to dictate the tempo. In the 51st minute, Markovic came up big again, producing a goal-line clearance after a dangerous delivery from Westfield to preserve the clean sheet. Despite limited attacking opportunities, D.C. nearly capitalized on one of their few chances when Aaron Herrera delivered a cross that forced Union goalkeeper Andre Blake to punch it out. Philadelphia pushed late for a winner, and Johnson was called into action once more in the 75th minute, making a composed save on another long-range effort from Iloski. His performance ultimately secured a point for the Black-and-Red. After the match, the D.C. United head coach, Rene Weiler, emphasized the team’s resilience despite ongoing struggles in front of goal: “Today I'm proud of the team. It was a tough game, but I saw togetherness. We have to bring this fighting spirit all the time on the field.” He also addressed the attacking concerns that continue to affect the squad: “I'm not surprised that we have not scored in four games. You can score with individuality, set pieces, wingers, or center midfielders, but we do not have many scorers in the team. We only have Baribo and Peltola. We have to try to help the team in the next transfer window.” With the result, D.C. United moves to 1-2-2 on the road and sits in 9th place in the Eastern Conference with 8 points. They will now turn their attention to Matchday 9 on Wednesday April 21st, where they travel to face the New York Red Bulls in search of a much-needed offensive spark. Meanwhile, Philadelphia Union, now in 13th place with 4 points, will look to build on their recent unbeaten run as they head to BMO Field to face Toronto F.C. Three Points Johnson the Brick Wall: Sean Johnson recorded his third clean sheet of the season, making four saves and anchoring a defensive effort that withstood 19 total shots from Philadelphia. Attack Still Searching: D.C. United managed just six shots, with only one on target, extending their scoreless streak to four consecutive league matches. The Rookie Steps Up: No. 1 overall MLS SuperDraft pick Nikola Markovic impressed in his first MLS start, tallying six headed clearances and 19 defensive contributions across 90 minutes. Starting XI D.C. United (4-4-2): Johnson; Bartlett (C), Hefti, Kurokawa, Rowles; Peltola, Markovic, Peglow (Clark 76’), Herrera; Baribo, Hopkins (Turner 76’) Unused subs: Antley, Bono, Stroud, Kijima, Murrell, Servania, Farr Philadelphia Union (4-2-3-1): Blake; Larsen, Harriel, Makhanya, Westfield; Lukic, Bueno (Jean Jacques 77’); Vassilev (Sullivan 65’), Iloski, Alladoh; Damiani Unused subs: Martinez, Bedoya, Rafanello, Bender, Ndinga, Jakupovic, Rick Scoring Summary Philadelphia Union:  None D.C. United:  None Booking Summary D.C. United: Tai Baribo (36’) - yellow João Peglow (38’) -yellow Nikola Markovic (61’) -yellow Philadelphia Union: None No. 1 Overall Selection in the MLS SuperDraft, Nikola Markovic, recorded his first MLS Start of his career, clearing 6 balls and contributing 19 times defensively.

USL League One team, One Knoxville, made history taking down MLS and Open Cup giants, D.C. United. They earned $50,000 as the highest-advancing team of the third division. Washington, D.C. — Three-time U.S. Open Cup champions D.C. United suffered a surprising elimination in the Round of 32, falling to Division III side One Knoxville in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 3–3 draw through extra time. D.C. United controlled large stretches of the match and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Matti Peltola opened the scoring with a powerful strike from outside the box, assisted by Servania, giving the Black-and-Red a deserved lead. However, the visitors responded with resilience. In the 75th minute, Diene capitalized on a rebound from Rodrigues’ shot, taking advantage of D.C. United's defensive passiveness. Just three minutes later, substitute Krioutchenkov made an instant impact, scoring only moments after entering the pitch to give One Knoxville a shocking 2–1 lead. Head coach René Weiler reacted with changes of his own, introducing defender Hefti, which proved decisive. In the 83rd minute, Hefti delivered a precise cross into the box that Markovic met with a stunning volley to equalize at 2–2 and force extra time. D.C. regained the advantage early in extra time in one of the most unusual plays of the night. Goalkeeper Alex Bono launched a long ball from his own half that found Peglow, who capitalized on a misread by goalkeeper Burke and calmly headed into an open net to make it 3–2 in the 97th minute. With momentum seemingly in their favor, D.C. United appeared poised to close out the match. A potential fourth goal was ruled offside, keeping One Knoxville within reach. The visitors took full advantage in the 113th minute, when Perkins delivered a perfectly weighted ball behind the defense, that Krioutchenkov chipped over Bono equalizing 3–3 and sent the match to penalties. In the shootout, One Knoxville held