WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, USA — Audi Field crackled with tension on a fiery afternoon as D.C. United ground out a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Union in MLS action, with Tai Baribo's clinical 23rd-minute finish and a commanding display from goalkeeper Sean Johnson proving the difference. The Black-and-Red were made to work every second of a bruising contest that saw six yellow cards and a red brandished, but they held firm when it mattered most.
It was Baribo who provided the moment of quality that ultimately separated the sides. The striker latched onto a perfectly timed delivery from Peglow following a swift D.C. United fast break, and with composure that belied the urgency of the moment, he steered a right-footed effort from the left side of the box into the bottom right corner. It was a goal that rewarded D.C. United's directness and gave them a platform to defend with purpose for the remainder of the match.
Philadelphia Union pushed hard to find a way back into the contest, and the game's complexion shifted dramatically in the 58th minute when Ezekiel Alladoh was shown a straight red card, leaving the visitors to navigate more than half an hour with ten men. Rather than capitulating, the Union pressed on with admirable determination, and it was in the 77th minute that Johnson was called upon to produce the save of the match. Augustín Anello, introduced as a substitute just minutes earlier, unleashed a powerful right-footed drive from outside the box that appeared destined for the top centre of the goal — only for Johnson to get across brilliantly and push it away. It was a moment that encapsulated the goalkeeper's commanding afternoon.
The tactical battle was intense throughout, with both sides contesting every blade of grass across the Audi Field pitch. Jackson Hopkins was a combative presence in D.C. United's midfield, winning free kicks and driving forward, while Silvan Hefti and Kye Rowles were kept busy defensively as Philadelphia Union continued to probe even after the red card. Bruno Damiani was lively for the visitors before his substitution in the 79th minute, and it was his assist that set up Anello's stinging effort. Louis Munteanu, introduced from the bench in the 70th minute, added fresh energy for the hosts and went close himself in the 87th minute, his right-footed effort from the centre of the box narrowly missing to the left.
The statistics told a fascinating story of a match where the scoreline flattered neither side's dominance. Philadelphia Union edged possession at 51.7% to D.C. United's 48.3%, and outshot their hosts 11 to 7, with three shots on target to D.C. United's one. The Union also earned five corners to D.C. United's solitary flag kick. Yet it was the hosts who took all three points — a reminder that efficiency and defensive resilience can trump statistical superiority on any given day. The referee was kept busy throughout, brandishing seven cards in a feisty affair — four yellow cards for Philadelphia Union and two for D.C. United — before Alladoh's dismissal added further drama. Sean Johnson's four saves underlined just how vital his contribution was to the final outcome.
The turning point arrived not just with Alladoh's red card, but with Johnson's 77th-minute intervention. Philadelphia Union, despite being reduced to nine men following a second yellow for Danley Jean Jacques deep in stoppage time, never stopped pressing. That relentless pressure made D.C. United's defensive effort all the more impressive, with every block, clearance, and Johnson save adding to the collective resolve that secured the points.
D.C. United can approach their meeting with Austin FC on March 1 with renewed belief, having demonstrated the defensive grit and counter-attacking sharpness that can trouble any opponent. For Philadelphia Union, attention turns to bouncing back when they host Defense Force FC on February 26 — a fixture they will need to approach with far greater discipline if they are to avoid another afternoon of frustration.
