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.

Written by Denis Gomez Louis Munteanu brace helped secure the Black-and-Red second away win in this campaign. He registers 3 goals so far this season. Queens, NY — D.C. United traveled to Queens, New York, to face New York City FC looking to build momentum after a comeback home win 3-2 over Orlando City SC. The hosts entered the match following a 1-0 loss to CF Montréal but carried confidence from a 3-1 U.S. Open Cup victory over rivals New York Red Bulls. From the opening whistle, D.C. United showed discipline and structure, aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to four matches, which they delivered with a determined 2-0 road victory. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Romanian forward Louis Munteanu found himself in the right place at the right time. The striker finished a close-range opportunity with a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner, giving the Black-and-Red a deserved lead. New York City FC responded with attempts from Nicolás Fernández, who tested goalkeeper Sean Johnson multiple times. In the 38th minute, Fernández unleashed a left-footed effort from outside the box that Johnson tipped away brilliantly into the top-left corner. Fernández remained a threat in the second half, but Johnson continued to stand tall, including another save in the 58th minute to preserve the lead. The defining moment arrived in the 73rd minute when Keaton Parks, who had just entered the match, conceded a penalty after a foul inside the area. Two minutes later, Munteanu stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, sending his right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to secure his brace and double D.C.’s advantage. Late in stoppage time, NYCFC pushed for a consolation goal, but Johnson denied Kai Trewin’s header with a sharp save to the top-right corner, sealing the clean sheet and all three points for the visitors. With the result, D.C. United improves its road record against NYCFC to 3-8-2 in regular-season play and captures its second away win of the 2026 campaign. After the match, head coach René Weiler emphasized the team’s collective effort: “It’s the togetherness , how the team helped each other, how they defended our own goal. It’s a team target.” On Munteanu’s performance: “He did a good job, he is better than when he arrived. Strikers live off goals and assists. He scored last game and scored two this game. It gives him the confidence and the boost and it's important for him. I’m happy for him.” On the team’s balance offensively and defensively: “Perfect balance. We scored two goals and had a clean sheet. We can't copy and paste these performances. It was the right balance in this game.” D.C. United now turns its attention to a road clash against Nashville SC on Saturday, May 9th. Meanwhile, NYCFC will host Columbus Crew on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Three Points Unbeaten Run Continues: The Black-and-Red extend their winning streak to two games and unbeaten run to four, continuing their climb in form. Munteanu’s Momentum: Louis Munteanu scored twice (29’, 75’ PK), marking his second consecutive game with a goal. He recorded three shots on target from five total attempts in 78 minutes. Johnson’s Wall: Goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded his fourth clean sheet of the 2026 season, making four saves. Starting XIs New York City FC (4-3-3): Matt Freese; Nico Cavallo, Thiago Martins, Strahinja Tanasijevic (Keaton Parks 63'), Raul Gustavo (Jonathan Shore 81'), Kai Trewin, Maxi Moralez, Aiden O'Neill (Andres Perea 36'), Nicolas Fernandez, Malachi Jones (Hannes Wolf 63'), Agustin Ojeda (Seymour Reid 81') Unused Substitutes: Maximo Carrizo, Tomas Romero, Arnau Farnos Head Coach: Pascal Jansen D.C. United: Sean Johnson; Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles; Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania, Joao Peglow (Conner Antley 89'), Jared Stroud (Aaron Herrera 60'); Louis Munteanu (Jacob Murrell 78'), Jackson Hopkins (Nikola Markovic 60') Unused Substitutes: Jordan Farr, Alex Bono, Caden Clark, Gavin Turner, Hosei Kijima Head Coach: René Weiler Scoring Summary New York City FC: None D.C. United: Munteanu (29’) Munteanu (75’) (PK) Booking Summary New York City FC: Fernández (80’) D.C. United: Kurokawa (26’) Hefti (45’+3’) Peglow (70’) Murrell (90’+3’) Goalkeeper Johnson made 4 crucial saves and earned his 4th clean sheet this season. D.C. United is on a 4-game unbeaten streak and 2-game winning streak.

