D.C. United returns to Audi Field to take on Sporting Kansas City. Both teams are looking to snag some early-season wins after less than perfect starts. D.C. United wants to turn their solid performances into a win, while Sporting Kansas City is desperate to bounce back after a rocky few weeks.
This match will set the tone for the Black-and-Red in the weeks ahead, so it’s definitely one you won’t want to miss!
After two intense 2-2 draws (say that three times fast) with Toronto and Chicago, the Black-and-Red are ready to bag their first win of 2025.
D.C. United has scored early in both matches this season but is hasn’t been able to hold onto the lead. In the home opener, the Black-and-Red played a nail-biting game that ended in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC. Christian Benteke netted his first goal of 2025, continuing his streak from last season that ended in a 2024 MLS Golden Boot win.
Last Saturday, D.C. pulled off another 2-2 draw on the road against Chicago Fire FC. Benteke scored in the 4’, and Jacob Murrell pulled off an epic bicycle at the death to secure a point on the road. If you haven’t watched this goal, do yourself a favor and head to the replay now.
For its part, Sporting Kansas City has had a less than stellar start to 2025 and will be looking to turn things around when it visits the capital. Last week, Sporting dropped all three points to 10-man San Jose, losing 2-1.
For a bit of fun, tonight we’ll be watching the sibling rivalry between D.C. United center back Lucas Bartlett and his 19-year-old brother, Sporting KC midfielder Jacob Bartlett. Both brothers have been starting for their teams, but this game brings a whole new level of excitement with family bragging rights up for grabs.
For head coach Troy Lesesne, this season is about results on and off the field. He said, “We spend a lot of time trying to connect first internally here with one another and get to understand what makes everyone tick from their own personal side of things, tying it into the team and our game model. And then also understanding the responsibility that we have for our community and our fan base and all the players and staff members that have come before us. Those things, I think, all create the type of energy that we want to have towards ultimately getting D.C. United back to the place that it deserves to be.”
Hear everything Troy Lesesne had to say at the pre-game press conference here.
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: Jacob Murrell
Jacob Murrell earns our key player spot this week for his performance in D.C.’s last two matches. Murrell came in clutch when the Black-and-Red needed him most, delivering a needed assist against Toronto and then a stunner of a goal at the death to tie with Chicago.
Watch Out For: Daniel Salloi
Anyone regularly watching SKC knows Salloi is always a threat. D.C. United’s defense will need to keep him in check, as he can quickly turn the game around in Sporting’s favor.
Challenges: D.C. United need to start bagging home wins. With Sporting’s record so far this season, it should be quick work for the Black-and-Red.
Previously: All-time, D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City are 22-13-22 (W-D-L). The Black-and Red haven’t faced Sporting in the past three seasons, but looking back, this is how D.C. has fared:
- SKC 3-0 DCU – 9/13/2022
- DCU 1-0 SKC – 5/12/2019
- SKC 1-0 DCU – 3/31/2018
- DCU 0-0 SKC – 3/4/2017
- SKC 0-1 DCU – 5/27/2016
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Conner Antey (knee), Jackson Hopkins (ankle), Hakim Karamoko (abdomen), Randall Leal (thigh)
Questionable: None
Sporting Kansas City Availability:
Out: Andrew Brody (quad)
Questionable: Tim Leibold (knee), Jansen Miller (back), Khiry Shelton (hamstring)
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
It’s interesting how Murrell has raised expectations, and I wonder how that affects his play. I’d say, regardless, he can soon prove a starter even if he’s more solid throughout than has another spectacular moment.
His assist in the first game was really good. He made the run up the wing to collect Bartlett’s (also very good) pass, then dipped his shoulders a bit to buy a fraction more space from the defender, which allowed him to get off a perfect cross to Benteke.
He had plenty of moments last season where he would be dangerous or involved in plays, or have his shot blocked but lead to something else. And he said in his prematch press availability that he spent the offseason really working on his finishing and touch. So it’s not a surprise to see him progress. I was expecting Pirani to be the complementary scorer to Benteke this year, but it could well be Murrell. I think we might have a find on our hands!
Not gonna lie I’m jealous that Anthem RC has Dr Pepper as their front jersey sponsor.
Damn Anthem has come out swinging after enduring some early pressure from Old Glory. It’s now 10-0 to Anthem after 16 minutes.
Well crap looks like we’d struck back quickly, but the try was called back for a high tackle before the turn over. So now we have points off the board down a man for a yellow card for the high tackle with low danger and no mitigation.
If you have Season Pass, the Sporting KC page has a nice profile of Jacob Bartlett, and Lucas gets a fair amount of mention in it. They also have a nice series called Behind the Shield. I just watched the most recent episode, and it’s just really well done of having a couple players say what it’s like playing at the stadium and what the home crowd means to them. Honestly, tough to say that DC has ever produced something as good as either of these pieces.
Good call on that, Brendan! Thank you!
Nice to see Peglow off the injury report. I wonder if he’ll make his United debut tonight. I’m curious to see what he can bring.
Definitely looking forward to seeing how he fits in with the team!
Old Glory rallies twice to win 26-22 over Anthem RC.
Old Glory scored the majority of their points while short handed due to yellow cards. They scored 4 tries and 3 of them were scored during yellow cards against OGDC players.
Lineup is out!
