In a tough defensive matchup, D.C. United loss 1-0 to Nashville SC at Audi Field on Saturday night. Despite conceding an early penalty goal in the 18th minute, converted by Sam Surridge, the Black-and-Red battled hard, pushing Nashville until the final whistle.
After falling behind early, D.C. United gradually built momentum after making some halftime adjustments. Head Coach Troy Lesesne introduced impactful substitutes in the 62nd minute, with Christian Benteke, João Peglow, and Gabriel Pirani all entering to spark the attack. Making his first appearance since sustaining an injury on May 14 against New York City FC, Benteke immediately threatened, nearly equalizing in the 66th minute with a powerful header that narrowly missed Nashville's goal.
Gabriel Pirani was active in the Black-and-Red attack after coming on, attempting a shot in the 80th minute that was blocked by Nashville defender Jack Maher. Defender David Schnegg also consistently pushed forward from defense, registering blocked shot attempts in the 59th and 91st minutes and delivering several dangerous crosses throughout the match. Schnegg had eight passes into the final third and had a 100% dribble success rate.
Defenders Lucas Bartlett and Kye Rowles provided stability at the back, effectively limiting Nashville's open-play opportunities. The defensive line restricted Nashville SC to only two shots on goal, with goalkeeper Luis Barraza making one vital save in the 37th minute, denying a scoring attempt from Sam Surridge and keeping D.C. within striking distance.
The Black-and-Red finished the match with seven total shots, including one on target, and earned four corners, showcasing their ability to apply offensive pressure despite being down early in the match.
D.C. United are now 2-5-4 at home this 2025 MLS season and hold a 2-5-3 against Nashville SC all-time in regular season matchups.
Despite the frustrating result, the team's resilience and determination were evident. D.C. United now focuses on quickly regrouping and preparing for their next match. D.C. United will host Atlanta United FC at Audi Field on Saturday, July 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
D.C. United Lineup: Luis Barraza, Garrison Tubbs (Matti Peltola 54'), Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles, David Schnegg, Boris Enow, Brandon Servania (Jackson Hopkins 77'), Conner Antley, Hosei Kijima (Joāo Peglow 62'), Dominique Badji (Christian Benteke 62'), Jared Stroud (Gabriel Pirani 62')
Unused Substitutes: Kim Joon-Hong, Randall Leal, Derek Dodson, Jacob Murrell
Head Coach: Troy Lesesne
Nashville SC Lineup: Joe Willis, Daniel Lovitz, Jeisson Palacios, Jack Maher, Andy Najar (Josh Bauer 76'), Gaston Burgman, Patrick Yazbek (Matthew Corcoran 90'+4'), Hany Mukhtar, Alex Muyl (Ahmed Qosem 65'), Jonathan Perez (Alan Carleton 77'), Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 90'+3')
Unused Substitutes: Bryan Acosta, Julian Gaines, Christopher Applewhite, Brian Schwake
Head Coach: B. J. Callaghan