their composure. Substitute Linhares converted the decisive penalty after D.C.’s Gabriel Pirani missed the sixth attempt, sealing a historic upset and advancing the Division III side to the next round. Post-Match Reaction — René Weiler “We didn’t play with the same energy. They had much more mentality and fighting spirit. For me, it was a bad game with a bad result.” On conceding late after taking the lead: “Unbelievable how we played after this goal — so passive, and no one pushed the other forward.” Braudilio Rodrigues - One Knox Midfielder “We had the mentality to go and look for the second and the third goal. We suffered a lot, but we knew we were going to have our chances to score.” On the penalty shootout, the confidence within the squad remained strong: “The coach told us to trust in our work and our preparation for the penalty shootout.” Three Points Historic Upset: One Knoxville eliminated a three-time U.S. Open Cup champion, earning $50,000 as the highest-advancing Division III team and continuing their remarkable run. Goals Return: D.C. United scored three goals after going 270 minutes without scoring in league play, with Peltola, Markovic, and Peglow all finding the net. Bono’s Impactful Return: Alex Bono made his first start of the season, recording three saves and providing an assist in a standout individual performance. What’s Next D.C. United now shifts focus back to MLS play, where they will travel to Subaru Park to face the Philadelphia Union, who currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, One Knoxville will host Charlotte Independence as they look to carry momentum forward in both league and cup competitions. Starting XI D.C. United (4-2-3-1) : Bono; Antley (Hefti 82’), Markovic, Rowles, Kurokawa; Kijima (Stroud 46’), Hopkins (Servania 46’); Peglow, Peltola (C), Turner (Pirani 46’); Munteanu (Murrell 76’) Unused Subs: Farr, Avilez One Knoxville : Burke; Tiao (Fernandez 77’), McRobb, Skelton (C), Brown (Perkins 98’); Murphy (Cordova 62’), Caputo (Krioutchenkov 76’); Rodrigues, Goling, Gil (Conway 62’); Diene (Linhares 90’) Unused Subs: Garibay Scoring Summary D.C. United: Peltola (62’, assisted by Servania) Markovic (83’, assisted by Hefti) Peglow (97’, assisted by Bono) One Knoxville: Diene (75’) Krioutchenkov (78’, assisted by Brown) Krioutchenkov (113’, assisted by Perkins) Booking Summary D.C. United: Markovic (64’) One Knoxville: Fernandez (95’) Perkins (118’) The Black-and-Red goalkeeper, Alex Bono, had his first start of the 2026 season, recorded 1 assist and 3 saves.

Yusuf scored the goal winner at the 35th minute after a one-touch finish on the left side of Johnson. Foxborough, MA — D.C. United traveled to Gillette Stadium on Matchday 7 looking to respond after a difficult home loss to FC Dallas, but fell short in a tightly contested 1–0 defeat against the New England Revolution. D.C. came out aggressively, nearly finding an early breakthrough. Midfielder Matti Peltola won possession in midfield and unleashed a strike from outside the box that beat the goalkeeper but struck the post. Moments later, Aaron Herrera found himself in a promising position, though his effort drifted just wide of the left side of the goal. Despite D.C.’s early pressure, the Revolution remained compact and disciplined defensively. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Carles Gil delivered a long ball into the penalty area. Sands brought it down with his chest, setting up Turgeman, who cleverly laid it off for Yusuf to fire home with a one-touch finish, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead. The second half saw both sides create opportunities, but neither could convert. Goalkeepers Sean Johnson and Matt Turner stood tall, making key saves to keep the scoreline unchanged, while a few chances from both teams failed to hit the target. D.C. United pushed for an equalizer late, making attacking substitutions, but were unable to break through a well-organized New England backline, as the Revolution secured their second consecutive victory. Head coach René Weiler reflected on the missed opportunities and the team’s struggles in front of goal: “We were fighting for a good result to tie at least this game. We created chances, three clear chances, and we did not score. When you don't score goals then you can't win games. We've only scored 4 goals in 7 games and it is far away from enough. On Munteanu: I'm happy that he's back now. It was tough for himself because he was good against Miami, then injury and out for the next three weeks and now he's coming back again. That is not so easy. It was a difficult start for him but he was fighting. He had some good scenes but no clear goal chance to score. The first step is that he had another appearance today.” Attention now shifts to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Yesterday, the Revs advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Rhode Island FC in penalties (3–1) following a 1–1 draw. Meanwhile, D.C. United