Latest news with #D.C. United
Washington Post
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Another 2-1 loss, this one at Columbus, keeps D.C. United sputtering
D.C. United has become more competitive under interim coach Kevin Flanagan, but mistakes and a glaring absence of attacking threats continue to mar close matches. Saturday night's 2-1 away loss to the Columbus Crew was the same margin as the previous two setbacks, extending United's winless streak to seven in MLS and eight in all competitions. Christian Benteke, United's top threat, scored his first goal since returning from a series of injuries, tying the score early in the second half. But moments after entering, Lassi Lappalainen scored in the 78th minute for the Crew (12-4-8) as United fell to 0-6-1 in its past seven league games and 4-13-7 overall. In a match that started 35 minutes late because of inclement weather, Columbus was by far the better team. Nonetheless, United stayed in the match through defensive persistence and organization. Benteke's goal offered hope of gaining a point, if not three, against an MLS Cup contender. United played its fourth away match in 11 days, including a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in Nashville, Troy Lesesne's last game before being fired. Flanagan, who will run the team until Switzerland native René Weiler receives his work visa, said the busy schedule has helped the team keep its chin up during off-field changes and on-field doldrums. 'With the amount of games we've been playing and the travel, there hasn't been that much time to allow the stress off the pitch to really negatively affect the group,' he said Friday. 'There's no doubt about it: The guys are feeling that fatigue ... but the way they're going about the work has been excellent.' United will return to Audi Field next Saturday to face Austin FC, then hit the road again for visits to New England and Montreal. Even under the best circumstances, playing in Columbus is not easy. This year, though, the Crew has lost just once in 13 league matches at Field; Lionel Messi's Inter Miami did the honors in April. Flanagan reincorporated four starters who sat out the 2-1 loss in Charlotte on Wednesday: Benteke (muscle tightness), center back Lucas Bartlett (ankle ailment) and fullbacks David Schnegg and Aaron Herrera (yellow-card suspensions). Amid the winless streak, goalkeeper Luis Barraza and midfielder Gabriel Pirani have stood out — Barraza with a number of brilliant saves and Pirani with five goals in the previous nine matches. As expected against the superior Crew, Barraza and the D.C. defense were under pressure from the start. Flanagan's four-man back line — a switch from Lesesne's five-man formation — shielded the keeper by keeping its shape and composure. United's resistance, though, cracked when Bartlett took down designated player Daniel Gazdag in the box. With a clinical penalty kick, Gazdag posted his first goal for the Crew in 16 appearances since being acquired from Philadelphia in the spring. United continued sitting back and waiting for counterattack opportunities; there were few. In possession, D.C. was dull and predictable. Columbus prevented Pirani from finding space to shoot outside the box, and Benteke, who is harmless without service, received almost none. Max Arfsten almost doubled the lead on the last touch of the half, but after pouncing on Herrera's poorly headed back pass, his bid was fractionally off-target. Although United remained within a goal at halftime, Columbus was comfortable in possession and unfazed in those rare moments when it needed to defend. United, however, drew even three minutes into the second half on Benteke's first goal since May 3 and his seventh of the season. Derek Dodson crossed into the box to the unmarked Benteke for an eight-yard header past Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte. It was United's first shot on target. Two minutes later, Barraza prevented disaster. Bartlett played the ball out of the box to Boris Enow, but Enow wasn't paying attention. Dylan Chambost intercepted the pass and drove a low shot that Barraza deflected. Bartlett shouted and gestured at Enow. Still not at top fitness, Benteke was replaced in the 62nd minute by Dominique Badji (one goal in 18 matches). United continued to absorb pressure, but in the 78th minute it conceded the tiebreaking goal. D.C. was unable to clear the ball from danger. Enow poked the ball toward the top of the box. Lappalainen smashed a 16-yard one-timer past Barraza for his first goal. Herrera was red-carded in the 89th minute after receiving his second yellow. He will miss the Austin match.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
D.C. United's winless run hits seven: ‘It's tough for the lads'
Mired in a prolonged rut and shaken by a coaching change, D.C. United is not having the best of summers. Remove three starters before Wednesday night's match against Charlotte FC, and United faced a dire outlook at Bank of America Stadium. The adrift MLS club remained on even terms until almost halftime, but a goal just before intermission and another just after it led to a 2-1 setback that extended United's winless streak to six in league play and seven overall.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
D.C. United name Rene Weiler as head coach
July 16 - D.C. United named Rene Weiler as their new head coach on Wednesday, six days after firing Troy Lesesne. Weiler, 51, has been managing clubs in his native Switzerland as well as Germany, Belgium, Egypt and Japan since 2009. Most recently, he guided Swiss Super League side Servette FC to the Swiss Cup title in 2024. He took over as the club's sporting director in June 2024. "Rene is a tactician with a proven ability to implement a clear and disciplined playing style, and to adapt that system to bring the best out of his players," D.C. general manager and chief soccer officer Ally Mackay said in a news release. "He builds teams that are organized, aggressive out of possession, and purposeful in attack. That style reflects the identity we're working to establish at D.C. United. "His experience developing talent and demanding high standards makes him the ideal leader to guide this project. We're excited to welcome him to the club and fully support his vision for what this team can become." Weiler's teams have won six titles, including the 2016-17 Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht and the 2019-20 Egyptian Premier League with Al Ahly. "This is a club with a proud history and a passionate fanbase, and I believe strongly in the project taking shape here," Weiler said. "The foundation that has been put in place gives me real confidence in what we can build. "There is important work ahead, but I'm excited to help lead D.C. United back to where it belongs, competing for championships." Currently 13th in the Eastern Conference, the Black-and-Red are in danger of missing the MLS Cup Playoffs for a sixth straight season. Lesesne compiled a record of 18-26-17 across all competitions before being sacked on July 10. Academy director Kevin Flanagan served as interim coach. --Field Level Media
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
D.C. United officially names René Weiler as its new coach
D.C. United on Wednesday named René Weiler its head coach, turning to a well-traveled Swiss native who will attempt to revitalize an organization on pace to miss the MLS playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Weiler, 51, signed a guaranteed contract through the 2027 season and will take charge after his work visa is approved in the coming weeks. Terms were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the negotiations said Weiler's base salary will start at $1.4 million and grow to $1.85 million — the largest coaching pact in club history.
Washington Post
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Coaching change does little to alter D.C. United's fortunes in loss to Galaxy
With an interim coach running the show and the expected next coach in attendance, D.C. United on Saturday continued stumbling through the summer with a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in Carson, California. In its first match since Troy Lesesne's dismissal Wednesday, United (4-11-7) fell behind by two goals early in the second half. Over the last 30-plus minutes, D.C. made positive strides and very nearly pulled off a two-goal comeback.