The decisive moment, where Kai Rowles had a tap-in header at the death of regular time. First Black-and-Red goal for the Australian defender. Written by Denis Gomez Photos by Karla Canales Washington, D.C. — D.C. United returned to Audi Field in search of their first home win since February 21 and delivered a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Orlando City SC. The Black-and-Red started on the front foot and struck early in the 10th minute. Homegrown midfielder Jackson Hopkins had finnesse shot from outside the box with his left foot, that found the back of the net, assisted by Kurokawa. D.C. United maintained pressure throughout the first half and it seemed like they dominated the visitors, but Orlando City responded after the break. Justin Ellis equalized in the 57th minute before Tyrese Spicer gave the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute, assisted by Adrián Marín. The momentum had shifted, and Orlando looked poised to leave the capital with all three points. However, D.C. United showed grit and determination down the stretch. The breakthrough came in the 84th minute when forward Louis Munteanu scored his first goal for the club, finishing a chance created by Nikola Markovic to level the match at 2-2. Just minutes later, defender Kye Rowles completed the comeback in the 90th minute, rising to the moment with a decisive header tap to put it in the back of the net and complete the comeback, also assisted by Markovic, to seal a 3-2 victory. D.C. United is now 10-9-3 in all-time regular season series against Orlando City SC. After the match, head coach René Weiler highlighted the importance of the result: “Happy for the team because they're building confidence, which is important, by having good results; winning games.” D.C. United will now look ahead to their next challenge on Sunday, May 3, when they travel to face New York City FC at Citi Field, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Orlando City turns its attention to U.S. Open Cup action against the New England Revolution in Rhode Island. Three Points Munteanu Scores His First One: Romanian forward Louis Munteanu scored his first goal for the Black-and-Red, a significant moment following his record transfer fee reportedly worth up to $10 million. Kurokawa’s Creative Impact: Japanese defender Keisuke Kurokawa registered his first MLS assist, adding seven passes into the final third and five recoveries in a strong all-around performance. Keisuke alongside Sean Johnson are the only 2 players to have played every minute across all 10 matches. Rowles the Hero: Australian defender Kye Rowles scored his first goal of the season in the 90th minute, finishing with ten defensive contributions in a standout display. He had previously scored in the last pre-season game against St. Louis. Starting XI D.C. United (4-4-2): Sean Johnson; Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti (Nikola Markovic 77’), Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles; Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania, João Peglow (Conner Antley 90+5’); Aaron Herrera (Jared Stroud 46’); Louis Munteanu, Jackson Hopkins (Jacob Murrell 77’) Unused substitutes: Alex Bono, Jordan Farr, Hosei Kijima, Gavin Turner, Caden Clark Head Coach: René Weiler Orlando City SC (4-4-2): Maxime Crépeau; Adrián Marín, Robin Jansson, Zakaria Taifi (Griffin Dorsey 46’), Iago Teodoro; Luis Otávio (Wilder Cartagena 88’), Braian Ojeda, Martín Ojeda, Tiago Souza (Tyrese Spicer 61’); Justin Ellis (Tahir Reid-Brown 82’), Iván Angulo Unused substitutes: Javier Otero, Nolan Miller, Harvey Sarajian, Colin Guske, Bernardo Rhein Head Coach: Martín Perelman Scoring Summary D.C. United: Hopkins (10’) – Assisted by Kurokawa Munteanu (84’) – Assisted by Markovic Rowles (90’) – Assisted by Markovic Orlando City SC: Ellis (57’) Spicer (67’) – Assisted by Marín Booking Summary D.C. United: Bartlett (21’) – yellow Munteanu (75’) – yellow Stroud (90+2’) – yellow Kurokawa (90+4’) – yellow Orlando City SC: Teodoro (4’) – yellow Cartagena (90+8’) – yellow Romanian DP Forward , Munteanu, scored his first goal for the Black-and-Red at the 84th minute.