returns home to Audi Field to host One Knoxville in the Round of 32. Three Points History Against New England: D.C. United now holds a 37-38-16 all-time regular season record against the Revolution, including an 11-25-9 record on the road. Herrera’s First Start: Aaron Herrera made his first start of the 2026 season, recorded 90 mins, won 3 ground duels, and had a 100% accurate long balls. Revs Continue Positive Streak: New England extends their winning streak to two matches, following victories over CF Montréal and D.C. United. Starting XI D.C. United (4-4-2): Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett (C) (Murrell 88’), Rowles, Kurokawa; Herrera, Peltola, Servania (Turner 75’), Peglow; Pirani (Munteanu 61’), Hopkins (Clark 88’) Unused Subs:  Kijima, Markovic, Bono, Antley, Stroud New England Revolution (4-2-3-1): Turner; Feingold, Ceballos, Fofana, Sands; Raines, Yueill (Miller 61’ (Klein 90+1)); Langoni (Yow 74’), Gil, Yusuf; Turgeman Unused Subs:  Beason, Zambrano, Kohler, Parisian, Fagundez, Farrell Scoring Summary New England Revolution: Yusuf (36’, assisted by Turgeman) D.C. United: None Booking Summary New England Revolution: None D.C. United: None Guatemalan Midfielder Aaron Herrera recorded 90 mins on his first start of the 2026 season.

Thor’s brace helped secure the tie, bringing him to four goals in five games and into second place in the Golden Boot race Leesburg, VA — Loudoun United returned to Segra Field on a Friday evening looking to secure their first win of the USL Championship season, but ultimately settled for a hard-fought 3–3 draw against Louisville City FC in Matchweek 5. The match opened with high intensity, and Loudoun struck first in the 8th minute through Thor Ulfarsson, who delivered a magnificent finish after being set up by Aman to give the hosts a 1–0 lead. Louisville responded in the 20th minute when Dayes rose to meet a well-delivered corner from T. Davila, leveling the match at 1–1. The visitors quickly built momentum, taking the lead just six minutes later as Showumni’s shot deflected off defender Awuah and found the back of the net to make it 2–1. Just before halftime, Loudoun produced a moment of brilliance with a quick one-touch sequence. The captain, Murphy delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Ulfarsson, who calmly finished for his second goal of the night, sending the teams into the break tied 2–2. Loudoun carried that momentum into the second half and took control of possession. Their pressure paid off in the 61st minute from a set piece, as a well-placed corner from Dias found Murphy at the back post, who headed it across goal for Bolu Akinyode to finish and give Loudoun a 3–2 advantage. In the 72nd minute, Perez delivered a dangerous ball into the box that E. Davila met perfectly to equalize once again at 3–3. Loudoun pushed for a late winner and created several promising chances, but were unable to capitalize, settling for a point despite one of their strongest attacking performances of the season. After the match, Akinyode reflected on the team’s effort and growth. “It was a good performance from us. We battled and played good football at times,” Akinyode said. “We’ve been working on set pieces all week, I did my role, it’s a good feeling.” “We showed we can compete. If we play fearlessly, we will keep getting better as the season goes on.” Loudoun United will now travel to Connecticut on Saturday, April 18th at 7pm EST, to face Hartford Athletic at Trinity Health Stadium, while Louisville City returns home to take on Sporting JAX at Lynn Family Stadium (5pm EST). Three Points Still Searching for First Win:  Loudoun United remains winless in league play, now sitting 12th out of 13 teams in Group A, with a 0-1-3 home record and 0-0-1 away record. Ulfarsson in Golden Boot Race:  The 22-year-old Icelandic forward, Thor Ulfarsson, netted a brace and is now tied for second place in the Golden Boot race alongside Rubin, Moreno, and Bennet. Akinyode Milestone Goal:  In his 172nd USL Championship appearance, Bolu Akinyode scored his first goal of the 2026 season for Loudoun United. Starting XI Loudoun United (5-4-1): Beaudry; Niyongabire (Piras 66’), Adnan, Essengue, Awuah, Aman; Murphy, Akinyode, Santos (Panayotou 76’), Dias (Ordoñez 76’); Ulfarsson Unused Subs: Herrera, Bandre Louisville City (3-4-3): Fauroux; Dayes, Adams, Totsch; Dia (Morris 46’), Niang (Duncan 65’), T. Davila, Gleadle (Perez 46’); E. Davila (Serrano 87’), Showumni, Wilson (Donovan 65’) Unused Subs: Akale, Moguel, Faundez Scoring Summary Loudoun United: Ulfarsson (8’, assisted by Aman) Ulfarsson (45’, assisted by Murphy) Akinyode (61’, assisted by Murphy) Louisville City: Dayes (20’, assisted by T. Davila) Showumni (26’) E. Davila (72’, assisted by Perez) Misconduct Summary Loudoun United: None Louisville City: Niang (yellow) 44’ E. Davila (yellow) 48’ Richie Aman, currently on loan from D.C. United, assisted in the first goal. His second of the season.

