Over the past four seasons, Audi Field has not been the most welcoming environment for DC United, with the Black and Red winning about 23% of their home matches during that time. One odd trend within that larger pattern, however, is DC United tends to perform well in their home openers. Going back to the start of the 2022 season, DCU is 3-1-0 in their first home match. Overall since DCU’s first full season in Audi Field, United is 5-1-1 in their openers.

DC United’s opponent for the home opener, the Philadelphia Union, entered on a streak of their own. Across all competitions, the Union had not lost to DCU 2021, nine games in all. Last season, Philadelphia out scored the Black and Red 9-0 in two matches. However, over the offseason both rosters underwent significant turnover, creating opportunity for a change in the narrative.

1st Half

The first 10 minutes set the tone for what would be a physical match between both teams. A pair of DC’s new acquisitions combined in the ninth minute to give the Audi Field faithful a bit of momentary joy. Keisuke Kurokawa streaked down the left hand side to pick up a through ball and his cross found former Union striker Tai Baribo, who put it into the net behind former teammate Andre Blake. Kurokawa, however, started his run too early and the goal was called back due to offsides.

Both teams, continued to battle it out, mostly in the midfield following the nongoal. Roughly eight minutes after his goal was called back, Baribo and United may have been the beneficiaries of a gift from the referees. While battling against Union defender Japhet Sery Larsen, Baribo struck Sery Larsen with his elbow. However, no card was show for the contact.

Philadelphia threatened in the 22nd minute when they earned their first corner of the match. DC United managed to clear the corner. Jackson Hopkins intercepted the attempt and hit Gabriel Pirani around midfield with an outlet pass. João Peglow picked up the ball from Pirani and found Baribo with a cross and he once again put it in the back of the net. This time it counted and gave the Black and Red a 1-0 lead.

As the game approached the end of the first half, DC put Philadelphia under pressure. Union defender Olwethu Makhanya earned a yellow for taking down Pirani after he blew past him. Four minutes later, Union midfielder Jesús Bueno earned a yellow for a late foul on Baribo. The ensuing free kick found Hopkins in the box. A Hopkins pass to Baribo in the middle lead to a shot that beat Blake but hit the post.

At the end of the first half, United out possessed the Union 54.6% to 45.4% and had a better passing accuracy (74.5 to 72).

2nd Half

The start of the second half saw the Union with more possession and more opportunities. The complexion of the game, however, changed completely in the 59th minute when Ezekiel Alladoh received a straight red card following a foul on Lukas Bartlett, forcing Philadelphia to play down a man for the final thirty minutes. Apple’s broadcast indicated the red was for dissent, but later reports suggested Alladoh may have made an obscene comment to Bartlett. Despite the red, Philadelphia continued to exert pressure on DCU and find opportunities on net.

Despite the Union’s resurgence in the second half, Baribo continued to find himself in dangerous spots for DCU. He had United’s best opportunity of the second half, when in the 65th minute a Peglow cross found him alone inside the 18. His shot, however, failed him and sliced right.

Seven minutes later, the Union had a good opportunity to tie the match up. A Cavan Sullivan corner found Nathan Harriel in the center of the box, but his header went wide. Following the wayward header, the Union kept the Black and Red on the back foot with United at times struggled to break the pressure. In the 76th minute, Kurakowa exhibited his full range of skills in a sequence where he blocked a shot, intercepted another ball and then flew down the wing, alleviating the pressure for a bit. New goalkeeper Sean Johnson had a relatively low key night, but was called on to make a save in extra time to preserve the shutout, preserve DCU’s home opener streak, and break United’s nightmare winless streak against the Union.

Of potential concern for United, Baribo hobbled off in extra time. However, Jason Anderson reported after the game, United manager René Weiler seemed to think Baribo may have just suffered a cramp.

DC United Lineup

Johnson; Hefti, Rowles, Bartlett (C), Kurokawa; Hopkins (Markovic – 89th), Peltola, Servania, Peglow: Pirani (Munteanu -70th) , Baribo (Nealis – 90th)

Philadelphia Union Lineup

Blake; Sundstrom (Martinez – 46th), Sery Larsen, Mahhanya, Harriel; Vassilev (Bedoya – 79th), Bueno (Anello – 57th), Jacques, Iloski (Sullivan -70th); Alladoh, Damiani (Korzeniowski – 79th)

Cards

DC United – Yellow: Hopkins (89th), Peglow (90th)

Philadelphia Union: Yellow: Makhanya (41st), Bueno, (45th), Sery Larsen (80th), Jacques (88th)

Red: Alladoh (59th)

Next Match: 3/1 at Austin FC at 2:30 ET.