Forward Ramirez scored the game-winner on his Verde-and-Black debut in the 82nd minute. The Black-and-Red entered the contest riding positive momentum after a 1–0 victory over the Philadelphia Union, aiming to secure their first-ever win against Austin. However, the Verde-and-Black once again proved to be a difficult matchup, extending their flawless head-to-head record over D.C. United. Austin capitalized late, earning a hard-fought 1–0 victory in a tightly contested affair where margins were razor-thin and set pieces ultimately made the difference. Tactical Adjustments and a Physical Battle Head coach Renew Weiler made two changes to his starting XI from the previous outing, inserting Jared Stroud and Hosei Kijima on the wings, while Gabriel Pirani and Jackson Hopkins began on the bench. “It was the plan to start with two other players (Kijima and Stroud) that we have, strong players from the bench that can help during games,” Weiler explained post-match. From kickoff, the match developed into a physical, highly competitive battle in midfield. Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in open play, with defensive organization and pressing dictating the rhythm. D.C. looked compact defensively, limiting space between the lines, while Austin patiently circulated possession searching for openings. The Decisive Moment The breakthrough came in the 82nd minute — and it arrived through a substitute. Christian Ramirez, who entered in the 68th minute, made the difference. Following a set piece, goalkeeper Sean Johnson came off his line attempting to punch the ball clear but failed to fully deal with the delivery. A scramble ensued inside the six-yard box, with multiple deflections and blocked attempts before the ball dropped invitingly in the small area. Ramirez reacted quickest, rising to head the ball toward goal. Defender Kurokawa nearly cleared it off the line, but the effort crossed fully, sealing the lone goal of the night. “It was a tough game, very tight. This time the decisive goal was not for us. It wasn’t enough for at least one point. A set piece, one of their qualities, decided this game.” Three Points Perfect Record Continues: Austin FC now holds a perfect 4-0-0 record against D.C. United in all head-to-head meetings. Super Sub Impact: Christian Ramirez, who recently joined Austin from the LA Galaxy on February 27, delivered the winning goal. Notably, he had already featured earlier this season for LA Galaxy in Concacaf Champions Cup action against Sporting San Miguelito before completing his move. What’s Next: Austin travels to face Charlotte FC in North Carolina, while D.C. United prepares to host the defending MLS champions, Inter Miami CF, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Starting XI D.C. United Johnson; Rowles, Bartlett (C), Hefti, Kurokawa; Kijima (Pirani 46’), Servania (Markovic 90’), Peltola; Stroud (Hopkins 46’), Peglow (Munteanu 77’), Baribo Austin FC Stuver; Gallagher, Svatok, Hines-Ike, Biro; Illie (C) (Sabovic 68’), Pereira; Rosales (Fodrey 78’), Torres (Bell 90’), Nelson (Ramirez 68’); Uzuni Scoring Summary Austin FC: Ramirez 82’ Misconduct Summary D.C. United Stroud (12’) Kurokawa (90+3’) Pirani (90+6’) Austin FC Torres (29’) Pereira (79’) Sabovic (87’) Despite showing defensive resilience for much of the match, D.C. United’s inability to capitalize on limited opportunities and a costly late sequence ultimately extended Austin’s dominance in the series. For the Black-and-Red, the focus now shifts to regrouping quickly ahead of a tough matchup against the reigning MLS Cup holders who just defeated Orlando City in Orlando. Svatok and the Austin F.C. defense were able to contain the D.C. United attack