Munteanu and Herrera entered the match early in the second half to boost D.C. United's attack, but could not produce a goal scoring opportunity. Washington, D.C.  — D.C. United returned to Audi Field looking to build on a two-game unbeaten run, but instead suffered a humbling 4–0 defeat against FC Dallas in front of 19,215 home fans. Dallas dominated early on, proving to be the efficient side across both halves. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when a midfield turnover allowed Dallas to capitalize, Ramiro threaded a pass behind the D.C. backline, and Farrington calmly finished past goalkeeper Sean Johnson to make it 1–0. The visitors doubled their advantage just before halftime, as Patrickson Delgado delivered a well-placed free kick in stoppage time that left Johnson with no chance, sending D.C. into the break down 2–0. D.C. United showed brief signs of life early in the second half, sparked by the introduction of Aaron Herrera and Munteanu, but the momentum shift was short-lived. Dallas continued to control the match and extended their lead in the 79th minute when Urhoghide finished off a precise delivery from Valiente. The thrashing was completed in stoppage time as Peter Musa, emerging as a Golden Boot contender, tapped a rebound after a saved shot to make it 4–0 and cap off a dominant performance for Dallas. Head coach René Weiler did not hold back in his postmatch assessment. “Difficult to find the right words, some players quit in the last 15–20 minutes. We went back to old times. Unbelievable. F.C. Dallas was very efficient. We were unlucky with the free kick to end the half,” Weiler said. Midfielder Brandon Servania echoed similar frustrations, pointing to deeper concerns within the team’s mentality. “We lost intensity and fight in certain moments. It was kind of the culture from last year that we wanted to kill and end, and did not want to bring back this year. It was lingering around in this game and we want to cut that out. Hopefully we don’t see it again for the rest of the year.” Historically, D.C. United now falls to 17-24-8 all-time against FC Dallas in regular season play, though they still hold a 10-8-5 record at home in the matchup. D.C. United will look to respond next weekend on the road against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, while FC Dallas returns home to face St. Louis City SC at Toyota Stadium. Three Points Home Struggles Continue: D.C. United dropped to 1-2-0 at home this season in their return to Audi Field, their first match there since February 21. Herrera’s Season Debut: Defender Aaron Herrera made his first appearance of the 2026 campaign, coming on in the 61st minute and contributing one chance created along with a yellow card. Golden Boot Race Update: With his goal, Peter Musa moves into a tie for first place in the MLS Golden Boot race with seven goals, alongside Sam Surridge. Starting XI D.C. United (4-4-2): Johnson; Bartlett (C), Hefti, Kurokawa, Nealis (Herrera 61’); Peltola, Servania (Stroud 82’), Peglow; Baribo (Murrell 75’), Pirani (Clark 83’), Hopkins (Munteanu 62’) FC Dallas (4-4-2): Collodi; Urhoghide, Moore, Ibeagha, Norris (Valiente 72’); Ramiro (C) (Sarver 86’), Ferreira (Binyamin 86’), Delgado (Cappis 68’); Musa, Farrington (Moreno 86’), Kamungo Scoring Summary FC Dallas : Farrington (17’) Delgado (45+1’) Urhoghide (79’) Musa (90+1’) D.C. United : None Misconduct Summary D.C. United: Bartlett (yellow) 45’ Herrera (yellow) 84’ FC Dallas: Norris (yellow) 68’ Musa scored the last goal to complete the 4-0 thrashing and reach 7 goals this season, a top-contender for the Golden Boot.

