And just like that…we’re back!
D.C. United kicks off the 30th MLS season against Toronto FC tonight at Audi Field.
There’s been a lot of change for D.C. United since they crashed out on decision day, losing 3-0 to Charlotte FC. A new kit, a plethora of roster additions and departures – you get the idea.
Even the most dedicated Black-and-Red fans may have to double-check the roster these first few weeks as they get acclimated to the new signings. Not to worry, Donald has got you covered with this handy guide.
Head coach Troy Lesesne addressed criticism at the club’s less-than-blockbuster signings at the pre-game press conference, saying, “We’ve signed some players that may not carry that type of name [like Christian Benteke] but are very talented themselves, and so they fit our game model, and we believe in them, and we hope that D.C. United is going to be a platform for them to take off in their career because many of these players are very young.”
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say at the pre-game press conference here.
2024 Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke shared his hopes for the 2025 season. He said, “Ever since I’ve been here, every time I say the same thing, ‘We want to play the playoff.’ Right, this is something that is obvious. but playing in the playoffs doesn’t mean that we have to just be focused on getting to the end of the season and being in the playoffs. But there is a way for us to get to those playoffs. There are 34 games for us to make sure that we get our spot. With this new group and new style of play that we’re going to play, hopefully, we can make it at the end.”
The Black-and-Red aren’t alone in their era of change. In January, Toronto FC announced a new head coach, Robin Fraser. Fraser takes over for John Herdman, who spent just a season at the helm for the Reds.
Toronto, also like D.C., missed out on the 2024 playoffs. In fact, the Reds haven’t seen the playoffs since 2020. They’ll need to revamp a tired defense and infuse life and creativity into their attack in order to have a fighting chance this season.
Let’s see what tonight has in store! We’ll be there to share all the action live.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below and be sure to join us live here during the game to chat with your fellow supporters.
Key Player: Christian Benteke
Much of the team is unknown to us, but veteran striker Christian Benteke put in a masterclass last season. Benteke secured the Golden Boot in 2024 and gives Troy Lesesne key talent to build around.
Watch Out For: Federico Bernardeschi
Bernardeschi was one of Toronto’s standouts last season (when he wasn’t booked and, on the bench,). The Italian’s creativity and relationship with head coach Robin Fraser will benefit the Reds tonight and throughout the season.
Challenges: D.C. United is under pressure to perform after several lackluster seasons spent in rebuild mode. The injury list is long for the Black-and-Red tonight, leaving head coach Troy Lesesne with fewer options. D.C. United also starts 2025 with a rebooted roster. We’ll see how relationships on the pitch develop over the coming weeks.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Conner Antey (knee), Jackson Hopkins (ankle), Hakim Karamoko (abdomen), Joao Peglow (thigh), Jared Stroud (ankle), Rida Zouhir (not due to injury)
Questionable: None
Toronto FC Availability:
Out: None
Questionable: None
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Sergii Boiko
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Really no idea how this goes. Too many players we haven’t seen yet, two teams trying to build toward something. Maybe we get blown out by Toronto’s DPs, or maybe they have one of their many off nights. Maybe we’re able to get Benteke cooking, maybe the soufflé collapses in the home opener. And I think anyone with a firm conviction of what the result will be is kidding themselves.
That said, this be my team, and I hope for the best, which is making Toronto once again hate Buzzard Point.
Vamos United!!!
No preseason streams and expansion team type of turnover. The team is really a question mark. Toronto is also not one of the better teams in the league so it will provide an interesting matchup.
Lesesne seems confident, but much depends on Benteke’s health and ability to avoid injury this year.
I am not optimistic about the season but hope the team proves me wrong.
Yeah, or just rest him at times. Benteke needs to be taken care of
Lineup is out!
JH Kim
Herrera Rowles Bartlett Schnegg
Servania Enow
Kijima Pirani Murrell
Benteke
Servania does well to make the home opener 11, I don’t know what Murrell provides on the wing, but we’ll find out. Leal, Peltola, and Turner all notable bench players, no Peglow in the squad
Bernadeschi is starting, Insigne is out of the squad. Rest assured, though, Laryea and Osorio will be more than enough to annoy us.
They always are.
Will say, early on, fantastic to have an actual left back from the jump
Boris Enow scores!!!!
