In front of a sold-out crowd in Baltimore, Inter Miami surpasses D.C. United

D.C. United entered into week 3 of the 2026 MLS season looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat in Austin last week. This week, they would face a tough test as they traveled north of Interstate 95 to the city of Baltimore to host the reigning MLS Cup Champions, Inter Miami FC, with all their stars, including Lionel Messi. 

D.C. United and Inter Miami played in the first-ever game in the city of Baltimore on Saturday afternoon. Photo Credit: D.C. United

In front of 72,026 fans at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD, on Saturday afternoon, Inter Miami defeated D.C. United 2-1. 

“We knew how to defend, even though they attacked us a lot in the second half.” Said Inter Miami striker German Berterame, “We were able to score the goals in the first half and give them a great advantage. They're difficult matches, but we came away with the victory.”

The Game

In the 17th minute, German Berterame stole the ball from Lucas Bartlett inside the box, playing the ball across the box to Telasco Segovia, who would lay the ball to an open Rodrigo De Paul, who settled Segovia’s pass and slotted the ball in the top right corner of Sean Johnson’s net to open up the scoring. 

"At the end, it was a gift, the first goal," said D.C. United head coach Rene Weiler said, “That was not expected, [to play] like this, but maybe a little bit nervous, because of the atmosphere, the spectators in the stadium, and, of course, the opponent, Miami. It shouldn't be like this, but it was." 

Miami would double its lead in the 27th minute, as Matteo Silvetti received the ball close to the touch line. Silvetti threaded a perfectly placed through ball behind the defense to Messi, who would chip the ball past Johnson to double Miami’s lead. 

“I think the first half was very good. We controlled the game, we made the difference, we created chances. Perhaps in the second half we struggled more…,” said Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano. "I think we have to value the positives. Three away games, we've managed two wins. There's a lot to improve on, but it's always better to improve coming from a victory.”

Leo Messi was one of the goal scorers for Inter Miami in their victory against D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium Saturday afternoon. Photo Credit: Inter Miami

Messi had a chance to grab his second of the game after dribbling past several defenders and shooting the ball from outside the box, but his shot rolled past the net and out of bounds. 

D.C found some life in the second half and nearly scored their first goal of the game in the 63rd minute, when a Keisuke Kurokawa cross found Jackson Hopkins inside the box. Hopkins managed to keep the ball in play and passed it back to Louis Munteanu, who put the ball towards the goal with an acrobatic bicycle kick, but his shot narrowly missed the back of the net and went out of bounds. 

"I think there weren't too many big chances for them in the game overall, besides obviously the goals," said D.C. midfielder Matti Peltola. "But I cannot be here and say, 'if there wouldn't be the goals, we would have [won], or whatever, because obviously goals also change the game, and that's something we need to take into consideration here."

D.C. cut the score to one goal late. In the 75th minute, on a United breakaway, Joao Peglow played the ball to Hopkins, who ran alone towards the box. Hopkins took a shot that was stopped by Dayne St. Clair, but the Canadian international left a rebound inside the box that was taken advantage of by Tai Baribo, who pushed the ball into the net to score his 2nd of the season. 

Tai Baribo celebrates his second goal of the season. Photo Credit: D.C. United

"I'm happy to score, but we didn't win, and I like to win. Unfortunately, it was not enough. "I'm happy to score, but we didn't win, and I like to win. Unfortunately, it was not enough, "said Baribo. “The energy was better in the second half, but to be honest, I think we should be better, because we didn't play well in my opinion.” He continued, "We tried, but we lost the ball — when I say 'we' included me first, I take responsibility — but all of us, we lost the ball too quickly... We know that it is not good enough, and the fans deserve better, but we are working on this. Obviously, it's a process, and we are here to work for that."

Berterame had an opportunity to close out the game after receiving a through ball from Messi inside the box, but Johnson stopped the shot, and the defense cleared the ball. However, Miami recovered and had one more shot, as Messi and Berterame connected once again. The former Monterrey striker played the ball across the box to De Paul, but his opportunity would go over the bar. 

"The feeling of not controlling the game is unusual for us because we usually do,” Mascherano said. “When we don't, you can see we're displeased."

With this result, D.C. United fell to 8th place in the Eastern Conference with 3 points, while Inter Miami moved to 3rd place with 6 points. 

Impressions of playing in Baltimore 

The game between the two teams was the first-ever MLS game to be held in the city of Baltimore, and fans responded accordingly, selling out M&T Bank Stadium for the occasion.

 Of course, many who came to witness the game were there to see Messi, as the crowd roared in approval after the eight-time Ballon D’Or winner scored the second goal of the game, much of the approval of the majority that were clad in Pink (sprinkled with some donning Messi’s #10 jerseys with both Barcelona and Argentina as well) in the stands. 

"Everything Leo generates has become normal," Mascherano said. "Sometimes, when things become natural [like that], they seem normal."

The more than 72,026 fans that attended the game set a new club record in attendance for D.C. United, and from a business standpoint, it was a good idea for the club to move the game 37 miles north to a bigger venue. 

“It was nice to have a game in front of so many spectators and in this beautiful stadium,” Weiler said. “We prefer to have a good result at the end, but it was a nice atmosphere.”

For Inter Miami goalkeeper Dwayne St. Clair, this was a full-circle moment for him. The former Minnesota United netminder, who joined Miami in the offseason, played college soccer at the University of Maryland, which is 30 miles south of Baltimore in the town of College Park, MD. 

“A full circle moment to play in the University of Maryland to playing in such a big stadium,” said St. Clair

When asked about playing in such a big venue, and having such a large portion of the crowd rooting on the away team in these kinds of environments St. Clair said: “It's definitely nice to be able to go to away stadiums and know you probably have more supporters than the actual home team sometimes,” he said ““Obviously that won't be the case in every single stadium, but I think it was definitely the case tonight.”

Meanwhile, some D.C. players gave their thoughts about the atmosphere throughout the game. 

"Obviously, we had some good fans here of D.C. United, but there was some moment in the game when all the stadium, I think, like was calling 'Messi,' so we felt like we played away," Said Baribo "The atmosphere was good, "But to be honest — you know, I have to be honest with myself — I don't know how many people came to see us."

D.C. United will now go on the road, as they will face the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The game will take place on Saturday, March 14th, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 pm.