25 year-old, Brazilian Forward, Lucca Dourado delivered the game winner for the Kickers at the death (90+6') Richmond, VA —  The Richmond Kickers advanced to the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over in-state rivals Loudoun United FC on Wednesday night at City Stadium. In a contested cup match, both sides displayed strong defensive organization and allowed few chance creations. Richmond proved slightly more dangerous in the first half, generating several opportunities but failing to convert. Joshua Kirkland came close in the 17th minute, sending a left-footed effort just wide of the target. Honduran forward Darwin Espinal was also active, narrowly missing from distance in the 27th minute before forcing a save from Loudoun goalkeeper Ethan Bandré with a low strike toward the bottom corner. Late in the half, Mujeeb Murana saw his shot blocked inside the box after a buildup involving Tarik Pannholzer. Loudoun United struggled to create consistent danger, with Elvis Amoh sending attempts off target and Pedro Santos coming closest on a direct free kick that sailed just over the bar. The match remained level into the second half, with both teams searching for a breakthrough that would avoid extra time. That moment finally arrived in stoppage time after super-sub, Brazilian Lucca Dourado delivered the decisive strike in the 90+6th minute, finishing a well-worked sequence with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner. The play began with Hayden Anderson advancing down the left flank before finding Pannholzer, whose delivery set up Dourado for the late winner. Loudoun had one final opportunity to equalize moments later, earning a free kick at the top of the box in the 91st minute. However, the attempt struck the wall, and the follow-up effort was saved by Richmond goalkeeper Yan Fillion, preserving the clean sheet. Richmond head coach Darren Sawatzky praised his team’s determination after the match. “I’m happy for them. The resilience of the guys that fought through injury and illness. The guys really needed that,” Sawatzky said. “They earned it.” With the result, the Kickers secured an upset victory over a higher-division opponent and improved their all-time U.S. Open Cup record at City Stadium to 31-9-2. Three Points Cupset : The Richmond Kickers, representing USL League One, defeated USL Championship side Loudoun United, improving their U.S. Open Cup record against their in-state rivals. Fillion Clean Sheet: Goalkeeper Yan Fillion recorded two saves and his second consecutive clean sheet in this year’s tournament, following a shutout victory in the opening round. Historic and Clinical Home Form: Richmond continues to be dominant at City Stadium in Open Cup play, boasting a 31-9-2 all-time record at home. Starting XI Richmond Kickers: Fillion; Barnathan, Anderson, Layton, Sasankhah; Kirkland (Johnson 90+1’), Pannholzer, O’Malley (Amer 82’); Espinal (Dourado 70’), Vinberg, Murana Loudoun United FC: Bandré; Adnan (Panayotou 90+7’), Essengue, Akinyode, Niyongabire (Piras 45’); Young (Dias 66’), Murphy (C), Robinson (Awuah 66’); Pedro Santos, Ordoñez, Amoh (Ulfarsson 66’) Scoring Summary Richmond Kickers: Dourado 90+6’ Loudoun United FC: None Misconduct Summary Richmond Kickers: Sasankhah (yellow) 84’ Pannholzer (yellow) 90+2’ Fillion (yellow) 90+8’ Loudoun United FC: Dias (yellow) 86’ Next Match in League and Open Cup In USL 1, the Kickers will travel to the state of Washington to face Spokane Velocity at 9:30pm EST. In USL Championship, Loudoun will host Birmingham Legion in Segra Field at 5:00pm EST. In the Open Cup, The Richmond Kickers will host MLS side Columbus Crew in the Round of 32. Kickoff details will be announced at a later date. A very disputed game between Loudoun and Richmond.

