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D.C. United vs. CF Montréal: Preview, time, and how to watch

D.C. United looks to extend their home win streak against CF Montréal tonight. Last week, the Black-and-Red stunned Sporting Kansas City 2-1 for their first home win of 2025. 

All focus has shifted to tonight’s matchup with Montréal. The Bleu-Blanc-Noir didn’t fare well during their last visit to Audi Field last March, losing 1-0.  Laurent Courtois’ men are looking for their first win of 2025 after dropping all three points in each match they have played. 

For their part, the Black-and-Red are looking to build on the momentum they’ve gained so far and continue to pick up critical points early in the season. Head coach Troy Lesesne has been laser-focused on building a strong culture on and off the field and developing consistency in the team’s performance. 

In this week’s pre-game press conference, Lesesne said, “We wanted to get that first win under our belts for 2025, so we accomplished that. We wanted to get the first win at home because we want to maybe try to recreate the narrative that is around that – as the narrative should have been last season. But this is a new season, and you know it just makes me really happy to see the guys be able to consistently play in the way that we have the first three weeks. I think we’ve been pretty consistent in a lot of what we’ve done, but the things we want to tighten up, I think we’ve also been maybe consistently a little bit erratic at times with the ball, where we give it away in unnecessary situations.”

Hear everything Troy Lesesne had to say at the pre-game press conference here.

Now it’s up to the Black-and-Red to demonstrate the consistency they’ve worked so hard to build on the pitch tonight.  We’re ready for it!

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

Veteran striker Christian Benteke has continued to be a phenomenal leader on and off the pitch for D.C. United. He is driven to make the playoffs and recognizes that strong performances, match over match, are the way to get there.

Watch Out For: Jonathan Sirois 

Montréal’s goalkeeper leads MLS in saves this season and will challenge the Black-and-Red’s attack. Sirois has 15 saves so far this season, so we will see if Christian Benteke can throw him off his game.

Challenges: Although it is early in the season, D.C. United is under pressure to rack up points and solidify their performances. The Black-and-Red are driven to snag a playoff spot, and these early days will give them an edge.

Previously: D.C. United overcame Montréal last March at Audi Field 1-0, but the Bleu-Blanc-Noir snapped back for a 4-2 home win at Stade Saputo in May.

D.C. United Availability:

Out: Conner Antey (knee), Jackson Hopkins (ankle), Hakim Karamoko (abdomen), Randall Leal (thigh)

Questionable: None

CF Montréal Availability:

Out: Jalen Neal (knee), Samuel Piette (hamstring), Hennadii Synchuk (lower body), Giacomo Vrioni (groin)

Questionable: Prince Owusu (lower body)

Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC

Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr

Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

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David Rusk
March 15, 2025 4:10 pm

Thanks, Sarah. This is my last in-person match at Buzzard Point before I head for Buenos Aires for the next six weeks.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:07 pm

Same starting lineup.

That means Enow.

Lesesne, stop this.

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 7:32 pm

Old Glory fell to Chicago in a hard fought match 30-26. The Chicago Hounds continue their hot streak to start the season with their 3rd win in 4 games and their sole loss to Utah. Old Glory falls to 2W 2L 0D.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:43 pm

Early in, Owusu manages to have a lead toward goal on a ball over the top, thankfully no finish

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:48 pm

I wonder if tonight, Barajas will get a debut off the bench

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:49 pm

Huh, audio issues with the stream, at least the local radio one

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:52 pm

OK, we are definitely playing a bad, lackluster team. No way we shouldn’t be able to put something together in the final third.

MattGlad
MattGlad
March 15, 2025 7:53 pm

Fun fact: unless I’m mistaken, DC hasn’t won a match officiate by this referee in like 5 years.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:53 pm

Herrera sorta clotheslines a Montreal player with a hooked arm, gets a yellow, bad decision

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:54 pm

Montreal almost draw first blood off a long distance Herbers shot, goes off the post. Let’s get it together

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:57 pm

Enow potentially injured. Responsible for the giveaway, hustles back for a big tackle in the box

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 7:59 pm

Bartlett dribbles into space, draws a yellow from Herbers

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:03 pm

We get lucky again.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:03 pm

Sealy for Montreal with a dynamite cross from the left that Owusu generously fucks up

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:05 pm

We need to stop Sealy he seems to have Herrera’s number

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:06 pm

If I landed like Benteke just did on his arm, mine would snap like a twig

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:06 pm

Herbers puts another one off the woodwork.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:07 pm

Montreal we should be able to overcome in their defensive third, but our high press looks to be a bad tactic as they counter for good opportunities at will.

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:07 pm

BENTEKE!

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
Reply to  Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:09 pm

Damn looks like its coming back.

Talonesque #
Reply to  Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:09 pm

Going to VAR I guess for a possible handball

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:08 pm

Benteke!!!

Dude is monster, glad he’s our monster

Talonesque #
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:10 pm

No goal, Benteke hit it forward with his hand

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:13 pm

Sealy gets a yellow for a dive in the box.

Ref did well there

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:13 pm

Sealy picks up a yellow for simulation.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:14 pm

Peglow really should have had another assist, come on, Pirani

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:16 pm

Well, pat on the back for Peglow and the scouting department, I like this guy.

Last edited 1 year ago by Talonesque #
MattGlad
MattGlad
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:27 pm

Ditto for Kijima. He’s been fantastic at CDM so far.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:17 pm

We can’t have Herrera bomb forward tonight

~megs
~megs
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:38 pm

It’s not just tonight; he hasn’t been bombing forward much at all so far this season. I’ve been wondering if having him stay home more was some sort of (bizarre) game plan from Lesesne

Talonesque #
Reply to  ~megs
March 15, 2025 8:39 pm

You misunderstand me, I don’t think he should with Sealy on the wing.