Was just about to type about how I like Rowles’ “fuck off” presence, but what a dribbling play by Enow into the gap they gave hkm
Toronto clearly rattled
Kijima may well end up proving to be the player we thought TKD could be
Kijima earns a yellow from a Toronto asshole
That was almost bad.
Yeah, we are still vulnerable in transition, that’s for sure
Lesesne needs to get the rest defense in better shape
Damn it
Fuck, that was real bad from Kim
A fuck up by Herrera, too, but Jesus
Not just Kim, but the whole defense.
😭
It’s way too easy for Toronto and therefore literally anybody in the league to find passing lanes and space to run into when we get forward. That’s actually a midfield problem, and the forwards need to make it more difficult for passers, as well
BENTEKE!
Murrell cross, Benteke power header, goal!!!
Murrell is left footed, isn’t he? That was a good right footed cross
Where was this Enow last season?
He didn’t have a ton of time to settle in, I thought he showed flashes. That said, Toronto are still getting into the final third too quickly, Enow and Servania need to be a better double pivot
Corner kick siege at the moment.
Toronto being very physical with Pirani.
They swarm him every time he touches the ball, and he turns it over. Every time.
Toronto attack focusing on our left at Schnegg.
Not the toughest of drop saves at the near post, but hopefully getting a firm save will give Kim confidence
Having a lead at halftime is good, as is showing some good connectivity in possession.
However, I worry that Lesesne as a coach believes in everyone pressing, and I don’t think that’s wise. You should have individuals who press the passers, and people behind them in a shape. We’re going pear shaped way and have no midfield out of possession. That’s bad
That grapple by Long on Benteke sure looked like a second yellow worthy foul. Just saying
It may be a new season, but DC’s left flank is still getting pillaged. Bernardeschi is skinning Schnegg tonight.
Kim gets a good reaction save, though it was well within his silhouette
How is that not at least a card by Rousted?
Rousted cleans Benteke out without getting anywhere near the ball on a clear opportunity to run through. Fuck that
How is that not a yellow on Rotsted?
Kim has come up with several big saves in the 2nd half.
Yeah, he’s getting more grounded and done well
Rosted finally gets the yellow for mugging Pirani on a long ball
Benteke gets his pocket picked deep in our zone, but thankfully Toronto isn’t able to punish us.
If you were the only one who could save Osorio from drowning, what sort of sandwich would you make?
Oh, Laryea is drowning as well, time for tea
That’s not a PK
No way that’s a freaking pen
Ref was letting them play in the first half. Has done a complete 180.
That’s not a PK….I didn’t see any contact. I call bull shit.
This PK brought to you by blindness and cowardice
*cough* Darth Garber *cough*
Darth Garber was very pleased with the MLS ref this night
He was utterly nuts in the second half
terrible
How does Laryea manage to fool the refs so damn much? I remember him getting an equally weak pen against Akinmboni a few years back.
The complete difference between how the first and second halves have been called is mind numbing
Benteke gets a yellow for honesty.
All the venom that Osorio and Laryea have been spitting at the ref and Benteke is the one that gets a card tonight. Makes perfect sense.
How fucked. I’ll have some thoughts tomorrow about us, but fuck that.
Weren’t ready for the season. Started with lineups, when the announcer and the board operator inexplicably had Jackson Hopkins in the starting lineup. Also, the app for STMs to pay and get discount failed at halftime. Now, about the game…
The passing by the defense was bad. Schnegg, Rowles and Enow were turnover machines, giving it away almost every time they tried anything more complex than a back pass. And Bartlett had one really awful giveaway — lucky it wasn’t a goal.
Pirani was swarmed every time he got the ball, and was bodied off the ball in short order. Leal was a nice change (I didn’t realize he is that small), but perplexed at the other sub then, bringing in Dotson, a defender, to replace Murrell, who was easily our most effective attacking player, at least the few times they got him the ball. He might’ve had a goal or two of his own, but Pirani and Herrera got in his way. Dotson moved well — and set up Benteke well only to have Benteke misplay it — but not a time to try out someone in attack.
Haven’t seen replays but PK call seemed soft.
Trial by fire for Kim. Playing goalie for DC United has to be one of the toughest gigs in sports.