Richmond Kickers defeated NoVa FC in the 1st Round, with goals from Kirkland and Dourado. The stage is set at City Stadium as the Richmond Kickers (USL1 -3rd Division) prepare to host Loudoun United FC (USL Championship -2nd Division) in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with gates opening an hour earlier at 5:30 p.m. Richmond, the only outside active professional club out of Major League Soccer to win the Cup in 1995,enters the matchup riding momentum after a composed 2-0 victory over NoVa FC in First Round action. Striker Josh Kirkland opened the scoring, while Lucca Dourado added a second to seal the result and send the Kickers through. The win improved Richmond’s all-time Open Cup record to an impressive 30-9-2, reinforcing their reputation as one of the competition’s most historic lower-division sides. Loudoun United FC arrives in Richmond after earning a hard-fought 2-1 road victory over West Chester United SC in the First Round on March 17. Competing in the USL Championship, Loudoun presents a significant test for the Kickers, blending physicality with a higher level of competition. The Open Cup, now in its 111th edition, remains one of the most inclusive tournaments in international and North American soccer. Organized by U.S. Soccer, the competition brings together professional and amateur teams in a single-elimination format, offering a rare chance for underdogs to challenge top-tier opposition. The stakes extend beyond simply advancing. The winner of this Second Round matchup will move one step closer to joining sides like D.C. United—three-time Open Cup champions (1996, 2008, 2013)—who enter the tournament in later rounds. Ultimately, 80 teams will battle across seven rounds for the Dewar Challenge Trophy, a $1 million prize, and a coveted berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. With momentum on their side and history in their corner, the Richmond Kickers will aim to defend home turf and continue their Open Cup journey. Meanwhile, Loudoun United will look to surprise a historic Kickers side. 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule First Round: March 17–19 Second Round: March 31–April 1 Round of 32: April 14–15 Round of 16: April 28–29 Quarterfinals: May 19–20 Semifinals: September 15–16 Final: October 21 Tickets for Wednesday’s match are available now here .

Brandon Servania almost delivers the game-winner after a magnificent shot from outside the box, that hit the upper side of the crossbar. Atlanta, GA —  D.C. United traveled to Mercedes-Benz Stadium looking to extend their unbeaten run on the road against Atlanta United, and while they came close to leaving with all three points, they ultimately settled for a hard-fought 0–0 draw. Atlanta controlled much of the ball throughout the match, finishing with 65% possession compared to D.C. United’s 35%. However, the Black-and-Red remained disciplined defensively and executed their game plan effectively, limiting clear-cut chances. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson played a crucial role in preserving the clean sheet—his second of the season—making three saves on three shots on target. He denied Cooper Sánchez in the 13th minute before coming up big again against Matías Galarza in the 16th and 47th minutes. Head coach René Weiler acknowledged the team’s defensive focus while emphasizing areas for growth. “It’s a little bit more complicated for the opponents to create any chances,” Weiler said. “We are not in the situation to dominate our opponents and first of all we have to defend well. I prefer to see a little bit more actions offensively. Maybe that is the next step we try to do.” While D.C. United spent much of the match without the ball, they nearly delivered a late surprise. In the 83rd minute, substitute Caden Clark unleashed a strike from outside the box that beat the goalkeeper but rattled off the right post, deflecting off Atlanta’s Hoyos and out for a corner. Just two minutes later, Brandon Servania struck the crossbar, capping a strong late push that nearly turned one point into three. Weiler pointed to missed opportunities in possession but remained satisfied with the result. “We should have been a little bit more precise in the first half and not lose the ball too fast. We have to try and play more cleanly,” he said. “I do not like to complain because we got this good result in an away game.” The late substitutions provided a noticeable spark, nearly helping D.C. snatch a last-minute winner. “They came in with fresh legs and we created these chances,” Weiler added. “We were closer to the winning goal at the end". Ultimately, despite Atlanta’s dominance in possession, it was D.C. United who looked more dangerous in the closing stages, walking away with a valuable road point and extending their unbeaten run. Three Points Defensive Discipline: D.C. United held Atlanta scoreless despite facing sustained possession and recording their second clean sheet of the season. Turner’s Season Debut: Midfielder Gavin Turner, 23rd homegrown signing for D.C., made his first appearance of the 2026 campaign, coming off the bench in the 78th minute for Jackson Hopkins and logging 12 minutes. Positive Results on the Road: For the second consecutive away match, D.C. United earned a positive result while holding 35% or less possession. They now sit at 1-1-1 on the road, collecting 4 out of a possible 9 points. Starting XI D.C. United (4-2-3-1): Johnson; Hefti, Bartlett (C), Rowles, Kurokawa; Hopkins (Turner 79’), Peltola; Servania (Nealis 90’), Pirani (Kijima 79’), Peglow (Clark 68’); Baribo Atlanta United (4-3-3): Hoyos; Jacob, Gregersen, Mihaj, Baez (Amador 89’); Sánchez (Alzate 66’), Muyumba, Galarza (Lobzhanidze 75’); Miranchuk (Picault 89’), Latte Lath, Almirón Scoring Summary D.C. United: None Atlanta United: None Misconduct Summary Atlanta United: Muyumba (yellow) 61’ D.C. United: Bartlett (yellow) 70’ Gavin Turner, 23rd homegrown signing for D.C., made his first 2026 appearance, recording 12 minutes.

