D.C. United defeated Red Bull New York 2-1 at Audi Field on Wednesday night. The Black-and-Red held on with 10 men for the final 22 minutes of regulation behind first-half goals from forward Tai Baribo and defender Silvan Hefti. The match was 'Noche Latina' presented by 602 Steamfitters, celebrating the Latino heritage and culture that has been part of D.C. United since day one, with a halftime performance by Alex Sensation. The result moves the Black-and-Red to 7-9-12 with 33 points and still hold a match in hand, with the rescheduled trip to FC Cincinnati set for October 21.
Head Coach René Weiler made three changes to the starting XI from Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Inter Miami CF. Defender Silvan Hefti, midfielder Brandon Servania, and Homegrown forward Oscar Avilez replaced midfielder Joao Peglow, defender Nikola Markovic, and midfielder Hosei Kijima. 16-year-old D.C. United Academy product Oscar Avilez made his MLS debut in his first start for the club. A Choluteca, Honduras native and the 22nd Homegrown signing in club history, Avilez made his debut on a night celebrating the club’s Latino community.
D.C. United lined up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of goalkeeper Sean Johnson, with a back four of defenders Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Captain Lucas Bartlett and Silvan Hefti. Midfielders Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania, and Kimito Nono lined up behind forwards Jackson Hopkins and Oscar Avilez with Tai Baribo leading the attack.Â
D.C. United started quickly. In the 3rd minute, Servania met a cross from Nono with a left-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box that went just wide. Moments later, Baribo was brought down inside the box by Red Bull New York midfielder Adri Mehmeti. Baribo converted the penalty into the bottom right corner in the 5th minute for his 15th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
As Red Bull New York pushed for an equalizer, Johnson saved a free kick from forward Red Bull New York forward Cade Cowell in the 24th minute and made another save from close range in the 43rd minute. Avilez nearly doubled the lead in the 45+2nd minute with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box. D.C. United doubled the lead on the final corner kick of the half. Kurokawa delivered the ball, Baribo headed it across goal, and Hefti headed home from close range into the bottom left corner in the 45+5th minute for his second goal of the season. D.C. United went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Red Bull New York pressed after the break as Johnson saved a shot from midfielder Mohammed Sofo in the 51st minute. Midfielders Jared Stroud and Joao Peglow entered in the 56th minute for Avilez and Hopkins, respectively. Avilez left the field having recorded eight touches in the opposition box, the most of any player in the match. Johnson made another save in the 64th minute, stopping a shot from Red Bull New York midfielder Emil Forsberg.
In the 68th minute, Bartlett received his second yellow card and was sent off. Defender Sean Nealis entered for Servania in the 70th minute to reinforce the back line. Red Bull New York pulled one back in the 71st minute when substitute forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting finished a through ball from Emil Forsberg. D.C. United defended a series of late corner kicks, and Red Bull New York forward Cameron Harper hit the left post in the 86th minute. Johnson secured the result in the 90+5th minute, saving a header from Red Bull New York defender Julian Bazan to finish the night with six saves. Baribo added his first MLS assist of the 2026 season.
D.C. United improved its all-time regular season record against Red Bull New York to 39-36-19 and 24-17-8 at home, following a 4-4 draw between the sides in April. The Black-and-Red visit Orlando City SC at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday, October 17, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Kimito Nono, Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania (Sean Nealis 70'), Jackson Hopkins (Joao Peglow 56'), Oscar Avilez (Jared Stroud 56'), Tai Baribo
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Matti Peltola, Nathan Ordaz, Nikola Markovic, Kamil Castillo, Gavin Turner
Head Coach: Rene Weiler
Red Bull New York Lineup: Ethan Horvath, Justin Che (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 57'), Dylan Nealis, Julian Bazan, Devin Padelford, Adri Mehmeti (Emil Forsberg 57'), Mohammed Sofo, Ronald Donkor (Sekou Kone 78'), Cade Cowell (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 57'), Julian Zakrzewski, Jorge Ruvalcaba (Cameron Harper 57')
Unused Substitutes:Â John McCarthy, Connor Faello, Matthew Dos Santos, Rafael Mosquera
Head Coach: Michael Bradley
