D.C. United fell 2-1 to FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Wednesday night despite holding 53% of possession and earning nine corners to the hosts’ six. The result moves the Black-and-Red to 7-11-12 with 33 points in the Eastern Conference. Midfielder Kimito Nono scored D.C. United’s goal, finishing an over-the-top ball from midfielder João Peglow in the 38th minute.
Head Coach René Weiler made three changes to the starting XI from Saturday’s match against Orlando City SC. Goalkeeper Alex Bono made his first start of the season in place of the questionable Sean Johnson. Captain Lucas Bartlett returned to the back line after serving a one-match suspension, and forward Jackson Hopkins joined the starting lineup. D.C. United lined up in a 4-4-2 with Bono behind a back four of Silvan Hefti, Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles and Keisuke Kurokawa, a midfield of Kimito Nono, Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania and João Peglow, and Tai Baribo and Jackson Hopkins leading the attack.
D.C. United started off on the front foot, with Hopkins and Dozzell each testing the FC Cincinnati defense inside the opening 10 minutes. FC Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 14th minute when wingback David Douděra finished a shot from the right side of the box. The Black-and-Red responded with sustained pressure. Dozzell forced FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano into a save in the 21st minute, Servania fired just over the bar moments later, and Baribo narrowly missed with a header off a Kurokawa corner in the 25th minute. D.C. United’s persistence paid off in the 38th minute when Peglow split the Cincinnati back line with an over-the-top through ball, and Nono finished with his left foot into the bottom left corner. Bono kept the score level before the break with saves on FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo in the 43rd minute and forward Tom Barlow in first-half stoppage time.
FC Cincinnati retook the lead in the 55th minute when defender Teenage Hadebe finished from close range following a set piece. D.C. United pushed for an equalizer right away. Peglow forced a diving save from Celentano in the 57th minute, and Servania had a shot blocked a minute later. Weiler introduced forward Nathan Ordaz for Hopkins in the 67th minute, and Ordaz had an effort blocked in the 74th minute. Bono came up big again in the 75th minute, denying a header from defender Nick Hagglund. Bartlett nearly leveled the match in the 77th minute, but his header off a Dozzell cross was blocked. Weiler brought on midfielder Matti Peltola for Servania and homegrown forward Oscar Avilez for Hefti in the 79th minute. Defender Sean Nealis entered for Rowles in the 90th minute as the Black-and-Red pressed until the final whistle.
Nono led the D.C. United attack, scoring a goal and posting a team-high 0.54 combined expected goals and expected assists in 90 minutes. Peglow recorded an assist and was D.C. United’s highest-rated player on the night. Bono made four saves in his first start of the 2026 season. Bartlett recorded nine defensive contributions in his return to the lineup. Hefti added eight defensive contributions in 79 minutes. As a team, D.C. United completed 357 passes at 80% accuracy and recorded 27 touches in the opposition box to Cincinnati’s 23.
D.C. United hold a 6-4-5 all-time record against FC Cincinnati all-time in regular season matchups, including a 4-1-4 mark on the road. The Black-and-Red return to Audi Field on Saturday, October 24, when they host FC Cincinnati in a quick rematch. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
FC Cincinnati Lineup: Roman Celentano, Nick Hagglund, Teenage Hadebe, Kyle Smith, Obinna Nwobodo, Evander Da Silva Ferreira (Kenji Mboma Dem 90'), Pavel Bucha, Tyrell Malacia (Bryan RamÃrez 45'), Kevin Denkey (Samuel Gidi 80'), Tom Barlow (Ayoub Jabbari 80'), David Doudera (Alvas Powell 69').
Unused Substitutes: Evan Louro, Gerardo Valenzuela, Brian Anunga, Andrei Chirila
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
D.C. United Lineup: Alex Bono, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti (Oscar Avilez 79'), Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles (Sean Nealis 90'), Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania (Matti Peltola 79'), Kimito Nono, João Peglow, Tai Baribo, Jackson Hopkins (Nathan Ordaz 67')
Unused Substitutes: Jordan Farr, Conner Antley, Nikola Markovic, Jared Stroud, Kamil Castillo
Head Coach: René Weiler
