Story of the Match
D.C. United will hit the road this weekend to take on FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Saturday, May 31st, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Black-and-Red are looking to redeem themselves after a narrow 1-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati earlier this season at Audi Field on April 12.
D.C. United has a 3-7-6 record with 15 points and is coming off a dramatic 1-1 comeback draw against the New England Revolution, after late heroics by Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Pirani. Midfielders Boris Enow and Brandon Servania were also pivotal to the Black-and-Red’s efforts, as Enow had the most completed passes in the match and Servania recorded the most tackles in the match.
With the absence of two-time MLS All-Star and Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke, Head Coach Troy Lesesne looked for a spark offensively from the other D.C. United players. Having already played eight matches in the month of May; Lesesne made two changes to the starting XI following the 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls. Both Derek Dodson and Conner Antley stepped into the lineup, replacing Garrison Tubbs and David Schnegg.
Forwards Jacob Murrell and João Peglow applied pressure early to New England’s defense with a couple of attempts on goal before the Black-and-Red conceded a goal right before half. New England’s midfielder, Ilay Feingold scored off of an unlucky deflection by the defense, which put the ball right in his lap for a right-footed finish. Despite several close attempts to equalize, D.C United was thwarted by key saves from Revolution's keeper Aljaz Ivacic. Then in the 81st minute, Gabriel Pirani subbed on and had an instant impact for the Black-and-Red. Ten minutes later in the first minute of stoppage time of the second half, the ball fell to Pirani as he unleashed a left footed shot into the top corner to equalize. This was Pirani’s first goal of the 2025 campaign and D.C. United was able to salvage a point. Pirani now has three goal contributions (one goal and two assists) in 11 MLS appearances for the Black-and-Red.
FC Cincinnati (9-3-4, 30 pts.) are second in the Eastern Conference and enter Saturday's match having scored nine goals in their last five matches. Cincinnati’s last match was a dramatic 3-3 draw against FC Dallas on Wednesday, May 28th, after a last-minute equalizer from Dallas’s Ibeaghea. Attacking midfielder Evander remains the spark for Cincinnati's attack, tallying seven goals and four assists in 14 appearances. D.C. United will need to keen in on Evander and limit his opportunities as much as possible if they want to leave TQL Stadium with a win.
By the Numbers | D.C. United vs. New England Revolution | May 28, 2025
- Forward Gabriel Pirani scored the equalizer for the Black-and-Red in the first minute of stoppage time after coming on as an 81st minute substitute. Pirani created two chances and had three total shots in nine minutes played.
- Midfielder Boris Enow recorded 11 recoveries and won a total of five duels. Enow completed 90 minutes.
- Forward João Peglow completed 100% of his dribbles and recorded seven recoveries in 81 minutes played tonight.
- Midfielder Brandon Servania recorded the most tackles in the match with six and had nine passes into the final third. Servania completed 90 minutes.
Last Match Against Cincinnati FC | April 12th, 2025 @ Audi Field
In their previous fixture, D.C. United fell 1-0 to FC Cincinnati on April 12th after a 28th minute goal from Gerardo Valenzuela. Gerardo Valenzuela’s solo run beat D.C. United goalkeeper Luis Barraza off of a defensive lapse. The Black-and-Red dominated the possession game, but failed to convert that into quality opportunities.
Despite D.C. United's efforts to equalize, Cincinnati’s defense was well organized and gave up limited chances. Forward Christian Benteke had notable chances in the 22nd and 54th minute, but were ultimately handled well by FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano, who secured his second consecutive clean sheet. The Black-and-Red ended the match with a total of 15 shots and 15 crosses but were unable to find the back of the net.
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.