~megs
~megs
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:49 pm

No misunderstanding; just pointing out that it fits in a wider trend. I was wondering before this game. Even if I think it’s a good idea here (and I agree that it is), I don’t think it was for the first two games.

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:26 pm

Rowles picks up his 3rd yellow in 4 games…

Talonesque #
Reply to  Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:27 pm

Makes you wonder how Tubbs is doing in training

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:26 pm

Kinda soft yellow on Rowles.

Our backline might be in trouble

MattGlad
MattGlad
March 15, 2025 8:26 pm

Owusu: big target forward who holds up play and draws a lot of fouls and therefore yellows.

Benteke: big target forward who holds up play but somehow doesn’t draw any fouls or yellows?

The difference? Owusu just falls down more.

Talonesque #
Reply to  MattGlad
March 15, 2025 8:28 pm

He’s also a more elegant runner, Benteke gets fouls for form instead of conduct.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:31 pm

Browsing YouTube during the commercial break.

Hal Hershfelt just said The Spirit play Thunderstruck by AC/DC before every game.

Love that.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:33 pm

This is Sealy’s debut, apparently, and he clearly wasn’t scouted by us, cuz it took a LONG time to adjust

Last edited 1 year ago by Talonesque #
MattGlad
MattGlad
March 15, 2025 8:33 pm

Arguably the best first half of the season for DC. Attack looks really fluid down both flanks – the left slightly more so. Defense has bent but hasn’t broken. Only real concern is DC isn’t compensating for Montreal overloading DC’s right flank which has led to some beautiful crosses.

Also. I want to root for Pirani so bad, but he’s terrible in front of goal, gets pushed off the ball in possession, and doesn’t make defenders miss very often. He’s lucky Leal seems to be suffering from some serious-ish injury.

Talonesque #
Reply to  MattGlad
March 15, 2025 8:36 pm

I think the players themselves are doing well, not sure the system or idea is. Our pressing is basically just denying ourselves space rather than leading to turnover attacks, and Montreal has passed up several opportunities running into space.

I know Lesesne hates the midblock, but it would mean an easy win, IMO

Last edited 1 year ago by Talonesque #
MattGlad
MattGlad
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:41 pm

On that note, just discipline in the press, in general would greatly improve the team’s shape and organization. DC gets baited into obvious give-and-gos way too often. Chasing rather than forcing the opposition to pick them part and think.

Talonesque #
Reply to  MattGlad
March 15, 2025 8:42 pm

I’d argue you have to sit a bit deeper to do that, TBH.

MattGlad
MattGlad
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:59 pm

I mean, yea. I wasn’t disagreeing with you, lol.

Steve comer
Steve comer
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:44 pm

Question. Any idea who on the bench is wearing 99? Seems a bit interesting, or audacious.

Talonesque #
Reply to  Steve comer
March 15, 2025 8:44 pm

Barajas, the young loanee

Last edited 1 year ago by Talonesque #
Steve comer
Steve comer
Reply to  Steve comer
March 15, 2025 9:22 pm

Barajas. Got it.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:42 pm

Even if they haven’t scored, anyone who is watching this game wondering how to shut down Benteke and lacerate our backline might have an answer, unfortunately. Back three, double pivot, wide attacking fullbacks. Seems like a problem for us.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:51 pm

For all the crap we give Pirani about not finishing, we should absolutely note that Stroud is at least as ineffective

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:58 pm

As much as I love Kijima as a two way DM, we may need him in the 10 if Pirani doesn’t do it this game

Talonesque #
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 8:59 pm

Well, Kijima and Enow are out, and Peltola and Servania are in

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 8:58 pm

Peltola for Kijima? And Servania for Enow…

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:02 pm

I’m a fan of Peglow’s style of looking for the cross, and cutting inside only when there’s a real opening. It’s refreshing

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:03 pm

Peltola takes one from far out

~megs
~megs
March 15, 2025 9:04 pm

Random stadium note: they’ve removed almost all of the advertising boards from the East stand, by the benches, this season. I wonder if they had issues with a sponsor, or had trouble selling ad space.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:04 pm

Bartlett’s floating, crazy header back is handled like an NBA star by Joon

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:05 pm

Schnegg, Herrera, and Rowles all on a yellow. Gulp.

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 9:05 pm

Schnegg picks up a yellow…that’s 3 on the backline with yellows…

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 9:07 pm

Peltola draws a yellow out of Clark who just came on.

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 9:07 pm

Pirani goes for goalies and completely misses

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:08 pm

Sorry, what on earth is Pirani doing taking a direct fk from a shooting spot?

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 9:09 pm

Waterman picks up a yellow for Montreal for something off the ball.

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:12 pm

Lesesne has utterly failed to get his team to find space to attack.

Wait, Pirani’s off, who subbed in?

Talonesque #
Reply to  Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:13 pm

Must have been Murrell

MattGlad
MattGlad
March 15, 2025 9:13 pm

I don’t think this ref knows what a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge is.

Will Nelson
Will Nelson
March 15, 2025 9:13 pm

Joon with 2 huge saves

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:13 pm

Joon with a great doubleplay

Talonesque #
March 15, 2025 9:18 pm

This might be a slightly competitive slap fight, but it is a slap fight. Weak if either team dreams of the playoffs.

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