D.C. United vs Austin: Overview

In a high-octane MLS clash at Audi Field, Austin FC continued their impressive run by defeating D.C. United 4-2 on a warm Saturday evening in Washington. The visitors displayed clinical finishing and tactical discipline to secure their third consecutive victory over the capital club.

The match, which formed part of D.C. United's Legacy Night celebration honoring club legends, saw Austin FC dominate proceedings despite relatively balanced possession statistics. Myrto Uzuni opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a well-placed finish before Owen Wolff doubled the advantage just before halftime.

D.C. United briefly threatened a comeback when Brazilian midfielder João Peglow reduced the deficit shortly after the restart, but Osman Bukari restored Austin's two-goal cushion on the hour mark. Late drama ensued with Robert Taylor adding a fourth for the visitors in stoppage time before Christian Benteke converted a consolation penalty in the dying moments.

The result carries significant implications for both sides in the MLS standings. Austin FC climbed to seventh place in the Western Conference with 33 points (9-8-6), strengthening their playoff credentials after an impressive run of four wins in their last six matches. Meanwhile, D.C. United's nightmare season continues as they remain rooted in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with just 19 points (4-14-7), extending their winless streak to eight matches.

Kevin Flanagan's men appeared disjointed throughout, clearly missing suspended defender Aaron Herrera, as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in front of a disappointed home crowd. The result raises further questions about United's direction as the business end of the season approaches, while Austin FC and coach Nico Estévez can look forward with growing confidence.

"We showed tremendous character tonight in a difficult environment," said Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez. "The boys executed our game plan perfectly, especially in transition moments. Scoring four goals away from home in this league is never easy, but we've been building momentum over recent weeks, and tonight was another step forward in our evolution as a team."

"This is a difficult period for us," admitted D.C. United coach Kevin Flanagan. "We showed moments of quality, especially after pulling a goal back, but defensively we're making too many individual errors that are being punished. The players are hurting, the fans are hurting, but we need to stick together and find solutions quickly."

"It's always special to score, but the three points are what matter most," said Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff after his crucial goal just before halftime. "We've been working hard on our counterattacking play, and tonight it really clicked for us. The team is building something special right now."

"We're in a tough spot right now, but this is when true character shows," stated D.C. United striker Christian Benteke. "The penalty came too late to affect the result, but we need to build on the positive moments. This club has incredible history, and we owe it to the fans and former players to perform better."

"Austin executed their game plan with ruthless efficiency," noted MLS analyst Carlos Mendez. "Their transition play was exceptional, and they exploited D.C.'s defensive vulnerabilities perfectly. For United, there are serious questions to address if they want to salvage anything from this season."

The statistical breakdown of the D.C. United vs Austin FC encounter reveals interesting patterns despite the clear scoreline. Possession was relatively balanced with D.C. United edging it at 52% compared to Austin's 48%, highlighting that control of the ball doesn't always translate to control of the scoreboard.

Both teams generated similar shooting volumes with Austin registering 16 attempts (7 on target) compared to D.C.'s 15 shots (6 on target). The key difference came in conversion rate, with Austin demonstrating clinical finishing by scoring from over half of their shots on target.

Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver played a crucial role with 4 important saves, particularly during a period of D.C. pressure following their first goal. The visitors also edged the corner count 7-6, while the free-kick count favored D.C. United 14-11.

Disciplinary statistics showed a competitive but largely fair contest, with D.C. United receiving 3 yellow cards compared to Austin's 2. The foul count reflected this, with D.C. committing 14 infractions to Austin's 11.

Individually, Austin's Myrto Uzuni was the standout performer with a goal, an assist, and 4 successful dribbles. For D.C. United, Christian Benteke worked tirelessly despite limited service, winning 7 aerial duels and eventually converting his late penalty with confidence.

The expected goals (xG) metric slightly favored Austin at 2.4 compared to D.C.'s 1.8, suggesting the scoreline was somewhat reflective of the quality of chances created, though perhaps slightly flattering to the visitors.

7' - Early warning for D.C. United as Myrto Uzuni's curling effort from the edge of the box strikes the post with goalkeeper Luis Barraza beaten.

22' - GOAL! Austin FC break the deadlock through Myrto Uzuni. A swift counterattack sees Osman Bukari deliver a perfect cutback which Uzuni finishes first-time into the bottom corner. 0-1.

38' - Close call for the visitors as Christian Benteke's powerful header forces a spectacular save from Brad Stuver.

45' - GOAL! Owen Wolff doubles Austin's advantage just before halftime. A defensive error from Randall Leal allows Wolff to intercept before advancing and finishing coolly past Barraza. 0-2.

48' - GOAL! D.C. United respond immediately after the restart! João Peglow receives Gabriel Pirani's clever through ball before slotting past Stuver to give the hosts hope. 1-2.

53' - Tactical shift by D.C. United as Flanagan switches to a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation, pushing Leal higher up the field.

60' - GOAL! Austin FC restore their two-goal cushion through Osman Bukari. The Ghanaian winger capitalizes on a defensive mix-up between Kye Rowles and Matti Peltola before finishing with aplomb. 1-3.

74' - Austin FC coach Nico Estévez makes a defensive adjustment, introducing an additional midfielder to secure the middle of the park.

90+2' - GOAL! Substitute Robert Taylor puts the result beyond doubt for Austin FC with a stunning long-range effort that flies into the top corner. 1-4.

90+6' - PENALTY to D.C. United after VAR review confirms a handball by Oleksandr Svatok.

90+7' - GOAL! Christian Benteke converts the penalty with power and precision for D.C. United, but it's merely a consolation. 2-4.

The D.C. United vs Austin FC rivalry, though still in its infancy, has been decisively dominated by the Texas outfit. This latest encounter marks Austin's third consecutive victory over D.C. in MLS competition, establishing a perfect 3-0-0 record since their first meeting in 2022.

The history between these cross-conference opponents began with Austin securing a thrilling 3-2 victory at Q2 Stadium in 2022, followed by a more comprehensive 3-0 win in 2023. With this latest 4-2 triumph, Austin FC has now scored 10 goals against United while conceding just 4, demonstrating their attacking prowess in this particular fixture.

Tactically, the pattern across all three matches shows Austin's effectiveness in exploiting D.C.'s defensive vulnerabilities through quick transitions. Nico Estévez seems to have identified counter-attacking as the perfect strategy against United, with each victory featuring at least one goal from a rapid turnover situation.

Individual battles proved decisive in this latest encounter. Austin's Myrto Uzuni consistently troubled D.C.'s right flank, winning his personal duel with Lucas Bartlett throughout the evening. Similarly, Brad Stuver has now produced 12 saves across three matches against D.C., establishing himself as a particular nemesis for United's forwards.

Perhaps most concerning for D.C. United is the escalating nature of these defeats – from a one-goal margin in 2022 to a three-goal difference in 2023, and now a comprehensive performance in 2025 where Austin scored four times. This trend suggests a growing psychological edge for the Verde and Black in this fixture.

As both teams continue their respective trajectories in the MLS, this developing rivalry adds another intriguing dimension to cross-conference matchups, with D.C. now surely desperate to break Austin's perfect record when they next meet.