United rode two first-half goals to secure just its fourth victory since the start of May.
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After D.C. United’s 4-0 loss to Inter Miami on Saturday, Coach Rene Weiler said he wanted his team to “show a reaction” on Wednesday against an opponent he felt was closer to its level.
D.C. did just that.
United beat the New York Red Bulls, 2-1, at Audi Field for just its fourth win since the start of May. While D.C. is still on track to miss the playoffs for a seventh straight season, Wednesday’s game was a much-needed performance in front of a crowd that hadn’t seen a victory in over a month.
“I’m very proud of the team that we won this game,” right back Silvan Hefti said. “It was very difficult.”
The numbers back Hefti’s assessment: United (7-9-12) controlled the ball just 25 percent of the time. That included 30 percent in the first half, when it scored at the start and end of the frame.
Striker Tai Baribo went down within the game’s opening minutes while following up on a pass within the penalty box from central midfielder Brandon Servania. Baribo withered in pain and grabbed his ankle, but was awarded a free kick.
He capitalized.
Baribo shot toward the right goal post. New York (10-13-6) goalkeeper Ethan Horvath committed left, leaving him no chance to stop the low shot. Baribo then pumped his fist in the air before being enveloped by teammates. Shortly after, he pointed toward the crowd and made a heart with his hands.
It marked the striker’s team-high 15th score — more than double United’s next closest player. D.C. entered Wednesday with the second-fewest goals in MLS this season (34).
United’s second score came in the 49th minute — the final patch of added time before halftime — as left back Keisuke Kurokawa sent a cross that Baribo headed toward the left side of the penalty box to Hefti. The right back also headed the ball, notching his second score this season and first since Aug. 1.
Meanwhile, after scoring four times in a win over San Diego on Saturday, the Red Bulls didn’t record their first shot until the 15th minute. United limited New York’s penetration toward the center of the box throughout the entire night.
“That’s what everyone wants to do is play through the middle, and I think we did a pretty good job of blocking that,” left wing Jackson Hopkins said.
New York generated just six shots. It’s first prime opportunity came off a yellow card.
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Center forward Julian Zakrzewski drew a foul while pushing the penalty box just after the 20th minute. Left wing Cade Cowell then drilled a shot on target, but United goalkeeper Sean Johnson dove for his first save. New York’s Justin Che followed with a strike that sailed well above the goal.
There were 14 fouls in a highly physical first half. Both teams’ players often fell and looked bewildered at officials.
New York had another chance in the 32nd minute, when Jorge Ruvalcaba sent a blistering shot from the penalty box that Johnson dove to ricochet away. Ten minutes later, Zakrzewski got behind United’s defense and received a strong pass near the goal before ripping a shot toward the center of the net.
But there was Johnson. Again. The goalkeeper collected six saves to support United’s early goals.
“We won, and we have to find a way to win games,” Weiler said. “We are still alive.”
In the 68th minute, D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett received a red card, leaving the United down a player the rest of the game.
It didn’t take long for the Red Bulls to take advantage. In the 70th minute, striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting attacked the goal box and juked out Johnson before easily tapping a shot to halve United’s lead.
Choupo-Moting looked poised to tie the game two minutes later when Johnson raced out to stop the ball and a pass was sent toward the striker. But United’s defenders deflected the ball away, saving its goalkeeper.
The Red Bulls created another prime scoring chance in the 86th minute when center forward Cameron Harper drove at Johnson, drawing him out. Harper then slowly rolled a shot from just a few feet away that barely glimpsed the side post — inciting a raucous cheer from an anxious Audi Field.
Johnson added his final save off a header in the 95th minute to seal the win. Despite the late-game scares, the goalkeeper led D.C. to its first victory since Sept. 9, providing an encouraging sign that it could finish a disappointing season strong.
“We’ve been needing one, so it’s nice that we got it,” Hopkins said. “We just got to keep building.”
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