D.C. United lost 1-0 to the Philadelphia Union in their seventh match of the 2021 MLS Regular Season. Despite being the dominant team on the night, including outshooting the visitors 17-7 and 11-1 in the second half, the Black-and-Red couldn’t turn around a first half stoppage time goal.
D.C. United continued with Jon Kempin in goal with Brendan Hines-Ike, Tony Alfaro, and Andy Najar starting as the back three. Paul Arriola and Joseph Mora played as the two wingbacks and Moses Nyeman, Russell Canouse, and Drew Skundrich started in the midfield. Edison Flores and Adrien Perez led the line in their third consecutive match up-top as United’s two strikers.
D.C. United started the match on the front foot and were able to create a few goal-scoring chances early in the opening forty-five. The first notable attempt of the night came in the 24th minute when Paul Arriola fired his free kick under the wall only for it to be saved by a diving effort from Union goalkeeper, Andre Blake. One minute later, Julian Gressel, who came on for Edison Flores just a few minutes into the match after the Peruvian international picked up an injury, sent a cross towards the back post where a fully-stretched Drew Skundrich was inches away from opening the scoring. On the stroke of halftime, the Union found the back of the net through Kacper Przybylko. The Polish striker narrowly beat the offsides trap and place his effort into the bottom corner past an onrushing Kempin.
United put the pressure on all second half, outshooting Philadelphia 11-1 and controlling most of the possession in the Union’s final third. In the 56th minute, Adrien Perez cut onto his left foot and took a shot from inside the box that was saved by Philadelphia’s goalkeeper. Shortly after, Kevin Paredes, who came on as a substitute in the second half for the second straight match, beat his man on the top of the box before curling a right-footed effort towards the top corner that was parried away by a diving Blake. Despite an onslaught of pressure in the final fifteen minutes, United were unable to find the equalizing goal and the match ended 1-0 in favor or the Union.
D.C. United will travel south to face Inter Miami CF for their next match on Saturday, May 29 at 8 p.m. EST. Tune into NBC Sports Washington, TeleXitos, and www.dcunited.com to watch the match.
