D.C. snapped an 11-game winless streak with a surprise victory on the road against NYCFC

After being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last week at home, D.C. United is now looking to build ahead of the 2026 season and play spoiler for other teams with playoff aspirations later in the season.

Gabriel Pirani scored a brace against NYCFC Saturday night. Photo Credit: D.C. United

D.C. traveled to Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY, on Saturday night to face New York City FC, who were looking to climb the standings and keep their playoff hopes alive. However, D.C. would come out victorious in front of a stunted crowd that gathered to watch the game, as D.C. would come out with a 1-2 victory on the road, snapping an 11-game winless getting their first win since May 31st when they defeated FC Cincinnati on the road. 

This also served as United’s first win on the road against New York City FC in three years. The last time D.C. defeated NYCFC at home was on August 31st, 2022, at Sports Illustrated Stadium (FKA as Red Bull Arena at the time) by a score of 2-1. The scorers for United on the day were Ola Kamara and Steve Birnbaum, while Heber scored for NYCFC. 

"We are all happy that we won again. It was a tough time for everybody, frustrating after a long time without a single win. I'm happy for everybody, for the players 1st and then for the club and the fans that we have that feeling back." Said D.C. United head coach

René Weiler, "They played very solid, very compact. Everybody helped each other. It was difficult to 1st off, we were dominated by New York FC, but. They were in a good flow. They didn't lose one of the last five games. They even won four games of these. A very good performance of the whole team.”

The Game

NYCFC were the more aggressive side, creating goalscoring opportunities early and often. They would be rewarded for their persistence as they opened up the scoring in the 19th minute. 

The play for the goal started when Maxemiliano “Maxi” Morales played a short pass to Kevin O’Toole, who played the ball to Justin Haak, who laid the ball off to Alonso Martinez, the Costa Rican international played the ball into traffic to Morales, the Argentine midfielder played the ball back to Haak who with a one-time shot from the top of the box, got it past former NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza and into the lower right corner of the net to give NYCFC the lead. 

“To describe so I told him that that is only sport, and you have to try to get out to most of your potential, you have to be a team first to help each other, and then we can turn the situation." Said Weiler, " But it's not everything good now after these three games, but. We brought a little bit back the confidence and the belief in us, and that is for me the most important thing.” 

In the 43rd minute, a long throw-in aimed for Christian Benteke was cleared out by the NYCFC defense. The ball would fall to Gabriel Pirani at the top of the box, and Pirani would avoid his marker with a small feint and line up his shot from the top of the box. The ball would go past Matt Freese and hit the inside of the crossbar and into the back of the net to tie the game. 

NYCFC looked to take the lead at the start of the second half when Barraza stopped a Nicolás Fernández shot to keep it tied at that moment. NYCF had another chance to take the lead in the 67th minute; however, Hannes Wolf's shot would go just wide of the goal.  

D.C. would take the lead in the 77th minute. When a failed through ball in the midfield bounced off Matti Peltola, the ball fell to Benteke, who placed a through ball into space, behind the NYCFC backline to Pirani, who was left one-on-one with Freese. The Brazilian midfielder slotted the lower left-hand corner, giving D.C. the lead. 

“Have to speak about his technical qualities, and we don't have so many players who can score goals, and now we have Hopkins for the first two goals. And today, the two nice goals of Pirani. I'm happy for him. And yeah, I hope he's going to. Score a lot of auto calls in the next few games.” Weiler said about Pirani's performance.

NYCFC would find some goal-scoring opportunities late in the game, but they were unable to get past D.C.'s defense, securing all three points for the visitors, and United got their first win under Weiler. 

With this result, D.C. is tied for last place in the Eastern Conference with CF Montreal with 24 points. NYCFC sits in 8th place in the Eastern Conference with 44 points.  

D.C. will play a friendly match at home against Mexican side Club America on September 6th and will return to league action on September 13th when they host Orlando City SC at Audi Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.