DC United needed three points to keep holding onto their playoff hopes. They got that crucial win against their archrivals, beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at Audi Field on Wednesday night.

In addition to the They also needed to respond after the thumping they took last weekend against Inter Miami, and the team was able to put on a gutsy performance in front of the home fans to capture the Atlantic Cup for the first time since 2021.

[It’s] a great win….I liked the fighting spirit of everybody,” head coach René Weiler said after the match. “Of course, a little bit lucky at the end, but yeah, some weird decisions as well…We won that game and I’m happy for the players.”

Oscar Avilez, the 16-year-old Homegrown Player, made his first league start for the Black-and-Red and was named to try and spark some of the action on the flanks. He was able to provide that in an inspired performance.

“I’m really proud of myself, really proud for my family and God, who give me the opportunity to start today. I’m proud of the team because now we got the win, and I’m really excited, and we keep going from here,” Avilez said with a smile during postgame availability.

The action started quickly in the third minute, when Tai Baribo was able to draw a penalty after being taken down right in front of goal by Adri Mehmeti. Baribo stepped up and hammered the penalty home past Red Bull goalkeeper Ethan Horvath to give DC United the early lead.

That gave the team and the crowd some energy for a rivalry that the league has largely reduced to midweek affairs. The game finally settled in with both teams looking to get some momentum, and it was Red Bull on the front foot for much of the first half. In the 24th minute, after a tactical foul by Lucas Bartlett that resulted in a yellow card for the captain, Cade Cowell took a free kick from about 30 yards out. The shot required a diving save by Sean Johnson, and the rebound was eventually shot well high and wide of the net.

Just about ten minutes later, it another close shot for Red Bull, this time by Jorge Ruvalcaba from the right side of the box. The shot required another outstretched save by Sean Johnson. Johnson made another close save on Julian Hall in the 43rd minute to keep the match at 1-0.

In the second minute of first half stoppage time, after a throw-in for DCU inside the attacking third, the ball ricocheted off a few players but the Red Bulls couldn’t clear it. Silvan Hefti sent the ball into the box, but Red Bull captain Dylan Nealis headed it right to Oscar Avilez on the other side of the box. Avilez launched a low shot towards goal. The ball hit the left post and Horvath, somehow staying out and not crossing over the line.

Three minutes later, DC got another one. With the last flurry of the 1st half, DC United earned a corner kick. Keisuke Kurokawa sent the ball into the box, where Tai Baribo headed the ball back towards the middle of the 6 yard area. Silvan Hefti was there to head it home to make it 2-0 to the Black-and-Red.

That was the last action of the half, as the referee blew the whistle to send the teams into the halftime break.

In the second half, DC once again had to withstand some pressure from the Red Bulls. In the 51st minute, Mohammed Sofo got in on the right side of the box, firing a low shot towards the near post of the goal. Sean Johnson laid out to make the save, pushing the ball out of bounds. They got another great chance in the 64th minute when Julian Hall laid a high pass into Emil Forsberg, who fired a one-timed shot right in front of goal. Sean Johnson had a reaction kick save to keep it out of the net.

Four minutes later, it would get a bit more difficult for DC United after Lucas Bartlett was shown a second yellow for time wasting in a confusing moment, as there was no indication that the referee thought Bartlett was taking too much time. The second citation earned the captain a red card and reducing DC United to 10 men. The Black-and-Red had to do some immediate defending in the box in the first 30 seconds, but despite several attempts by the Red Bulls, all were blocked away. However in the 71st minute, the visitors pulled one back. Emil Forsberg was able to provide a touch pass to free up Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who dribbled around Johnson and slotted it home to cut the DC United lead to 2-1.

The pressure continued for the Red Bulls, as just a couple of minutes after the restart, they had a 2-on-1 breakaway towards goal. DC was able to get defenders back to break it up inside the box. In the 86th minute, it was another close opportunity for Red Bull to level the score when Forsberg sent a floating pass into the box. Cameron Harper got a toe on it and the ball trickled past Johnson towards goal. It hit the left post and stayed out, allowing for DC United substitute Sean Nealis to clear it out of play.

DC United did their best to try and close the game out down a man, but the Red Bulls had one final chance. Julian Bazan was able to get a snap header down on frame, but the shot fell right into the hands of Sean Johnson, who picked up a knock in the process. The referee blew his whistle for full time right as Johnson collected the ball, and DC United had the victory. Things got chippy after the full time whistle, with players shoving each other and exchanging words. But, DC United had the vital three points they needed to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.

It was a boisterous locker room as DC United celebrated an important victory. For players like Jackson Hopkins, a win over the Red Bulls means more, especially to capture the Atlantic Cup and restore some legacy to the rivalry, even if for one night. “It’s awesome, and to come at this time too, and we kind of need a win for keep our playoff hopes alive, it’s a perfect, perfect way to boost us forward, so it’s awesome,” Hopkins said.

Even DC United manager of soccer operations Dr. Erkut Sogut was thrilled at the match and applauded the fight the players put into the match. “I think what I like most is that the players didn’t give up today,” Sogut remarked. “You know, it’s a very difficult circumstances when you, especially when you get down one player, and at that moment, it’s a turning point for a team. You will either see the rest of the players will fight to get everything out there, or you will see the players will just drop it and just leave it, and we saw the opposite and that makes me really happy, and that’s very important. When you build a team, when you start a new project, and when you have them players, they don’t give up, that’s the base, that’s the fundamental situation you need to move forward.”

“And that’s the positive thing I take off from today. I’m really happy with the player’s performance, fighting and grinding until the end.”

DC United will have a quick turnaround as they enter the roughest stretch of the season, with six more matches over the course of 18 days to finish out the regular season. They will travel to face Orlando City on Saturday, but they will do so with the confidence of Wednesday’s win.