Bueno scored his first goal for Philadelphia Union in his 100th appearance in all comps. The Philadelphia Union traveled to Mexico City for the decisive second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, facing Club América at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, with the historic Estadio Azteca unavailable due to renovations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Philadelphia entered the match needing a 1–0 victory to force extra time or any higher-margin win to advance via the away goals rule. Already trailing on aggregate, the margin for error was minimal against one of the region’s most dominant clubs. Union head coach Bradley Carnell reflected on the early setback and his team’s response after the match. “The mission was to get to half at zeros. Unfortunately, we conceded very early, and the result could have gone another way. I’m proud of the boys because they dug deep. We shifted the game in the second half—we went into second gear—and I am really proud of the push.” Club América wasted little time asserting control. Brazilian midfielder Dourado opened the scoring in the 7th minute, giving the early lead to the locals and extending the aggregate advantage to 2–0 and immediately putting Philadelphia under pressure. The Union struggled to generate attacking rhythm in the first half, with their clearest opportunity coming late when Korzeniowski failed to capitalize on a promising chance. América nearly doubled its lead on multiple occasions. A second goal was ruled out for offside, and a penalty initially awarded by referee Saíd Martínez was overturned following a VAR review—keeping the deficit within reach heading into halftime. Second-Half Response Falls Short Philadelphia emerged with renewed urgency after the break and found a lifeline in the 50th minute. Midfielder Jesús Bueno calmly converted from the penalty spot, cutting the aggregate deficit and reigniting hope for the visitors. The Union pressed forward in search of the crucial second goal. One of their best chances came when 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan delivered a cross to Nathan Harriel, but the defender was unable to keep his effort on target. Carnell also highlighted the club’s commitment to youth development following bold substitutions involving teenage talents. “Fresh legs—it is a statement for us to start a 16-year-old and bring a 16-year-old on. Malik is made for goal-scoring moments; he just could not get the right contact on the chance we carved for him. It shows what we stand for as a club on the development side. We brought a spark off the bench. Cavan had an excellent game.” Despite a spirited second-half push, Philadelphia could not find the equalizer needed to swing the tie, and their continental run came to an end. In the end, experience and efficiency once again proved decisive for Las Águilas. Three Points América’s Home Dominance Continues : Club América has now advanced in 15 of 16 Concacaf Champions Cup series when closing at home since the format change in 2008, reinforcing their reputation as one of the region’s most formidable sides. History Still Favors América : Philadelphia falls to 0-3-1 all-time against the Mexican giants but did manage to score its first-ever goal against the club, while ending a three-match scoreless run against Liga MX opposition in the competition. Milestone Moment for Bueno : Jesús Bueno made his 100th appearance for Philadelphia across all competitions, marking the occasion with his first goal for the club—also his first successful penalty (excluding shootouts). Starting XI Philadelphia Union (4-2-3-1): Rick; Sery (Ndinga 82’), Makhanya, Martinez (Westfield 47’), Harriel; Sullivan (Jean Jacques 64’), Lukic; Iloski, Bueno, Vassilev (Jakupovic 73’); Korzeniowski (Damiani 47’) Club América (4-1-3-2): Cota; Mejía, Reyes, Cáceres (Juárez 47’), Borja; Dourado; Zendejas (Espinosa 73’), Sánchez, Rodríguez (Lima 72’); Veiga (Dos Santos 86’), Salas (Zúñiga 72’) Scoring Summary Club América: Dourado — 7’ Philadelphia Union: Bueno (PK) — 50’ Booking Summary Club América: Cáceres (yellow)— 30’ Philadelphia Union: Ndinga (yellow) — 84’ What’s Next With the result, Club América advances to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, continuing its stronghold over MLS opposition. For Philadelphia, the focus now shifts back to domestic play, where signs of growth—particularly in the second-half performances and integration of young talent—offer encouragement despite the elimination. Dourado scored the goal that ended up giving America the victory over the Union and the qualification to the quarter-finals.