Main change is that Servania moves to the bench, Kijima moves to the double pivot, and Peglow starts with Stroud. Murrell is on the bench, as is Barajas and Badji.
I continue to be concerned that Peltola isn’t earning starts.
Good grief Seattle beat LAFC 5-2.
What a bit of wizardry from Schnegg!
Schnegg megs a defender, gets in a perfect cross to Pirani, who finishes with ap- I’m just kidding, it’s Pirani.
Like, yes, we’ve seen a few good finishes from Pirani, but his typical scoring form is more honored in the breach than in the observance.
Is it just me or is the SG end full, but the opposite end barely has anyone?
Definitely not just you. The South and East stands are very sparse, North is pretty full. Can’t judge the West stand, since I’m sitting in it.
You were about a third full.
Early in the game, but Kijima is a lot better than Servania in the double pivot.
Enow, however, does his absolute best to fuck it up for us twice in the 11th minute
Enow is a little slower on the ball than you’d prefer for a CDM. He’s been solid so far in putting out fires, though.
Um, his positioning and decision making are horrible.
Benteke fails to connect a put to Stroud for the finish
Peglow so far looks to be a decent pickup.
Peglow needs to watch it. He’s being called for a lot of fouls fairly early.
Pirani fouled by Rosaero who picks up a yellow.
Rosero, a CB for SKC, does a bit of a throw on Pirani and earns a yellow
DCU gets lucky there on a ball over the top.
Really unnecessary pass back to Rowles when we had numbers forward, Rowles under pressure loses it, Bartlett cleans up eventually. Enow made the dumb pass. Needs to get a grip.
Kim does really well to pounce on the cutback, but Schnegg stepped on his wrist
Not good Schnegg is bumped and steps on Kim’s arm.
Thankfully Kim is still good to go.
It’s basically to the point where Enow has spent all the good will he earned by scoring our season opening goal. I’d like to see what Kijima and Peltola look like together. God knows the latter is well rested.
We may need to make that change at some point , regardless, as Enow is on a yellow and certainly can’t be trusted to avoid a second based on previous experience
Pirani’s cross across the mouth of the goal is missed by 3 players in black and red.
Pirani’s cross was unconvertable
Enow picks up a yellow.
Loudoun and Birmingham have just traded goals about a minute apart inside the first 5 mins.
Ref calls becoming increasingly sketchy
Few things ruin a soccer game like a ref who wishes to abolish physicality.
That Benteke call was ridiculously inane
That call against Stroud on that corner wasn’t any better.
I think Benteke is being called for every possible touch
Peglow picks up a yellow for stopping a promising attack and saving DCU’s bacon in the process as we had basically everyone forward.
Peglow in the book, probably needs a sub sooner than later, him and Enow.
This ref seems whistle happy.
The other SKC CB picks up a yellow. And it was really dumb, but I’ll take it.
Both KC CBs on a yellow after respective judo moves. Excellent
I think the 2nd yellow against a Spork CB was for kicking the ball away.
Benteke can’t get the angle of the header, too bad. Great service from Herrera
Sulemanov has a very inviting opportunity that he skies
Halftime.
Hope Lesesne makes some adjustments, but I’d seriously consider three changes at halftime, if I was him. Peltola for Enow, Murrell for Peglow, and Barajas for Stroud.
Enow has been pretty atrocious in his decision making and is on a yellow, Peglow has been intriguing and vibrant, but is also on a yellow, and Stroud isn’t finding the game this time.
Basically, work in training on some stuff, but I don’t see us falling to this team unless we go down a man, and that’s something we can avoid.
I’ve been pleased with Peglow. He has technical flair, but also that fire that can lead to a silly second yellow. I wish Leal was healthy, because Pirani continues to be largely underwhelming so far this season. Gets pushed off the ball too easily and either isn’t getting in the right spaces or can’t create out what he’s being given.
Agreed. I just don’t know if Pirani is deceptive enough to tie defenders in knots, the way you’d like from someone of his skill set
Yea. He’s been able to create one, maybe 2 great chances a game, but tends to be silent outside of that which isn’t going to work for your go-to creative AM. I have hope he’ll develop, but it’s not looking great so far.
This game looks very much like neither team has won a game yet.
As an aside, DC’s situational awareness at times frustrates me. There are moments where Enow rushes out to defend KC’s winger where that is clearly Schengg’s man to press so that leaves the entire 15 yard space where Enow should be open. It’s been exploited a few times already in this half. Stroud and Herrera have had their own moments in this match where both are standing next to each other in the attack and no one is back to defend as a result.
Also, Pirani did well on the assist to Benteke in the home opener, but goodness, I wish he was more savvy
Loudoun puts away a rebound and takes the lead 2-1 over Birmingham.
DC United attackers, I’m gonna need you to stop being surprised when Benteke wins a header and gets a flick on into a good forward position. The sun rises and sets. Act accordingly
In fairness to Pirani, that was a great through flick that virtually everyone else fucked up
Pirani draws a yellow from the freshly subbed in SKC CB.
Pirani gets pulled back, replacement CB is also on a yellow
Damn….that sucks.
DC United concede a wide open chance
Looked to be a lack of passing off marks and not following the late runner close enough
Benteke forces a save.
Peglow draws a PK.
Benteke buries it!
PK! Pretty obvious
This one is converted by Benteke
Yeah, I like Peglow. Sometimes when you’re one on one on the wing, you want them to just run by them