Seeing Red Against Charlotte

It was a beautiful October afternoon, but same old result

DC United received two red cards in the first half and lost their home finale on Saturday (October 4) to Charlotte FC, 1-0.

DC's starting lineup and substitutions:

Forward: Peglow (Stroud, 49th) Benteke (Badji, 71st) Herrera (Red Card, 30th)

Midfield: Hopkins Peltola Pirani (Clark, 71st )

Defense: Schnegg (out, 21st) Rowles Bartlett (McNaughton, 71st) Antley

Goal: Barraza (Red Card, 21st; Farr came in replacing Schnegg)

DC played well early. Rowles hit the post off a free kick in the 2nd minute; it rolled along the line and Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina grabbed it gratefully before it could cross completely into the goal.

Everything changed in the 19th minute. Barraza caught a ball just outside the box as Charlotte's Idan Toklomati was bearing down. Bartlett was also there for DC. After VAR, Barraza was given a red card for denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity. That seemed harsh as Bartlett was right there (see photo below), but that was the call. Farr came in as keeper and Schnegg was sacrificed to make room.

It got even worse in the 30th minute. Herrera got tangled with Wilfred Zaha. As they came apart Zaha swung an arm toward Herrera, who responded with a petulant headbutt into Zaha's chest. Another red card. On the ensuing free kick, Zaha did a give and go and scored into the far corner to put Charlotte up 1-0.

Amazingly, DC played Charlotte fairly evenly for the rest of the game, and even created a couple of goalscoring opportunities themselves. It did feel like Charlotte let DC off easy, passing the ball around the offensive perimeter and not attacking with any great urgency. It ended 1-0, which given the situation seemed positive.

The supporters stand drums appeared for a few minutes in each half, but the stand was quiet for long stretches of the game.

DC finishes the season Saturday, October 18 at 6pm at Atlanta United.

For those who care about Wooden Spoon implications: DC is a point ahead of the LA Galaxy (who have a game in hand) and two points behind Sporting Kansas City and Atlanta United (who have a game in hand). DC trails all in goal difference by huge margins (DC -36, KC -24, Galaxy -22, Atlanta -21).

Remaining games for all four teams:

DC plays at Atlanta on the 18th.

Atlanta plays at Miami on the 11th, hosts DC on the 18th.

KC hosts Houston on the 18th.

Galaxy hosts Dallas on the 11th and Minnesota on the 18th.

Practically, DC needs to defeat Atlanta and hope for help to avoid their third Spoon. A MIami win, Houston win, Dallas win, or Minnesota win would all do the trick. Mathematically, if the Galaxy lose out, it doesn't matter what DC does, but that is unlikely.

A sad season when you hope to avoid last place on the last day, but that's reality in 2025.