Great Start to the Season

Tai Baribo celebrates after scoring against his old team.

DC United started the 2026 season with a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union at Audi Field last Saturday (February 21).

DC started:

Sean Johnson in goal

Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti in defense

Joao Peglow, Brandon Servania, Matti Peltola, Jackson Hopkins in midfield

Gabriel PIrani, Tai Baribo at forward

Subs: Louis Munteanu for Pirani (70th minute), Nikola Markovic for Hopkins (89th minute), Sean Nealis for Baribo (3rd minute of 2nd half stoppage time)

Tai Baribo had a great first half to start his tenure with DC. Baribo had a goal disallowed for offside in the 9th minute, scored off an assist from Peglow in the 23rd minute, and hit the post in the 45th minute. DC led at the break 1-0.

Philadelphia started the second half better, but were hampered by a red card given to Ezekiel Alladoh in the 58th minute. They still generated some chances, but were unable to hit the target and the game ended 1-0. Sean Johnson, another new DC player, played solidly and calmly in goal to help preserve the win.

Philadelphia outshot DC 12-7 and had 3 shots on goal to DC's 1, but DC made theirs count. Possession was pretty even (51% Philly to 49% DC) and Philly had 5 corner kicks to DC's 1. But the only stat that counts is goals.

DC plays again this coming Sunday (March 1) in Austin at 2:30pm.