Tai Baribo scored the only goal for the Black-and-Red and his second of the season. Baltimore, MD - The Black-and-Red entered the contest looking to build momentum in front of a home record crowd of 72,026 fans at M&T Stadium in Baltimore, facing the defending MLS champions Inter Miami CF in a tough battle featuring one of the best players to ever play the beautiful game; Lionel Messi. Inter Miami’s attacking quality proved decisive early, as the visitors delivered a clinical first-half performance that ultimately secured a 2–1 victory. Despite a stronger second-half push from D.C. United, the early deficit proved too much to overcome in a match where individual brilliance and costly turnovers shaped the outcome. Early Pressure and Miami’s Clinical Edge From kickoff, the match developed into a physically contested match, with both teams pressing aggressively and looking to capitalize on mistakes. Inter Miami created the first dangerous opportunity in the 7th minute, when Rodrigo De Paul forced a save from Sean Johnson. D.C. United responded in the 15th minute through Jackson Hopkins, who tested Dayne St. Clair with a shot on goal. Miami's breakthrough came shortly after. In the 17th minute, De Paul capitalized on a turnover after Beterame stole possession from Lucas Bartlett. Combining with Telasco Segovia, the Argentine midfielder unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the upper-right corner, giving Miami a 1–0 lead. Just ten minutes later, Lionel Messi doubled the advantage. The Argentine captain found space inside the attacking third and finished with a rainbow past Johnson in the 27th minute, extending the lead to 2–0. Messi struck again in the 37th minute after intercepting a pass from Brandon Servania, but the shot went a bit wide. D.C. United Responds After the Break Head coach René Weiler made adjustments in the second half to spark a comeback. João Peglow received a yellow card in the 58th minute, shortly before Weiler introduced Nikola Markovic and Louis Munteanu for Servania and Gabriel Pirani in the 60th minute. Rene On substitutes impacting the game “All the players who came in did well. I felt their approach and their impact on the team. That is the job of substitutes — to help the team when they come in.” In the 64th minute, Munteanu nearly produced a spectacular moment, attempting an acrobatic bicycle kick that narrowly missed the target. D.C. United’s persistence paid off in the 75th minute. Tai Baribo picked up a rebound after a Hopkins shot, who finished confidently to cut the deficit to 1 goal. Inter Miami managed the closing stages with discipline. St. Clair received a yellow card in the 87th minute, while De Paul nearly added a third goal for the visitors, though his late attempt sailed over the crossbar. Rene on the difference between the first and second half for the Black-and-Red “It was a very good reaction in the second half. At the end of the first half we gave them too much space to play counterattacks, but I told the team not to lose their heads. We had to play more properly and search for the first goal.” Three Points The Argentines stood out for Miami: Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul added a goal in a dominant first-half display that ultimately decided the match. Record Crowd: A historic 72,026 fans attended the match, one of the largest crowds to watch D.C. United at home field. For this occassion D.C. traveled to M&T Bank stadium instead of Audi Field. Late Push: Tai Baribo’s goal and Rene's subs gave D.C. an opportunity to get a result but it was not enough. Starting XI D.C. United Johnson; Bartlett (C), Rowles, Hefti, Kurokawa; Peltola (Murrell 90+1’), Servania (Markovic 60’); Peglow, Pirani (Munteanu 60’), Hopkins (Clark 84’); Baribo Inter Miami CF St. Clair; Mura, Dos Santos, Allen, Falcon; De Paul, Bright; Segovia (Lujan 88’), Messi (C), Silvetti (Allende 70’); Berterame Scoring Summary Inter Miami CF De Paul 17’ (Silvetti) Messi 27 (Segovia) D.C. United Baribo 75’ (Hopkins) Misconduct Summary D.C. United Peglow (58’) Inter Miami CF St. Clair (87’) Despite showing resilience after halftime, D.C. United struggled to recover from Inter Miami’s early attacking burst. The Black-and-Red improved in the second half and created more attacking opportunities, but was not enough and are now 1-2-0 in the season. Hopkins had a two shots on goal, one of them produced tthe rebound that Baribo was able to capitalize on to close the gap to 1 goal.

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.