D.C. United defeated Red Bull New York 2-1 at Audi Field on Wednesday night as Oscar Avilez made his MLS debut in his first start for the club. Tai Baribo and Silvan Hefti scored first-half goals, and D.C. United played the final 22 minutes of regulation with 10 men after Lucas Bartlett was sent off.
Avilez, a 16-year-old D.C. United Academy product, is the club’s 22nd Homegrown signing. The Homegrown forward, who is from Choluteca, Honduras, recorded eight touches in the opposition box, the most of any player in the match.
D.C. United Builds Two-Goal Halftime Lead
D.C. United took the lead in the fifth minute after Adri Mehmeti brought down Baribo inside the box. Baribo converted the penalty for his 15th goal of the season, putting D.C. United ahead 1-0.
Sean Johnson made saves in the 24th and 43rd minutes as Red Bull New York sought an equalizer. Avilez nearly doubled the lead in the 45+2nd minute, but D.C. United added a second goal on the final corner kick of the half.
Keisuke Kurokawa delivered the corner, and Baribo headed the ball across goal. Hefti headed home from close range in the 45+5th minute for his second goal of the season, sending D.C. United into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Oscar Avilez Makes First Start for D.C. United
Avilez started for D.C. United before leaving in the 56th minute. Jared Stroud replaced Avilez, while Joao Peglow entered for Jackson Hopkins in the same double substitution.
Head coach René Weiler made three changes to the starting lineup from Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Inter Miami CF. Hefti, Brandon Servania and Avilez entered the starting group for Joao Peglow, Nikola Markovic and Hosei Kijima.
Red Bull New York Pulls Within One
Red Bull New York pressed after halftime, but Johnson stopped a shot from Mohammed Sofo in the 51st minute and another from Emil Forsberg in the 64th minute. D.C. United was reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute when captain Lucas Bartlett received his second yellow card and was sent off.
Sean Nealis entered for Servania in the 70th minute. Red Bull New York pulled within one goal in the 71st minute when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting finished a through ball from Forsberg.
D.C. United defended a series of late corner kicks, while Cameron Harper hit the left post in the 86th minute. Johnson secured the result in the 90+5th minute with a save on a header from Julian Bazan and finished with six saves.
Baribo added his first MLS assist of the 2026 season. D.C. United improved its all-time regular-season record against Red Bull New York to 39-36-19, including a 24-17-8 home record in the series.
D.C. United Record and Schedule
The victory moved D.C. United to 7-9-12 with 33 points, and the club still had a match in hand. The match was presented as Noche Latina by 602 Steamfitters and included a halftime performance by Alex Sensation.
D.C. United’s next listed match is at Orlando City SC at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday, October 17, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The club also has a rescheduled trip to FC Cincinnati set for October 21.
MSB Analysis
D.C. United built its two-goal advantage before Bartlett’s sending-off forced the club to defend with 10 men. Johnson’s six saves helped preserve the result, while Baribo and Hefti supplied the first-half goals and Avilez made his MLS debut in his first start.
Source: Original report
