Dramatic Victory at Home!

DC United 3-2 Orland City SC, April 25, 2026

It was a relatively cool (50s) and rainy afternoon and evening in DC, but weather doesn't stop Screaming Eagles tailgates. We had a visit from our founder, Matt Mathai (shown below). Then it was off to Audi for what turned out to be a great game.

Screaming Eagles founder Matt Mathai stopped by the tailgate

DC's lineup:

Johnson in goal

Kurokawa, Nealis, Bartlett, Hefti in defense

Peglow, Servania, Peltola, Herrera in midfield

Munteanu, Hopkins at forward

Subs: Stroud for Herrera (halftime), Murrell for Hopkins (77th), Markovic for Hefti (77th), Antley for Peglow (95th).

Baribo was out with a thigh injury, so Munteanu got his first start of the year.

Hopkins got DC off to a great start with a shot from outside the box in the 10th minute, putting DC up 1-0. This was the second game in a row that he scored in. DC threatened throughout the half (two shots from Munteanu, and a free kick from Kurokawa that was tipped over the bar) but could not add to the score.

DC started the second half in good form (Stroud missed two shots in the opening 10 minutes) As the second half wore on, DC did not seem as sharp, perhaps the result of all the games they have been playing lately. In the 56th minute, Orlando's Ivan Angulo crossed from the left to Griffin Dorsey for a header from 6 yards out. Johnson made a nice save, but Justin Ellis scored on the rebound to tie the game. Orlando's Tyrese Spicer then scored in the 67th minute, beating an offside trap and putting a shot off the far post to put Orlando up 2-1. Spicer almost set up a third goal for Orlando 2 minutes later, but he was offside on that effort.

Two substitutes in the 77th minute gave DC some fresh legs and the momentum shifted. Munteanu just missed in the 80th minute, but 4 minutes later he did not miss, tying the game from outside the box on a shot that took a fortunate deflection. Exciting. But there was more to come. In the 90th minute, Murrell put a far post corner kick back in front of the goal, and Rowles headed it in from close range. HUGELY exciting. DC then had to survive 9 minutes of stoppage time, but they held on for the win, their first since March 14 in Chicago and their first home win since opening day on February 21 against Philadelphia.

Watching DC draw in Philadelphia a week ago, with almost no offense but great defense, the announcer related a conversation he had with DC head coach Rene Weiler. Weiler said that he was an offensive coach, but given the team he inherited it was necessary to focus on the defense first. From results in New York last Wednesday (4 goals) and tonight (3 goals without top scorer Baribo) it looks like the offense part is coming sooner than expected.

The team is showing character, too. Two comebacks in New York, and a comeback tonight when they seemed gassed midway through the second half. There also seems to be good team chemistry, judging from the way the players got together and waited for one another before saluting the supporters section after the game (photo below).

Next up: at NYCFC, Sunday May 3, 3pm. Lots of early season road games, but 3 home games in a row later in May before the World Cup break.

DC players thank the supporters section and celebrate after the dramatic win