D.C. United fell to USL League One side One Knoxville SC in the Round of 32 of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at Audi Field, drawing 3-3 through 120 minutes before being eliminated 6-5 on penalty kicks. The Black-and-Red finish their 2026 Open Cup campaign in the Round of 32, with the focus now fully shifting to the 2026 MLS regular season.
Head Coach René Weiler made several changes to the starting XI from Saturday's MLS defeat at New England, with goalkeeper Alex Bono earning the start in goal. The first half was a closely contested affair with both sides creating moments of danger. Bono was called into action in first-half stoppage time when One Knoxville's Midfielder Finn McRobb directed a header from a corner kick that struck the crossbar, with Bono collecting the ball before any further danger could materialize. The two sides went into the break level at 0-0.
D.C. United took control of the match in the 61st minute when midfielder Matti Peltola struck a low shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner to give the Black-and-Red a 1-0 lead. However, One Knoxville responded with two goals in quick succession, with forward Babacar Diene equalizing in the 75th minute before substitute Denis Krioutchenkov put the visitors ahead shortly after entering the match. With the Black-and-Red trailing for the first time on the night, defender Nikola Markovic pulled D.C. United level in the 83rd minute to send the match into extra time at 2-2.
Forward João Peglow gave the Black-and-Red a 3-2 advantage in the 97th minute, with the goal assisted by goalkeeper Alex Bono. One Knoxville refused to yield, with Krioutchenkov completing his brace in the 113th minute to level the score once more at 3-3 and force a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, all takers converted from the spot until midfielder Gabriel Pirani's effort was saved by One Knoxville goalkeeper Jon Burke. Kyle Linhares then stepped up to convert the decisive kick, sending the League One side through to the Round of 16 for the first time in club history and ending D.C. United's 2026 Open Cup campaign.
D.C. United return to MLS action on Saturday, April 18 when the Black-and-Red travel to face the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
D.C. United Lineup: Alex Bono, Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Nikola Markovic, Conner Antley (Silvan Hefti 82'), Hosei Kijima (Jared Stroud 45'), Matti Peltola, Jackson Hopkins (Brandon Servania 45'), João Peglow, Gavin Turner (Gabriel Pirani 45'), Louis Munteanu (Jacob Murrell 76')
Unused Substitutes: Jordan Farr, Oscar Avilez
Head Coach: René Weiler
One Knoxville SC Lineup: Jonathan Burke, Jaheim Brown (Will Perkins 98'), Jordan Skelton, Finn McRobb, Chris Tia (Dani Fernandez 77'), Abel Caputo (Denis Krioutchenkov 77'), John Murphy (Steven Cordova 63'), Real Gill (Eli Conway 62'), Mikkel Goling, Braudillio Rodrigues, Babacar Diene (Kyle Linhares 90')
Unused Substitutes: Johan Garibay
Head Coach: Ian Fuller