Tai Baribo scored his third goal of the season to secure the 2-1 victory over Chicago Fire. Earlier in the game he had a disallowed goal. Chicago, IL —  On a chilly and windy night at Soldier Field, D.C. United traveled to face Chicago Fire FC hoping to snap a two-game losing streak, while the hosts aimed to extend their unbeaten run after shutout victories against CF Montréal and Columbus Crew. In a dramatic match filled with VAR reviews, extended stoppage time, and late goals, the Black-and-Red rallied to secure a 2–1 comeback victory , thanks to goals from Matti Peltola and Tai Baribo. The two sides entered the contest with a long-standing rivalry, having met 73 times in regular-season play , with D.C. United holding a slight advantage with 27 wins to Chicago’s 24, alongside 22 draws. Despite the scoreless first half, D.C. United created the better opportunities. Head coach René Weiler felt his side was close to taking the lead early. “I had the feeling that we had the better chances in the first half to score and open the score ourselves,” Weiler said after the match. Baribo threatened Chicago’s defense in the 18th and 21st minutes , and the striker thought he had broken the deadlock shortly afterward. However, the goal was disallowed after Jackson Hopkins was ruled offside while blocking the view of goalkeeper Chris Brady. The half ended with the teams still level despite D.C.’s attacking intent. Fire Strike First D.C. United began the second half with greater control of possession and continued to search for the opener. João Peglow forced a save in the 63rd minute , and just three minutes later Gabriel Pirani narrowly missed a clear scoring opportunity. Chicago eventually capitalized on a pivotal moment. In the 81st minute , Hopkins was penalized for an involuntary handball inside the penalty area. Hugo Cuypers stepped up and calmly converted the penalty with a strong shot down the middle, giving Chicago a 1–0 lead . D.C.’s Comeback The Black-and-Red responded quickly. After a weak defensive clearance in the 84th minute , Peltola struck a shot that deflected off Chicago defender Mbokazi and into the net, leveling the match at 1–1 . Weiler praised the midfielder’s development and importance to the team. “He stepped forward definitely,” Weiler said. “For young players, for newcomers, it’s not easy to come to a new country with a new culture and system, but now he’s a very important player for our team.” What followed was a chaotic ending. In the 90th minute , D.C. United was awarded a penalty after the ball struck the extended arm of Chicago defender Dean following a delivery into the area from Peltola. The decision required a lengthy VAR review. With 18 minutes of stoppage time  eventually added, Baribo stepped up and converted the penalty in the 90+5th minute , sealing a dramatic comeback victory. Weiler also highlighted the striker’s composure in the moment. “He took the responsibility with the penalty kick,” the coach said. “He already scored in the first half but the goal was canceled, and now he has three goals in four games. That’s a very great number for a striker.” Strong Team Performance Beyond the goals, Weiler emphasized the collective effort his team showed against a Chicago side known for playing quickly into the attacking third. “We played well against the strengths of Chicago,” Weiler said. “They want to play immediately in the final zone, but we defended very well.” He added that the performance reflected the team’s mentality in tight MLS matches. “They did it all together with the ball and without the ball. That is how we have to play because all games are tight, and that’s how we try to win points.” Three Points Back to Winning Ways :  D.C. United snapped their two-game losing streak and recorded their 28th victory against Chicago  in 74 all-time meetings, avenging last season’s 7–1 defeat at Audi Field on June 7, 2025 . Baribo’s Strong Start :  With the game-winning penalty, Baribo reached three goals in four matches , climbing the early Golden Boot standings behind Petar Musa of FC Dallas, who leads with five and Fernandez, Surridge, and Klaus with 4. First Road Win of 2026:  The victory marked D.C. United’s first away win of the 2026 MLS season  and their first road victory since defeating New York City FC on August 30, 2025. Starting XI D.C. United (4-4-2): Johnson; Kurokawa, Bartlett (C), Rowles, Hefti; Hopkins, Peltola, Servania (Nealis 90+6’), Peglow (Murrell 88’); Pirani (Clark 79’), Baribo Chicago Fire FC (4-3-3) : Brady; Barrozo (Borso 90+6’), Elliot (Waterman), Mbokazi, Dean (Radojevic 90+6’); Saletros, D’Avilla (Pineda 66’), Zinckernagel; Lod (Haile-Selassie 66’), Cuypers, Bamba Scoring Summary Chicago Fire FC : Cuypers 81’ (PK) D.C. United : Peltola 84’ Baribo 90+6’ (PK) Misconduct Summary Chicago Fire FC : Zinckernagel (yellow) 25’ Elliot (yellow) 56’ D’Avilla (yellow) 65' D.C. United: Hopkins (yellow) 35' Peltola scored his first ever goal with the Black-and-Red. Additionally, he recorded seven recoveries and three interceptions.