Union scoring struggles continue, unable to break down stingy D.C. United

The Philadelphia Union failed to score against a defensive D.C. United team on Saturday, splitting the points with the visitors in a 0-0 draw.

In previous seasons, the Union have dominated their matches against D.C. United, winning their previous three matches against D.C. 6-0, 3-0, and 4-0. Before this season, the last Union loss against D.C. United was in August of 2021. Five years later, the script has flipped.

With both of the Union’s scheduled 2026 matchups against D.C. in the books, the Boys in Blue claimed only one of a possible six points after a loss in the season opener at Audi Field. There are multiple reasons for the Union’s sudden lack of success against D.C. For one, the
Union’s lack of offense has continued. Club record signings Ezekiel Alladoh and Bruno Damiani remain scoreless so far this season, and the Union went cold again on Saturday night, still missing the cutting edge and precision on the break that made them so lethal in 2025.

After the Union scored two in a comeback win against Montreal, it looked like they may have found the momentum they were looking for.
However, this 2026 D.C. United team is not the pushover they once were. Coach Rene Weiler went into this offseason needing to improve his defense. D.C.’s system conceded 66 goals last season, the most in the eastern conference. The addition of fullbacks Keisuke Kurokawa and Silvan Hefti have transformed the D.C. defense, which has allowed only 9 goals through 8 MLS games in 2026, good for third fewest in the east. While the personnel has been a huge help, tactical adjustments may have played a more significant role in the quick transformation of the team. So far this season, D.C. have often surrendered possession and prioritized defending. Despite a clean defensive record, D.C. has only scored 4 goals so far this season, the fewest of any team in MLS.

Union head coach Bradley Carnell was happy with the Union’s defensive performance, but was left frustrated by D.C. United’s approach to the match. “First clean sheet of the year, really happy about that. I thought we controlled a lot of the game, kept the game in the opponent’s half,” Carnell remarked. “Tough when only one team comes to play. They wanted a bit of a long ball battle, which we expected… I thought we created numerous opportunities. Unfortunate not to score and take the three points.”

Milan Iloski spoke about D.C.’s defensive setup after the match. “They clearly came in here to try to steal a point… We’ve been caught on the counter a few times. We have to expect teams to come in here and almost let us have the ball a little bit,” Iloski said. “We need to be better at creating more chances and scoring, putting the ball in the goal, and tonight we created plenty of chances to score.”

Despite the frustrating match offensively, the Union found some positives in their improved defensive structure. The match against D.C. was the Union’s first clean sheet of the season after conceding the first goal in each of their first three games. Japhet Sery Larsen spoke with media after the match about the Union’s improved defense.

“It’s an important one, a clean sheet. We’ve struggled with that during the season so I’m really pleased to do that today. Obviously, we want the three points, but we’ve got a clean sheet and one point,” Larsen commented, happy with the progress but still wanting more. Sery Larsen also commented on improving the Union’s rest defense and avoiding counter attacks. “Obviously, we saw what happened last time in D.C. I think we have been focusing on that as well… I think this is our most complete performance this year. Obviously, it’s always hard, and we don’t get the three points. We don’t come from a place where we have won a lot of games… after all, we played a really, really good match, even though we did not win.”

Despite D.C. and the Union’s improved defending, the scoring struggles of both teams have continued to kick on. Carnell spoke about what was missing in the Union’s attack on Saturday.

“The ball didn’t cross the line. Simple.” Given the Union had created some quality chances, including Jesús Bueno’s shot off the post and Damiani’s close range chance that was saved by Sean Johnson, Carnell believes the Union were unlucky not to claim at least one goal. “I thought we had excellent movement. We created 2v1s on the sides. I thought we created chaos in the box. We created 2nd phases. We controlled the 2 nd phases. If one goes over the line, then I think the game unfolds in a different way.”

D.C.’s scoring struggles continued as well on Saturday, as the visitors did not record a shot on target in the match. The addition of Tai Baribo helped D.C. earlier in the season in the win over the Union, but he hasn’t been enough to propel United from the bottom of the league in scoring.

In his introduction in his return to Subaru Park, Baribo was met with a mix of cheers, applause, and boos from the Union away fans.
Often physical with the Union defenders, Japhet Sery Larsen spoke about the matchup against Baribo. “That was fun. That’s why we play soccer. It’s a fight out there. He’s a great player. He loves going into it. I think as a player I grow playing against strikers like him,” Sery Larsen said, complimentary about Baribo’s intensity. “So it’s fun. We have to challenge ourselves against the best strikers in the league. Tai is up there. I’m happy we kept a clean sheet. We didn’t last time, so I’m happy about that.”

With the point, the Union remain in 13 th place in the east, joint bottom with Orlando City and Atlanta United but staying ahead on goal differential. The Boys in Blue are in action next on Wednesday, April 22 when they travel north to face Toronto FC.