Luis Barraza shines as D.C. secures a draw at home against NYCFC.

After a poor performance on the road last Saturday in Toronto, D.C., United looked to bounce back and get a positive result at home against New York City FC on Wednesday night. 

On a cloudy spring night in Washington, D.C. United managed to secure a draw against New York City as the game finished 0-0, thanks in large part to the performance of D.C. goalkeeper Luis Barraza. 

“The entire group really worked hard to defend and keep a clean sheet,” D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne said. “But you have to say Luis is the person who led us in that area. And I know this one meant a little bit more probably than a lot of the other results, but he really stepped up big.”

David Schnegg is taking on Julian Fernandez in D.C. nil-nil draw at home against NYCFC. Photo Credit: D.C. United

Luis Barraza’s big night 

For Barraza, this game had a little more significance for him. Before arriving at United this past offseason, Barraza played for NYCFC for six seasons. New York selected Barraza in the first round of the 2019 MLS Superdraft. He made 30 appearances for the club, making 24 starts for The Pigeons in 2023. 

“A Shutout, in general, is always good.” Said Barraza about getting a clean sheet against his former team. “Against my old team, it’s special. There was certainly some banter [between him and his former teammates] going on in our group chat. I know that this game was going to be special for them and me as well, because of the history. But I think they played a good game. I had to stand up for myself and show them that it wasn't going to be easy.”

Barraza made a total of six saves during the match on 15 shots on goal, recording his first personal shutout of the season and the club’s second shutout this season.

The Game

New York created the goal-scoring opportunity in the 10th minute when Hannes Wolf connected with Alonso Martinez, who turned with the ball infield and changed the position of the attack. Martinez connected with Julian Fernandez, who played the ball back to the Costa Rican International inside the box, settling the ball and letting out a shot that hit the side of the crossbar. The redirect fell to Wolf, but his shot missed the mark. 

In the 20th minute, D.C. would suffer a setback offensively as Christian Benteke had to be subbed off due to a twisted ankle. 

“I don't know the exact evaluation of the end. It was enough that he needed to come out of the game.” Said Lesesne, “I'm hopeful that it's not going to be something that's going to be too long-term.”

Benteke left the match for a brief moment to get treatment on the injury. Shortly after returning to the match, he sat down in the middle of the field and signaled for a substitution, bringing his night to an end and subsequently subbing in Jacob Murrell in his place. Benteke suffered a quadriceps injury against the New York Red Bulls back in April, which led him to miss the following match against the Philadelphia Union. 

New York had another chance to open up the scoring on a Maxi Morales freekick that found Justin Haak inside the box. Haak played the ball to Andres Perea who shot the ball from close range, but Barraza was able to deny Perea on his goal line and send the ball out for a corner kick. 

New York had several goal-scoring opportunities, but they were unable to penetrate Barraza’s net. 

In the 39th minute, Martinez would have another opportunity to open up the scoring, receiving a through pass inside the box. Martinez cut back and took a curling shot towards the right corner of the goal; however, Barraza was equal to the shot and made a diving save denying his former team another opportunity to open up the scoring. 

Barraza was called on again to start the second half. On a New York corner kick the ball found Johnathan Shore inside the box. Shore headed the ball from close range, but Barraza denied the ball from crossing the line, and the subsequent rebound was cleared out of play. 

Martinez would have his third opportunity to get a goal, but Barraza denied him once more and sent the ball out for a corner kick. In the 65th minute, Brik Riza had a chance to open up the scoring, but his shot hit the far post and went out for a goal kick.

D.C. would create a goal-scoring opportunity that forced NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese to work a shot from distance by Rida Zouhir, forcing Freese to make a big save.   

In the 78th minute D.C. almost broke the deadlock off a corner kick, the lobbying cross found the head of Lucas Bartlett, as he headed the ball in the direction of David Schnegg who got his foot to the ball and sent it in the direction of goal, but Freese denied Schnegg with a goal line save and the ball was cleared out. 

“A number of times we were able to progress the ball and break the first line, but then we never picked up speed and had any kind of intensity to break the next line and go forward,” Lesesne said. “The first half was okay. The second half, though, we defended a lot and never really created enough chances.”

D.C. homegrown player Jackson Hopkins came into the match to play his first minutes of the 2025 season and was greeted with an ovation. Hopkins had not played since injuring his ankle last summer. 

Despite several more opportunities in front of the net, neither team was able to break the deadlock, keeping the game scoreless at the full-time whistle. 

After this result, D.C. stays in 12th place of the Eastern Conference with 13 points, while New York is tied in 8th place of the Eastern Conference with 18 points. 

D.C. now travels to Nashville before a two-game home stand for both US Open Cup and league play as they visit Geodis Park to take on Nashville SC on Saturday, May 17th. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 pm.