Match Preview - D.C. United @ Charlotte FC on Wednesday, July 16
D.C. United heads back on the road to face Eastern Conference opponent Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on July 16, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Black-and-Red will be playing their third straight away match in seven days and will look to build from the performance against the LA Galaxy in Charlotte, NC. D.C. United last faced Charlotte FC in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 21 where the Black-and-Red won 2-1 in a penalty shootout after goalkeeper Jordan Far saved four of five penalties.
D.C. United has a 4-11-7 record this season with 19 points and are looking to turn things around with interim coach Kevin Flanagan. Coach Flanagan made a number of changes to the starting lineup against L.A. Galaxy, including inserting Homegrown midfielder Jackson Hopkins for his second start of the season and veteran forward Dominque Badji. Flanagan used four of his five subs, which included star forward Christian Benteke coming off the bench to put pressure on Los Angeles’ back line.
Los Angeles midfielder Marco Reus kicked off the scoring in the 23rd minute, picking up his team-high fifth goal of the season. Then in the 53rd minute, midfielder Diego Fagúndez added a second with a right footed shot from the center of the box. After making some key substitutions, D.C. United applied some heavy pressure to Los Angeles’ backline before midfielder Gabriel Pirani was able to net his third goal of the season in the 77th minute after a through ball from fellow Brazilian João Peglow. Peglow picked up his third assist of the season, ranking second on the team, while also winning six duels, illustrating his two-way ability for the Black-and-Red. D.C. The match ended 2-1 and the L.A. Galaxy extended their win streak to two at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Charlotte FC (9-11-2,29 pts.) are currently 9th in the Eastern Conference and enter Wednesday’s match with a (7-2-1) record at home with a +10 goal differential. Charlotte is coming off a 2-0 win against NYCFC, and are (1-3-1) in their last five matches, with eight goals scored, and nine goals allowed. Head Coach Dean Smith’s side will again look to pick up another win at home to maintain their current playoff position. Smith will look to lean on midfielder Pep Biel, who has 17 goal contributions (seven goals and 10 assists) in 21 MLS appearances, to get Charlotte on the scoreboard early on.
This game will mark Kevin Flanagan’s second match as D.C. United’s Head Coach and he will look to his bench to provide a sound defensive performance with defenders Aaron Herrera and David Schnegg being out on yellow card accumulation. The Black-and-Red will need to neutralize forward Wilfried Zaha and midfielder Pep Biel, who have combined for over 70% of the team's offense, in order to get their third win on the road this season.
By the Numbers | D.C. United vs. L.A. Galaxy | July 12, 2025
- Midfielder Gabriel Pirani scored his third goal of the season in the 77th minute, assisted by João Peglow. Pirani recorded five total shots and won five ground duels in 90 minutes played.
- Defender David Schnegg had six passes into the final third and won three tackles in 90 minutes played.
- Forward João Peglow recorded his third assist of the season and created the most chances for the Black-and-Red with three; Peglow completed 90 minutes.
- Midfielder Boris Enow recorded seven recoveries and had a 96% passing accuracy in 82 minutes played.
Last Match Against Charlotte FC | May 21, 2025 @ Audi Field
In their previous fixture against Charlotte FC, D.C. United defeated Charlotte 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout of the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 21, 2025. Defender David Schnegg opened the scoring in the 17th minute giving the Black-and-Red a one goal lead going into halftime. Charlotte came out firing in the second half, scoring two goals in three minutes. Forward Patrick Agyemang scored in the 58th minute to tie the match, followed by a header from defender Bill Tuiloma off a cross in the 61st minute. Then in the 86th minute, defender Garrison Tubbs tied the match for the Black-and-Red following a cross from Randall Leal. The match ended 2-2 and headed into extra time to decide a winner. After goals from each side, the match ended 3-3, ultimately leading to penalty kicks. Prior to the end of extra time, D.C. United subbed in goalkeeper Jordan Farr for the penalty kick shootout. Farr would end up saving four out of the five penalties taken, giving the Black-and-Red the win and leading them into the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals.
How to Watch
D.C. United fans can catch all the action of their favorite team by subscribing to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. With this subscription, you can watch every D.C. United game live, whether it’s home or away, along with exclusive pre- and post-match coverage. Simply open the Apple TV app, navigate to MLS Season Pass, and subscribe to enjoy the entire 2025 season. Whether you're at home or on the go, you'll have access to every match, ensuring you never miss a moment of D.C. United's season. Enjoy seamless streaming on your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and more!
Radio broadcasts will be available live on 1190 iHeart Sports DC, 101.1 HD2, and the iHeartRadio App. Legendary broadcaster Dave Johnson, who has called games for D.C. United since the club’s inception in 1996 will return to the booth alongside Bruce Murray, former United States National Team player (1985-1993, 85 caps and 21 goals) and Class of 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. The pair have partnered on radio calls since 2023 to deliver high-quality and passionate radio calls for fans. Supporters watching D.C. United MLS Regular Season games on MLS Season Pass can opt to listen to Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray calling the game on the MLS Local Radio Broadcast channel.
