D.C. United fell 4-1 to Orlando City SC at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday night despite outshooting the hosts 16-14. The result moves the Black-and-Red to 7-10-12 with 33 points in the Eastern Conference. Forward Tai Baribo scored D.C. United’s goal from the penalty spot, his team-leading 16th of the 2026 MLS season.
Head Coach René Weiler made three changes to the starting XI from Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Red Bull New York. Defender Sean Nealis stepped in for captain Lucas Bartlett, who served a one-match suspension following a red card. Midfielder João Peglow returned to the starting lineup and midfielder Jared Stroud made his first start since May 23 against CF Montréal. D.C. United lined up with goalkeeper Sean Johnson behind a back four of Silvan Hefti, Sean Nealis, Kye Rowles, and Keisuke Kurokawa, with a midfield of Kimito Nono, Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania, João Peglow and Jared Stroud while Captain Tai Baribo led the attack.
Orlando opened the scoring in the 15th minute when forward Antoine Griezmann combined with forward Daryl Dike and midfielder MartÃn Ojeda at the top of the box before finishing. Ojeda doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, finishing a lofted pass from Griezmann with a back-heel volley inside the far post. D.C. United responded before the break. The Black-and-Red were awarded a penalty after a player was brought down in the box during a corner kick, and Baribo placed his shot past goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the 45+2nd minute. D.C. United went into halftime trailing 2-1.
Weiler introduced midfielder Jackson Hopkins for Stroud at halftime as D.C. United looked for an equalizer. Griezmann restored Orlando’s two-goal lead in the 50th minute. Homegrown forward Oscar Avilez entered for Brandon Servania in the 65th minute, and Weiler brought on midfielder Matti Peltola for Silvan Hefti and forward Nathan Ordaz for Joao Peglow in the 78th minute as the Black-and-Red pushed forward. Substitute forward Marco Pašalić added a fourth for Orlando in the 90+5th minute.
Baribo led the D.C. United attack throughout the night, recording a match-high seven shots and completing 100% of his passes in 90 minutes played. Nealis won all of his ground duels and recorded eight defensive contributions in his first start since August 19 against the New England Revolution. Dozzell made his 14th start for the club, recording six recoveries and seven passes into the final third. Peglow created two chances and recorded four recoveries in 78 minutes played.
D.C. United hold a 10-10-3 all-time record against Orlando City SC in regular season play, including a 4-7-1 mark on the road. The Black-and-Red return to action on Wednesday, October 21 when they travel to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Orlando City SC Lineup: Maxime Crépeau, David Brekalo, Zakaria Taifi, Iago Teodoro, Ivan Angulo, Luis Otávio (Braian Ojeda 70'), Wilder Cartagena (Joran Gerbet 46'), Antoine Griezmann, Daryl Dike (Justin Ellis 70'), MartÃn Ojeda (Marco PaÅ¡alić 86'), Eduard Atuesta (Adrián MarÃn 70')
Unused Substitutes: Javier Otero, Tiago Souza, Nolan Miller, Harvey Sarajian
Head Coach: MartÃn Perelman (Interim)
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Silvan Hefti (Matti Peltola 78'), Keisuke Kurokawa, Sean Nealis, Kye Rowles, Kimito Nono, Andre Dozzell, João Peglow (Nathan Ordaz 78'), Jared Stroud (Jackson Hopkins 46'), Tai Baribo, Brandon Servania (Oscar Avilez 65')
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Conner Antley, Nikola Markovic, Kamil Castillo, Gavin Turner
Head Coach: René Weiler
