Story of the Match
D.C. United returns home to face Eastern Conference opponent Nashville SC at Audi Field on June 28, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Black-and-Red will look to capitalize at home after a weeklong break from MLS action. The two sides met earlier this year on May 17, 2025, in a 0-0 draw at GEODIS Park with five saves from goalkeeper Luis Barraza, recording his second clean sheet of the season.
D.C. United holds a 4-9-6 record with 18 points in the Eastern Conference and is looking to bounce back from the 2-0 loss against Real Salt Lake on June 14. Head Coach Troy Lesesne made four changes to the starting lineup with Dominique Badji getting the nod up front after scoring his first goal of the season against Chicago Fire FC on June 7. Coach Lesesne also gave midfielder Randall Leal the start in that match, after providing a spark off the bench against Chicago. The Black-and-Red also welcomed back defender Kye Rowles (Australia) and midfielder Boris Enow (Cameroon) from international duty, with both getting the start against Real Salt Lake.
The Black-and-Red started the game on the front foot with a chance in the 14th minute when midfielder Gabriel Pirani hit a right-footed shot from the center of the box that narrowly missed. Real Salt Lake struck early in the 23rd minute when forward Johnny Russell slotted a shot into the bottom corner after receiving a through ball from midfielder Diego Gonçalves. In the 77th minute, midfielder Zavier Gozo made it 2-0 with a right footed shot from the top of the box to secure the win for the home side.
Despite the loss, goalkeeper Luis Barraza put together another solid performance, turning away five of the eight shots on target that he faced. In the midfield, Boris Enow completed 100% of his dribbles and won three interceptions, while also adding two completed tackles. Defender Lucas Bartlett anchored the backline, recording eight recoveries and winning five ground duels in a full 90 minutes.
Nashville SC (10-4-5, 35 pts.) is currently third in the Eastern Conference and enter Saturday's match with a (4-3-2) record on the road, after defeating the New England Revolution 3-2 on the road in a midweek fixture on June 25. Nashville SC has been in top form for the past two months, going unbeaten in their last 12 matches and scoring 27 goals in that span.
Head Coach B.J. Callahan will again rely on offensive powerhouses Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar, who have accumulated 34 total goal contributions (23 goals, 11 assists) this season. Surridge currently leads MLS with 15 goals in 19 appearances. D.C. United will also have to keep an eye on defender Andy Najar on the right side, who ranks second on the team in assists with seven. Najar spent five seasons with the Black-and-Red, winning the MLS Rookie of the Year award in 2010. Having played on Wednesday, the Black-and-Red will look to take advantage of Nashville's quick turnaround after having two games within three days.
This game will be a reunion for midfielder Randall Leal, who spent five seasons with Nashville, appearing in 117 matches, scoring 17 goals, and providing 18 assists. The Black-and-Red will again be without star defender Aaron Herrera, who is still with the Guatemala National Team competing in the Gold Cup after advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Coach Lesesne will get a boost as midfielder Matti Peltola returns to the squad after spending time with the Finland U-21 team.
D.C. United will need to limit and apply heavy pressure to both Nashville forwards, Sam Surridge, who is coming off a hattrick in his last match against the New England Revolution, and Hany Mukhtar, who leads the team with 42 shots on target.
By the Numbers | D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake | June 14, 2025
- Midfielder Boris Enow won three tackles and had a 100% dribbles success rate; he completed 90 minutes.
- Goalkeeper Luis Barraza recorded five saves off eight shots on target. Barraza has 49 saves in 12 matches this season.
- Defender Lucas Bartlett won five ground duels and recorded eight recoveries; he completed 90 minutes.
- Midfielder Randall Leal made his first start for the Black-and-Red since May 14 against New York City FC. Leal won four total duels and created one chance in 62 minutes played.
Last Match Against Nashville SC | May 17, 2025 @ GEODIS Park
In their previous fixture against Nashville SC, D.C. United drew 0-0 on the road on May 17, 2025, after a back-and-forth defensive battle between the two sides. Black-and-Red goalkeeper Luis Barraza made five saves from eight shots on target, recording a clean sheet. Nashville struggled to create chances, being limited to eight total shots throughout the whole game. D.C. United struggled to create chances of their own, having only three total shots throughout the game while having 45.8% possession. The match ended in a stalemate after impressive performances from both backlines. The Black-and-Red will look to get the better of Nashville at Audi Field in the second matchup of the season.
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.
